To the best of his knowledge, the only person with motive enough to want to see Anthony dead may have been Isabel. But why? It certainly seemed to have been a loveless marriage butthat was not generally motive for murder. Money? Murder seemed an extreme measure for finding the finance to start a school. He pushed the thought away.
‘The man had enough creditors,’ Harry said. ‘Maybe one of them ...?’
Sebastian shook his head. ‘They’d have wanted him alive. A dead debtor is of no use.’
Harry set down his empty mug. ‘No, it seems too far-fetched. I can’t believe it, Alder.’
‘Your sister was possibly the last person to see him alive. Has she said anything about the night he died?’
‘Georgie? Good God, no. Why?’
‘I have heard rumours that he had …’ Sebastian searched for the right word, ‘an involvement with your sister.’
Harry regarded him for a moment. ‘Look, she’s my sister and I adore her, but I’m not immune to her faults. She likes to marry old, rich men and likes to take the young, good-looking ones to her bed. Somerton was one of the latter. so yes, it’s quite likely they formed some sort of attachment. I’m not privy to my sister’s private life.’ He gave a shudder. ‘In fact, I deem it in my own best interest not to know, but if it puts your mind at rest, Alder, I was there that night and nothing untoward happened. He came for supper and left. That was it.’
‘Was he drunk?’
Harry shrugged. ‘He’d had a few wines but he was in control if that is what you are asking.’ He laughed. ‘Forget it, Alder. It was an accident. They happen. And on the subject of my lovely sister, I give you fair warning that you may need to watch your own honour. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.’
Sebastian laughed. ‘As if she would eat me for supper?’
‘Preferably covered in a sugar glaze with an apple in your mouth,’ Harry said. ‘Dangerous woman, my sister.’
‘I can see the attraction, Dempster, but no... I assure you I can resist her blandishments.’
Harry leaned forward, his brow creased. ‘It’s none of mybusiness, Alder, but it’s been seven years since Inez. You’ve got responsibilities now. Time to find yourself another wife.’
The back of Sebastian’s neck prickled as it always did when Inez was mentioned.
‘I’ve always had responsibilities, Dempster.’
‘But now you need an heir.’
Sebastian rose to his feet and walked over to the window. Outside, the crowd was beginning to drift away. The auction had concluded. His heart clenched, the pain as raw and bitter as it had been the day he had found his wife’s battered and violated body.
He heard Harry rise to his feet and join him at the window. They stood together in empathetic silence.
‘I’m serious,’ Harry said at last. ‘You have to overcome thinking of yourself as plain Captain Sebastian Alder. You are now Lord Somerton, and the world and all the beautiful women you have ever dreamed of are at your feet. Take in the London season, play the field. You never know.’
‘Playing the field has little interest.’
‘What about the widow?’ Harry suggested.
‘Isabel? Good lord, Harry! I hardly know her.’
Harry just shook his head. ‘No one says you have to love the woman you marry. You just want two things, a good dowry and a good breeder.’
Sebastian shot his friend a look of disgust.
‘That’s how it’s done,’ Harry said with a shrug.
Sebastian stared out of the window, horrified by his friend’s cold, calculating approach to marriage.
Was that how it had been for Anthony and Isabel?he wondered.
Chapter Twenty-One
Isabel woke to a gentle knocking on her door and her maid’s voice at the keyhole.
