“Nevertheless, I’m grateful to you.Both for the sound advice you provided Marsdale and for helping Eldrige convince Lord Liverpool to have me pardoned.”
“He knew it would be detrimental not to.”
“Still, he’d not have considered it without your suggestion.”
Moorland’s lips twitched with a hint of humor.“I’m fairly certain you are the architect behind your own salvation.Eldridge and I merely did as you asked.”
The servant returned with a tray containing two glasses and a carafe.He poured the drinks and departed once more.
“You could have ignored my plea.”
“Not without incurring a guilty conscience.”
“Prinny leaving the City offered the perfect excuse for you to abandon all effort to help me.However, according to Eldridge, you suggested seeking help from the Hanging Cabinet instead.It is therefore thanks to you that I am once again free to enjoy life’s pleasures.Like an afternoon drink with a friend.”
He raised his glass and the duke followed suit.They clinked the glasses together then drank.
“Everyone is curious to know what you plan to do now,” Moorland said once he’d set his glass aside.He leaned back in his seat, legs crossed at the ankles, one elbow propped on the armrest.“The condition Liverpool placed on your pardon was very clear.I assume it involves quite the change of pace for you.”
“Only if you believe the stories you’ve heard about me and my family over the years.”When Moorland’s gaze sharpened with interest, Adrian provided a casual shrug.“However, there’s really nothing to it.”
Disbelief showed on the duke’s face and then he chuckled.“If you say so, Croft.”
Adrian would never say otherwise.He could not afford to admit to any wrongdoing of any kind.The risk was too great and he had achieved too much.With a wife to care for, he would now guard the details of every crime he and his family had committed until his dying breath.
“There is something I would like to ask you,” he told the duke.“My wife and I are hosting a dinner this Thursday and would love for you and your wife to join us.I plan to invite Eldridge as well.Wrengate has already accepted my invitation.”
“I’m sure the duchess and I would enjoy an evening out at Croft House though I must confess I’m a little surprised Wrengate will be there.It has always been my belief that the two of you don’t get along.”
“You’re not entirely mistaken.However, I am of a mind to turn over new leaves and all that.Make the most of my second chance, so to speak.”
Moorland’s gaze narrowed ever so slightly, making it clear that he didn’t buy Adrian’s drivel for one single second.But as Adrian hoped, the man was too polite to say as much and the conversation moved on.It encompassed the duke’s plan to leave for his country estate next week and a mention of his eldest son’s academic achievements at Eton.This was followed by a detailed discourse on the newly crowned King Karl Johan III of Norway, who was also King Karl Johan XIV of Sweden, and not from either of the two countries.
Indeed he’d been born Jean Baptiste Bernadotte and was not only French but also Napoleon’s former marshal.
The duke was busy voicing his opinion on the Swedes electing him as their ruler four years earlier when the conversation taking place between a couple of gentlemen seated nearby caught Adrian’s attention.He recognized one as Viscount Ottersburg.
“It’s unbelievable to me,” Ottersburg said.“Just goes to show that no servant is to be trusted, no matter how dependable they may seem.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more but…you’re certain she ran away with the money?”
A pause followed before Ottersburg said, “It’s the most reasonable explanation I can think of.We are speaking of five pounds.Considering her yearly wages, one can’t really blame her for being tempted.Indeed, I am the only one to blame for what happened.”
“It’s rather curious though.”
“In what way?”
“I’m sure it’s unrelated but Mr.Harper told me a similar story regarding his footman.Unlike your maid he didn’t request a loan.He received permission for the afternoon off in order to see a physician and was never heard from again.”
The viscount snorted.“Perhaps the pair ran off together.”
Adrian considered asking the man if he knew which physician his maid had gone to see and whether or not an attempt had been made to locate her when she didn’t return to work.It exasperated him that the man simply thought the worst.
Although Adrian knew there was every chance the girl had indeed taken the money and run, it was also possible something tragic had happened to her.
But then Viscount Birchwood arrived and Adrian became distracted by his mention of Judge Oakleigh, the man who’d condemned Adrian to hang.A ruling had just been made against the judge, and he had every intention of learning the details.
* * *
