Welton nodded slowly. “Now that you mention it, I saw Harlowe with a delectable piece leaving Rowena’s town house a few months back. I just put it down to another light-skirt.” He shrugged and snatched up one of the tumblers. “Can’t imagine Rowena sharing her territory, if you know what I mean.” He drained the glass and slammed it back down. “It’s deuced strange, thinking on it.”
Edward forced his fingers loose, swiped up his own glass and tossing back the contents. The burn barely mollified him. “And what is that?”
“Rowena didn’t try hiding the fact that she was carrying.”
Griston’s eyes narrowed, and he nodded. “Interesting point, Welton. Why would the most lucrative courtesan in town bandy her condition about town? Couldn’t have been good for business.”
Small prickles raised on Edward’s skin as he considered this line of conversation. He stared hard at Welton. “You say Harlowe was seen leaving Rowena’s with another woman whowasn’tRowena?”
“I am indeed. Don’t know what it matters none,” Welton said. “But if Rowena is carrying, I put my money on the babe being Harlowe’s bastard.” He laughed, loud and bawdy. “Serves him right, him having that haughty sister of his and all.”
Griston lifted a brow. “Lady Kimpton? What does she have to with any of this matter?”
Welton’s shoulders caved in, and his expression turned sulky, though he refrained from answering.
Edward’s gut burned with rage. So Harlowe had bedded the daughter Rowena saw fit to raise as her sister. Fathered his grandchild.Grandson.Having Harlowe killed was turning out to be a more fitting crime than Edward could have envisioned. He bit back a bark of laughter. Surely he could turn this to his advantage. He drummed his fingers on the table. “Suppose Rowena Hollerfield was covering for another?”
Welton snorted. “You mean like a… a sister?”
Griston stilled, his gaze sharp. “I don’t believe Rowena Hollerfield has it in her to be so selfless.”
Welton shrugged and took another slug of whiskey. “Besides, if Miss Hollerfield did have a sister, she’d a-pulled her into the business years ago.”
Edward smiled. “I think she stole a child and has been hiding her.”
Welton’s face screwed up in a comical puzzle. “Whose child would she have stolen?”
Again Griston’s shrewdness pierced Maudsley. “Perhaps yours and your late wife’s?” He took one of the remaining glasses and sipped. “You did say you had business in… where was it? Essex? As I recall, that is where the first Lady Maudsley was buried, was it not?”
Edward just looked at him.
Griston leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “And Miss Hollerfield’s “sister” is carrying?”
“Wascarrying,” Edward said. “The girl just had a son.Mygrandson.”
Welton gaped at the two of them.
“I see,” Griston said. “And what are your plans?”
Edward studied his drink, a small smile touching his mouth. Harlowe would never have the opportunity to touch his newborn son. In fact, Edward saw no reason he couldn’t lay claim to Rowena’s “sister.” He studied Griston with a hooded gaze. The man might be useful. In some way. “I believe I shall have to recognize her as my long-lost daughter. After all, Rowena Hollerfield managed an admirable job of keeping my daughter’s identity hidden all these years.”
Griston’s eyes seared him, and Edward realized he’d just spoken of Rowena in past tense. “What makes you believe the girl isyourdaughter, Maudsley?” He sipped his whiskey. “Why, she could just as easily be mine.” His softly spoken words sent a chill of apprehension over Edward’s skin.
“As it happens, Rowena Hollerfield was in my employ at the time of my first wife’s confinement.” He tossed back his third whiskey, signaling for another. “Not only that, Rowena disappeared just after Hannah’s untimely death. I would go so far as to speculate that she killed my wife to steal my newborn child.”
A smile played around Griston’s mouth. Edward’s fingers itched for his lucky coin.
“Hm. Rowena Hollerfield a murderess.” Griston nodded. “Yes, yes. Rowena Hollerfield is a most calculating woman. However, it will take an act of Parliament to declare her ‘sister’ as your legitimate daughter, you know.” Again, his eyes turned contemplative. “Might even have to have Rowena testify.” He cracked his knuckles. “Of course, there are ways to make a mere woman talk.”
As Edward knew all too well. “I happened to learn that Rowena convinced Kimpton to help her. He sent them to his country estate. In fact, my family is visiting with them now.”
Welton, who’d been quiet to this point, spoke. “Too bad you can’t somehow claim the boy as your own, eh, Maudsley? It’s widely known you have only girls.”
Edward’s chair crashed back as he reached across the table and grabbed Welton by his neckcloth. “Fancy an early death, do you?” he growled.
A low chuckle reached through his rage. It wasn’t coming from Welton. Welton’s face turned dark red from lack of oxygen.
“The man has a point,” Griston said calmly.
