He shrugged, as if discussing a broken teacup rather than a man’s life.
Grace’s blood ran cold.
‘Not six months after this, for some reason, his father started asking too many questions as well.’
Immediately, Grace calculated that this must have been after she had sent that letter.
‘The old Duke summoned me, demanding explanations for the Estates, especially Skye Manor. Somehow, he found out what Gibbs had been up to. I never figured out how. Barnes was supposed to be intercepting all communications.’
His brow furrowed.
‘It must have been Barnes who ratted me out.’
Grace remained silent.
She would not be the one to tell him that her letter initiated the late Duke’s investigation.
‘I had to eliminate the man of business before he could betray me any further. But the damage had been done. The Duke threatened to have me arrested.’
Grace swallowed hard. ‘So, you had to poison him too. With laudanum.’
Lord Harry grinned proudly.
‘Correct, Miss Skye. An easy task. The man was fond of his brandy, and I always keep a vial handy.’
He reached into his inner coat, retrieving a small glass bottle.
‘I take a drop now and again myself.’
Grace pressed a shaking hand to her chest as she fought to stay composed.
‘You murdered him.’
Lord Harry tilted his head.
Heather let out a strangled sob, covering her mouth.
His smile widened.
Casually slipping the bottle back into his pocket, he continued, ‘By then, I realised my business had been compromised, especially after the family discovered the Dukehad been poisoned. And so, it became a race against time to erase all traces of my business.’
‘Why did you kill Gibbs? He was working for you, was he not?’
His expression soured, twisting in disgust.
‘Unfortunately, Mr Gibbs turned out to be both incompetent and greedy. That was my mistake—taking him on because your cousin recommended him. He was careless, kidnapping too many girls from the same area. He was indiscreet. He had to be silenced, so I took care of him myself.’
The carriage gave a violent jolt, sending them all slightly forward.
The road was becoming rougher.
Grace’s blood turned to ice. He had killed his father. Lord Gareth. The old Duke. Gibbs. The man of business. How many more? How many others had simply disappeared into the night, silenced forever by this monster?
‘Is my cousin... Charles part of all this?’
She dreaded the answer.
Lord Harry tilted his head back and laughed.
