Page 33 of A Marriage of Necessity

“Your father employs twenty-nine servants. Half of those are women. Half of the men are likely not intelligent enough or reliable enough to be trusted with the passage of information. I have a list of the remaining seven men. I would like you to take a look at the names.” He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a folded paper, then handed it to Kennedy.

Kennedy took it and opened it. He scanned the list. “I know three of these men. David Henderson has been my father’s stable master for twenty years. He is a possibility. Jason is his valet. He is loyal to my father; however, he would not be my first choice.”

“Why?” John asked.

Kennedy shrugged. “My father believes in a strong separation between nobility and servants. To confide in Jason would be to elevate his station as valet.”

John nodded. “What about the others?”

“The last name on the list.” Kennedy pointed out the name Henry McKinley. “He has worked for my father for two years. In truth, I was surprised my father kept him on. He does not take orders well.”

“Interesting,” John murmured. “What about the third name on the list, Milton Hayes? He has worked for your father for only two months as a groomsman.”

Kennedy shrugged. “I know nothing of him. Are any of these other men new on his staff?”

John nodded. “Aye, the fourth name on the list, Dawson. He has worked as a groomsman for two weeks.”

Kennedy leaned back in his chair. “I do not know him. As he is new to my father’s staff, perhaps my father hired him specifically to help keep track of Rose.” Kennedy looked up at John. “What about his man of affairs, or his solicitor, Mr. Spector?”

“One of them would be an obvious choice,” John said. “And your father might fear that you would approach them and try to beat the information out of them.”

Kennedy thinned his lips. “He is right.”

“However, they could have information without realizing it,” John said. “There has to be bills relating to your sister’s living expenses.”

Kennedy had considered that. “Aye.” His heart began to thud. “With my father in a coma, I can demand to see all his financial records.”

John nodded. “My thoughts exactly. Ye may also question his servants without fear of repercussions.”