William and Barbara darted off around the room engrossed in the toy.
The room was soon filled with the clatter of ball meeting handle, and their groans, when it failed to fall into the cup.
His Grace drew Jenny aside. His serious blue eyes sought hers. “I have yet to speak to Irvine. Did William’s ride go well?
“Very well,” she said quietly. “Apparently, they were met by Herr Von Bremen. Mr. Irvine took precautions and wielded his horse around to shield Lord William. The German gentleman seemed angry and rode off.”
The duke turned. “William? Where were you and Mr. Irvine when you met with Herr Von Bremen?”
“It was over toward the gamekeeper’s cottage, Father. We’d just cantered across a field. The one with the big old oak split down the middle by lightning,” William said, without raising his head from the toy.
“It does sound as if Mr. Irvine knows his business,” Jenny said.
William and Barbara burst into laughter. “I’ve done it, Father.” William proudly brought the toy to his father to show the ball sitting in the cup.
“Well done, William,” his father said. “Now give it to your sister and return to your work.”
William handed it over, but began to instruct Barbara with the voice of experience.
“I can do it, William,” she said turning her back on him. The ball was flying in all directions, and Jenny hoped it wouldn’t do any damage either to Barbara or the vase of flowers on a nearby table.
“It is an excessively noisy toy,” His Grace said, with an apologetic laugh. “I hope you won’t curse me for it, Miss Harrismith.”
“How could I when it gives them such pleasure? Nevertheless, I shall confiscate it shortly.”
He nodded, smiling down at her for a moment. “A wise decision.” He stirred himself. “I must go. William, you will breakfast with me tomorrow. Time to learn the social graces.”
An eager light leapt into William’s blue eyes. “Before my ride, Father?”
“Before your ride.” He gave Jenny a conspiratorial wink and walked out the door. The room suddenly seemed empty and left Jenny as well as the children a little unsettled.
*
“Come in, Mr.Irvine.” Andrew gestured to a seat. “My son approves of you, it seems.”
Irvine smiled. “Well, I have a youngster at home, Your Grace. And the wife wants several more.”
Andrew smiled. “Then you’d best return to the apothecary business. But not quite yet, I hope.”
He smiled. “No, I like a challenge.”
“That reminds me,” Andrew said, “of the fine job you and Strathairn did protecting the king.”
“It was Lord Strathairn, Your Grace. I was injured.”
“Nevertheless, I’m sure you took a part in it. Tell me what occurred during the ride with my son. Did you see or hear anything unusual?”
“Only the German gentleman.”
“Where was he off to? Did he say?”
“Said he liked looking around. Our woodlands are different to his country. Bit of a birdwatcher apparently.”
“Is he indeed?” Andrew struggled to equate Ivo with birdwatching.
“He wished to join us, but I fobbed him off. Looked a bit annoyed at that. Asked me if I was a groom. When I explained that my business here concerned your horses, he left.”
Andrew nodded. “Good work, Mr. Irvine. Take a different route each time, but avoid the river path.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
When Andrew returned to the library, he found his secretary, Bishop, had placed a pile of letters on his desk. When he leafed through them, he found one from Strathairn. He picked up the letter opener and slit it open, perusing it quickly. Strathairn had investigated Herr Von Bremen. No evidence was found that he was connected to any German dissident groups. Ivo had spent a good deal of the last few years in Paris where he was known to be an inveterate gambler.
The last paragraph caught Andrew’s attention and set up a new line of thought.Although the baroness had been left a comfortable fortune, Strathairn wrote,it is believed that Von Bremen, who handles her money, has been gambling it away.It seemed clear that Ivo had a very good reason to push for a marriage between him and Greta.
Andrew dropped the letter onto the desk. Ivo was doomed to disappointment, but he did feel more than a little sorry for Greta who had confidently avowed she’d been left a very comfortable stipend. He suspected she had no idea of the state of her finances. He deliberated whether to warn her, but he’d be hard pressed to explain how he came to learn of it.
