‘A misunderstanding, nothing more. And you think that would be sufficient for a court of law? You are naive in the extreme, Sebastian Alder.’ The name was said with venom, emphasising Sebastian’s lowly birth.
‘An innocent girl died with her name besmirched by your thieving, Lynch.’
Freddy raised an eyebrow. ‘My, you have been busy, Somerton. What a distrustful person you are. If you mean Amy Thompson, it was not the thieving that besmirched her name.’
‘Were you the father of her child?’
A look of genuine astonishment crossed Freddy’s face. ‘Me? Hardly.’
‘Then who…?’
Freddy rose to his feet and smiled enigmatically. ‘I really have no idea. Now, I must go and comfort my poor sister with the reassurance that you will be married by special licence within the week. I will see you at dinner.’
‘You will see me in hell,’ muttered Sebastian.
As the door closed behind Freddy, he slammed his fist into the desk.
‘Damn you!’
The door opened, and Matt came back into the room, accompanied by Harry Dempster.
‘How did it go?’ Matt asked.
Sebastian shook his hand, trying to restore the feeling to his tingling fingers.
‘Badly,’ he said.
‘You didn’t hit him, did you?’ Matt enquired.
Sebastian shook his head. ‘Sorely tempted as I might have been, it didn’t go that far.’ He looked at his brother. ‘I need to talk to Harry, Matt. Can you excuse us?’
Matt left the room and Harry sat himself in the chair recently vacated by Freddy.
‘Bad business,’ Harry said after Sebastian had finished recounting his interview with Freddy. ‘Do you think he did Somerton in?’
‘Why would he? Somerton was paying him regularly. He had a comfortable place to live. Anthony’s death ended all of that.’
‘Perhaps Somerton had offered him more? In the event of his death.’
Sebastian considered that notion for a long moment. ‘Surely not. No doubt Anthony would have been in mortal fear of exposure.’ Sebastian raised a hand to his throat. ‘It’s a hanging offence, Dempster. More likely Anthony had decided to withdraw his favour.’
‘Again, why? If Lynch was blackmailing him, he must have known that odious little swine would have no hesitation incalling his bluff. Just as he called yours.’ Harry ran his hand across his chin. ‘What are we going to do, Alder?’
‘We? This is my problem, not yours.’
Harry gave a rueful smile. ‘Never could resist a challenge!’
Sebastian allowed himself a smile in response. ‘Your selfless support is appreciated, old friend. The key to this is the saddle.’
‘What saddle?’ Harry asked.
‘I’ve got Anthony’s saddle. It clearly shows the girth strap was tampered with.’
Harry’s eyes widened. ‘You mean...?’
‘Not quite cut through but sufficient to break if any force was put on it. I’ve an idea to draw the killer out, but we’re running a risk.’
Harry grinned. ‘The riskier the better.’
