‘What were his injuries?’
‘His neck was broken. That’d be what killed him, but he also had a broken leg and several smashed ribs.’
‘No other wounds?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Like those you saw on your daughter’s body?’
Thompson’s face darkened. ‘No, my lord. Just a snapped neck.’
Sebastian sighed. ‘Thank you, Thompson. I’ll leave this with you now. Hide it well and not a word to anyone.’
Thompson nodded.
Sebastian walked back to the house, feeling the enormity of his predicament settling on his shoulders like a black carrion bird.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Bragge stood in front of the large table that served as Sebastian’s desk and cleared his throat.
‘I don’t think you will like this, my lord,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’ Sebastian enquired.
‘Had I come to you with my report earlier—’ He handed over a sealed document.
Sebastian broke the seal and scanned the contents, the anger rising in his chest as he took in the importance of the words in front of him.
‘Why in God’s sweet name did you not bring me this yesterday?’ he demanded, handing the document to Matt, who stood beside him.
Bragge looked down at his toes. ‘I thought it could wait another day. I didn’t want to disturb you,’ he mumbled.
Sebastian shook his head. Possession of the facts disclosed by Bragge’s report could have changed the whole course of the previous night’s events, but the damage had been done and still needed to be undone.
‘You know what it says?’
Bragge nodded. ‘My informant advises me that, while the late lord’s mother did indeed have a cousin by the name of Lynch, hecan find no record of there being any children of that name. The lady concerned died in her early twenties, unmarried and childless.’
‘So they are imposters?’
‘It would appear so, my lord.’
Matt glanced at Sebastian. ‘Then who are they?’
‘And more importantly, what did they have over Anthony that he took them into his home?’ Sebastian wondered aloud.
Bragge shook his head. ‘My informant says only that Frederick Lynch appeared in society circles not long before his late lordship took up with him.’ He paused. ‘What do you intend to do, my lord?’
‘You are my man of business, Bragge, you tell me. Regardless of what I may or may not know about Frederick Lynch and his sister, the fact remains that, before a number of distinguished witnesses, I was caught in the act of dishonouring Miss Lynch.’
Matt leaned on the desk. ‘Damn it, Bas. This proves they were lying about their relationship to your cousin. They are villains, the pair of them. You can’t go through with it.’
Bragge looked uncomfortable. ‘Money, my lord?’
‘Money is really what this is all about, Bragge, but it does not salvage my now irretrievably damaged reputation. Matt, this is not just about me, it is about you and Connie and Lady Somerton. You will all be tarred with the same brush as me, unless I can clear my name properly.’
‘How are you going to do that?’ Matt asked.
