Falcon groaned. “I was referring to his lordship, my blithering dolt.”
“He need not have fled the country had I perished,” Gideon pointed out. “He must know I survived, and likely knows Naomi did also.”
“No thanks to him, the merciless hound,” growled Morris.
Gideon sat down again. “’Tis very good of you, Falcon, to come all the way back here to tell me. You—er, did not mention Collington’s part in it to the others?”
“I said nothing, as you desired.”
“Well, if you ask me,” said Morris, “the bastard should have been reported to the authorities at once! Why on earth—”
“That is your considered opinion, is it?” sneered Falcon. “And with what does Rossiter charge our noble peer?”
“You know blasted well! Kidnapping for a start, and—”
“Kidnapping his own child?”
“Oh, do try to use your famous nous! Lady Naomi is of age. She was imprisoned ’gainst her will and damn near slain! And Collington tried to force Ross to hand over the jewelled men as ransom.”
“Did he really? Pray where is your evidence? Who witnessed Rossiter’s confrontation with the earl in that damnable mill? No one. Who evensawCollington in the vicinity? Only those rogues we apprehended, and they are obviously too terrified to speak. One gathers transportation is less to be feared than the wrath of their legendary Squire. Where are these allegedly so valuable jewelled figures? No one knows.”
“The ransom note!” exclaimed Morris triumphantly. “You can give ’em that, Ross!”
“I might, had I not stupidly allowed the earl to take it back when we were at his house.”
“Very stupidly,” murmured Falcon.
Irritated, Morris snapped, “At such a moment, only an insensate block of ice—”
“Or a Mandarin?” put in Falcon sweetly.
“Or a Mandarin—would be capable of rational thought!”
“And beingsucha notable judge of rational thought, Lieutenant, do pray favour us with your next edifying suggestion.”
“Well, I will! You read that blasted letter, and I saw the jewelled men. We could testify under oath that—”
“Rubbish,” exclaimed Falcon impatiently. “Even did they not judge you a silly fribble—and I ain’t saying they wouldn’t!—youserved with Rossiter in the Low Countries and are known to be his good friend, and thus prejudiced.Iam scarcely acknowledged to exist at all, and was I graciously permitted to speak, my testimony would be disregarded. And at the moment,Rossiteris even worsetonthan I am. Without some tangible evidence the authorities would either laugh at us, or clap us up in the Gatehouse on a charge of slander and malicious mischief ’gainst a peer of the realm.”
Persisting stubbornly, Morris argued, “We all know Naomi was kidnapped. She herself will—”
“She does not know her father is involved,” interposed Rossiter quietly.
“And you don’t mean to tell her, do you?” said Falcon.
“I hope she will never learn of his part in it.” Rossiter looked at him steadily. “She has been hurt enough.”
Falcon smiled his mocking smile. “What you mean is, you’re afraid of losing her. She’d never wed you an she knewherfather was instrumental in the ruin of yours.”
“Blister it!” exclaimed Morris. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Never mind,” said Falcon. “We are aware of your limitations.”
Ignoring this barbed condescension, Morris asked, “Do you really mean to let him go unpunished, Ross? It don’t seem right. The truth should be told.”
“The truth!” Falcon gave a derisive snort. “I doubt we’ve come near to it.”
Morris said, “Near enough to know that Collington held some peculiar grudge against Sir Mark and tried to ruin him. And that Derrydene was a party to it.”
