Denis glanced up at me then returned to his missive, writing in swift, neat strokes. Brewster noisily unloaded from his tray a platter of meat, hunks of bread, and slices of meat pie. Mrs. Brewster followed with a coffee pot and cups.
“There now, Captain,” she said. “I’ve brewed you coffee, as I know you prefer it. Tea for you, Tommy.” She stared pointedly at Denis’s men, both of whom had begun to reach fingers toward the pile of meat. “There’s plates on the sideboard and forks and knives, and cloths to wipe away any mess.”
The two men exchanged a glance, and one made his way to the sideboard to retrieve plates.
Denis, who’d not looked up during this exchange, at last laid down his pen and fixed me with his gaze. “Thank you for attending so late, Captain.”
Brewster had made it clear I’d had no choice. “Urgent matters?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation.
Mrs. Brewster handed me a steaming cup of coffee then proceeded to serve the tea.
“Please sit.” Denis waved a hand at a chair. “We have traveled all evening and have not dined.”
It sounded like an apology, of sorts, which surprised me. His men unashamedly took up large portions of meat and bread and backed away to eat them.
A sip of Mrs. Brewster’s well-brewed coffee calmed me somewhat. “You’d have had time to dineandsleep if you’d waited until morning to speak to me,” I said.
Denis gave me a hard look from his cold blue eyes. “I understand from all Mr. Brewster has reported to me that you do not regard this situation as dire. I assure you, I believe it is most dangerous. Someone is trying very hard both to ruin you and end your life.”
I’d raised the cup again but set down the coffee instead of drinking. “I grant that I have been the subject of unfortunate circumstances.”
“Not the subject. Theobject. The most obvious was the shot taken at you tonight during the fireworks. Mr. Brewster told me of this when I arrived, but I had already been sufficiently concerned to make the journey down.”
“I have evoked someone’s ire, yes.” I could hardly deny it. “But I cannot fathom who. My cousin Marcus was the last person who wanted to kill me, but we have reconciled … I believe.”
“I can think of any number of people who would not mind if you no longer existed.”
Brewster, behind me, snorted. “Aye, that’s the truth.”
Denis touched his fingers as he counted off. “Your wife’s in-laws. You and she recently thwarted them from gaining control of her son. Then there are men you have given up to the law, plus the families of such men. Enemies of mine who wish to provoke me. Or someone from your past you have angered or injured. I am certain there are many of those, given your uneven temper and your insistence on righting what you perceive are wrongs.”
I nodded as he lowered his hand. “I admit I have clashed with many, and they have not fared well from it—I am too interfering for my own good. But why wait until I am on holiday in Brighton to attack? London would be an easier place to get at me.”
“That is the significant point you have missed.” Denis’s eyes held a grim light. “Why indeed choose now? You arriving here must have triggered the need to target you.”
I wrapped my fingers around my cup on the table, the coffee pleasantly warm. “Are you saying you believe I did not kill Isherwood? That this was a trap to destroy me?”
“You might have killed him—I do not know. You could have been forced to do it. Or, as you hope, another set the stage for you to be found over the body. But something went wrong, and you were not found.”
I had been, by Clement, who I’d turned to aid me.
“Not long after the colonel’s murder, a young man you were asked to search for turned up dead,” Denis went on. “I doubt it is coincidental. Then, a man holds a loaded weapon and happens to discharge it when you enter a room. Finally, a person follows you tonight until you are alone and shoots at you. Too many things to be random incidents.”
I could hardly argue—he laid it out in too neat a pattern. “I will have to make a list of my enemies,” I said lightly. “You realizeyouwould be on such a list?”
“I assure you, Captain, that when I wish you gone, you will be.” Denis’s directness was chilling. “However, these present occurrences are not my doing. I will find out who this malefactor is and stop him.”
I lifted my coffee once more. “You are going to much trouble. I had no idea I was so useful to you.”
“I would do so for any of my men. Besides, I believe I will have another mission for you and would prefer you whole so you can achieve it.”
“I see.” The words were nonchalant but stirred my disquiet. Denis’s missions always turned out to be dangerous, but he made it impossible to refuse them.
“I would like that list you offer,” Denis continued. “Begin with people you have seen in Brighton, anyone connected with your past.”
“Major Forbes,” I said at once. “He was never fond of me. But I cannot believe he’d kill Isherwood, or allow him to be killed. He worshiped the man.”
“Time can alter feelings,” Denis said. “Write the list and send it to me. Add details—where are these people now? Are they likely to make elaborate plans against you? And how will your ruin or death benefit them?”
