Thomas frowned. “How on earth would you know that?”
“I cannot say, but you can count on it being true. You’ve my word on that.”
Thanking him, Thomas paid him for his help and saw him to the door.
Before donning his hat and heading back out, Thomas told Lady Everly that he would return later in the day to check on Amelia. It seemed he now had a criminal to apprehend, and he knew precisely who to turn to for help.
Chapter 22
“Tax evasion, you say?” King George punctuated the question by popping a piece of sweetmeat into his mouth. His regal eyes were bright with interest. “Are you certain Bartholomew is guilty of such a crime?”
“That is what I have been told,” Thomas assured him. “And I am inclined to believe my source.” One of the benefits of being a duke was having the king’s ear. And since Thomas never abused this privilege, he was always taken seriously whenever he came to call.
“Why?”
“Because he is highly respected. Indeed, I would trust him with my life.”
The king’s expression grew pensive. “What is your interest in this, Coventry? I do not suppose you are simply looking out for the Crown’s coffers?”
It was time to be honest. “The truth is Bartholomew has threatened the Duke of Huntley’s sister, Lady Amelia. This afternoon, she was brutally stabbed by one of his men.”
“Good God!” The king’s posture grew rigid. His hands appeared to tighten against the armrests of his gilded chair. “Would it not be simpler to arrest Bartholomew for attempted murder then?”
“You know as well as I that he will escape such a charge. The blame will merely fall on the man who wielded the blade.”
“So you hope to find Bartholomew guilty on a different charge entirely.” The king gave a thoughtful nod. “A smart move, on your part. The only problem I see is that a thorough investigation would have to be carried out. We will have to involve the accountants, and that is going to take time. However...”
“Yes?”
“Keeping the attack on Lady Amelia in mind, I propose we send the guard out immediately and arrest Bartholomew on the assumption that he is guilty. It will then be up to his lawyer to prove him innocent, allowing us the necessary time we need in order to find some proof. These things can be dragged out with a bit of bureaucracy. There is also a good chance that more incriminating facts will rise to the surface if we offer his people rewards in exchange for reliable information.”
“As long as Bartholomew pays for his crimes, then I am happy.”
“You may rest assured then, Coventry, for I am certain justice will be served in this instance. I thank you for bringing the matter to my attention.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Thomas stood and executed a bow. “I will leave Bartholomew’s address with your secretary on my way out.”
Drifting back to consciousness was decidedly unpleasant, Amelia thought. She was becoming increasingly aware of a horrible ache in her side. And the headache! Good Lord, she could not remember experiencing so much pain before she’d drifted off in a delirious state of bliss. Now it felt as though her skull was being sliced into little pieces.
“My dear.”
She recognized Lady Everly’s voice and tried to open her eyes. Thankfully, the curtains had been pulled tightly shut, shrouding the room in muted tones that were wonderfully soothing.
Lady Everly drew close and reached for her hand. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
Amelia blinked, tried to adjust her position and instantly groaned in response to a sharp twinge. “Not my best.” She sank back against the plump pillow with a sigh. “What happened?”
“A vile miscreant stabbed you.” Lady Everly’s voice trembled with emotion. She squeezed Amelia’s hand. “The duke brought you here with Doctor Florian who tended to your wound. He said it wasn’t too serious—that a good rest should lead to a speedy recovery.”
Amelia nodded, acknowledging her understanding of the situation. “Where are they now?”
“Both departed three hours ago. Coventry did say he would come back later in the day to check on you.”
Amelia’s heart expanded with that thought, then deflated again when she recalled the last words they’d spoken to each other before the attack. She regretted the tone she’d taken with him. He hadn’t deserved it, no matter how frustrated she’d been by his insistence that there was no choice for them but to marry. It still annoyed her, but she now had other things to think about, like the possibility of her brother returning home to find her like this. The mere idea of having to explain it all to him was exhausting.
“Is he all right?” she asked Lady Everly. “I do not recall if he was injured in any way.”
“If he was, he made no mention of it to me. His entire focus was on you, Amelia.” Withdrawing her hand, Lady Everly poured a glass of water and helped Amelia drink. “I understand your hesitation regarding marriage, but I do believe you ought to reconsider.”
