A slow smile spread across Daffin’s face. “First, I’m going to find Knowles. Then I’m going to find the guard and send him to gaol, too. Now, who do you think is behind this?”
“Regina helped put John’s killers away last summer. Do you think they might have paid Knowles to exact revenge?”
“Perhaps,” Daffin replied, “but why only Regina? The rest of us helped put them away too.”
“I agree. There’s something still not right.”
Daffin leaned back in his seat. “I’m through guessing. My plan is to find Knowles and drag the name out of him.”
***
Delilah Montebank and her parrot meandered over to where the Duke of Colchester sat in the center of the salon.
“Good afternoon, your grace,” she said, executing an adorable, if wobbly, curtsy.
The duke looked up at her in surprise. “Good afternoon,” he intoned.
“I am Lady Delilah, and this is my parrot, Miss Adeline.”
“She looks like a fine parrot,” the duke said.
“Oh, Miss Adelineisa fine parrot,” Delilah agreed, “but unfortunately named, because he is a boy.”
“Very fine parrot,” squawked the bird.
“I see,” the duke replied, doing his best to squelch his smile. “At times, unfortunate names are unavoidable.”
“How so?” Delilah asked.
“How so?” echoed the parrot.
The duke cleared his throat. “For instance, one of my middle names is Hercules.”
“I see. That is unfortunate,” Delilah replied. “I’m so pleased to find someone who finally understands.”
The duke nodded. “I am Edward Alistair Hercules Montague Coleford, the fifth Duke of Colchester.”
“I am ever so pleased to meet you, your grace.” Delilah executed another imperfect curtsy. “How do you find being a duke? I’ve always believed it must be an awful chore.”
The duke chuckled. “Why do you think so?”
“My best friend Thomas is a duke, and he’s forever having to do something boring.”
“Who is your best friend?”
“Thomas Hobbs, the Duke of Huntley.”
“And does he find being a duke an awful chore?”
“Awful chore,” said the bird.
Delilah tilted her head. “I’ve never asked him. I’ve merely assumed. But Thomas is good at things like handling catastrophes and being in charge of things. I, however, am not. Miss Adeline does not care for him, though.”
“Does not care,” Miss Adeline squawked.
The duke cocked his head to the side. “Why doesn’t Miss Adeline care for his grace?”
Delilah let out a loud, long sigh. “Because Miss Adeline is terribly jealous of Thomas.”
