20
James left his staff to deal with the burial of his faithful companion in the area of the family cemetery set aside for domestic pets. Piper was treating Lucifer and had assured him the injury wasn't serious.
Satisfied he'd taken care of everything he needed, he turned his attention to the men who could have killed his beloved girl and did kill Caliban. He wasn't a violent man but had such a rage inside he doubted he'd be able to control himself if left alone with the bastards.
Two buckets of water had been thrown over the unconscious forms and they were both awake. They'd been taken to a little used outbuilding, sufficiently far from the house that no one would overhear what was going to take place.
'Just a minute, my lord,' Michael was striding towards him closely followed by Smithers. 'I think we'd better do this together, sir, don't you?'
James was about to swear at them, tell them it was none of their business, but knew they'd come anyway. These two young men weren't quite friends, but they were certainly loyal to him and that's all that mattered.
'If you insist. Have you heard the whole story?'
They nodded. They might be young, but they were as angry as he and it would be useful having them beside him.
'Before we go to do this, gentlemen, I'm going to tell you what I think. Bedford and Foster are behind this, neither of these men have the intelligence to orchestrate such an attack. What I haven't fathomed is what they hoped to gain by it apart from revenge.'
Smithers moved closer making sure no lurking stable hand would overhear what he was about to say. 'Michael and I have thought about this very thing, my lord. It has occurred to both of us that Foster might well be in employ of a third party.'
'Go on, elaborate.'
'My uncle has been examining the documents, ledgers and books that your previous legal firm reluctantly released. I'm not surprised that they've found malfeasance, as they were only obtained by sending clerks from my uncle's office to seize them.'
'For God's sake, man, get on with it. I haven't got all day,' James snapped.
'Those lawyers had been paying Foster to spy for them. They are also the legal firm for Mr Anthony Brotherton, your heir.'
Things finally dropped into place. His cousin would know about Sofia, he wouldn't want him to produce a son, therefore they'd attempted to kill her knowing that he was unlikely to marry anyone else if she died. Had he not said this very thing to Michael last week? Was he being fanciful to consider for a moment that a relative of his was prepared to murder his future wife?
'This means that one of the female staff working here's still in the employ of Bedford and Foster. There can't be any other explanation for this attempted assassination. My poor dog was just collateral damage.'
'I think, my lord, it might be better if you don't question these men. We don't know who else might be part of this conspiracy. I know you consider every outside man to be loyal, but I don't think you're aware that at least two of them are related to Foster and Bedford,' Michael said.
For a second the horror that a member of his own family might be behind this made him slow to comprehend. 'Yes, they'll know that those men will do anything to avoid the gallows, even betray those that pay them. The three men you suspect of being disloyal – name them to me.'
James was shocked that two of them had been employed here for years, the third was a recent arrival and little more than a child. He'd been living in a fool's paradise for the past years – had taken no interest in his staff apart from ensuring they were paid on time and his life was comfortable.
'How can we protect Sofia without arousing their suspicions?'
'Why don't you take everybody to Bath? I'm sure that the old ladies will be safe enough,' Michael suggested.
'I'll do that, but I don't wish to have my sister or my niece and nephews with me. She wants to be hostess here, so be it. There's something else I need you to do, Smithers, go to Doctor's Commons and get the Archbishop of Canterbury to sign a special licence. Travel post, my friend, there and back. Bring it to my house in Royal Crescent tomorrow and you and Michael will stand as my witnesses.'
'I'd be happy to do that, my lord. If we return to the house you can furnish me with the information and the twenty guineas required to purchase one.'
'Michael, Squire Roberts can deal with the two in the outhouse. Will you see to that for me, please?'
'Willingly, my lord. What do you wish me to do about the three we know to be disloyal?'
'Leave them for now, they'll get their punishment in due course, as will all the others involved in this plot. If I have my way, they'll all dance at the gibbet, Bedford included,' James said and meant it.
'Michael, when you've done that will you set in motion the removal to Bath? The under butler there will serve for the moment, the house is fully staffed so only myself and my valet, and the girls and their maids will be moving.'
'What about going to Upminster Hall, sir?' Michael asked.
'I'll send the estate manager; he'll be able to deal with things.'
'I'll find him and tell him what you need him to do,' Michael said.
