Page 68 of A Countess of Convenience

“Who has threatened you, my lady?” Sir Reginald Matthews’s piercing gaze should’ve been one of the Crown’s secret weapons. It would intimidate the most hardened of criminals.

John grunted. “Let us say an old acquaintance who should’ve known better, Matthews.”

“And the subject of the extortion?”

Judith and John exchanged a glance, but she’d no hesitation in trusting her confidences to Sir Reginald. “My late husband’s reprehensible debaucheries and disgraceful conduct at the duel where he was fatally injured.”

“Ah, yes. Simon Harper’s character was found sorely lacking that day.” He glanced at John, who gave a slight shake of his head, then continued. “I know something of Mr. Harper’s grave lack of civility, my lady. I was Lord Trevor’s second in the duel and witnessed his dishonorable actions.”

With a gasp, Judith sat back, stunned. “You were there?”

“I was, my lady, as I informed your husband at our meeting earlier this week. I had assumed he might have mentioned it.”

“He did not.” There would be a reckoning for that little omission. “However, I believe it makes my story unnecessary, as you already know it. However, few other people do, and Downing would prefer it to remain that way. So that Simon’s name and reputation would not be more tarnished than it already was.”

“But you now think Swindon knew?” John frowned. “And tried to hold it over him to keep his silence on the scandal. But why drag your daughter into it at all?”

“If Swindon knew about the scandal and approached Downing about keeping silent in exchange for considerable funds,” Judith nodded as all the pieces fell into place in her mind, “the first thing Downing would do is try to put the money somewhere it could not be accessed, like a trust. That way Swindon could not force him to withdraw it. Hence the reason he settled so much on Anna in the first place. Then Downing’s only access to any funds would be to land and property entailed and therefore unavailable to dissolve into capital.”

“With Downing as guardian, he couldn’t touch the rest of the money,” Sir Reginald added. “But then Swindon, I assume, called Downing’s bluff and proposed the betrothal, knowing full well he could then borrow against those funds and thereby fill his coffers.”

“I do wonder if they found out about the five thousand pounds my father settled on Anna in a trust. Swindon could borrow against that windfall as well.” She was surprised her father didn’t rise up to haunt both Downing and Swindon.

“I really think not.” John took her hand and patted it. “There is no way either one could have found out. It was a private bequest with no public record of it anywhere.”

“Unless Farringdon wheedled it out of Mr. Piper.” Judith turned to the magistrate, rancor in her soul.” What can be done about extortionists, Sir Reginald? Can they be brought to justice?” Certainly, a man should be made to pay for such a crime.

Sir Reginald shrugged. “The law accounts extortion a misdemeanor, so if caught and convicted, a man could be made to pay a fine, or sentenced to whipping, the pillory, or imprisonment.”

Not expecting anything nearly so severe, Judith was pleased. Not as grievous sentences as hanging or transportation, but heavy enough penalties. “Then Swindon or Farringdon could be prosecuted?”

“Therein lies the rub, my lady.” Sir Reginald smiled ruefully. “Should such a case be brought to court, the information Lord Downing and you and Lord Haxby seek to hide would, of course, become public knowledge.”

“That is no good at all then.” How annoying that justice would come at a steep price for the victim.

“And in the case of either Swindon or Farringdon, because they are peers, they are exempt from such prosecutions in the first place.” The magistrate shrugged. “Such are the privileges of the peerage.”

John peered into her face. “But, Judith, how are you even sure that Swindon knows about Simon Harper’s exploits.”

“Because Swindon’s son, Lord Fenton, was a friend of Simon’s.”

Chapter 27

John’s mouth dropped open then shut with a snap. “How do you know that, my dear? And why did you not mention it before now?”

“I didn’t know until now, my lord.” That wasn’t exactly right. “I suppose I should say, I didn’t remember until now. The headache I had earlier brought back the memory of that terrible night in November. I couldn’t remember it until just now. Miles—Lord Farringdon, my physician, Sir Reginald—told me that I could expect the headaches to herald the return of some of my memories.”

“You were saying, Lady Haxby?” Sir Reginald nodded encouragingly.

“Oh, the night in November when Simon and I quarreled. Dora, Miss Harper, had mentioned something of that night, but I couldn’t remember it until now.” It sat in her mind now like she was seeing it happen again. “Simon had been out the night before and hadn’t come home until early that morning. I asked him where he’d been.” She curled her hands into fists. “I asked him frankly if he had a mistress. He laughed and said who had the money for mistresses? If he wanted a good whore, he’d go to The House of Pleasure, which was where he’d been last evening with his friends Barclay and Fenton, the three of them being given all kinds of pleasure by the madam of the house herself, Mrs. Vestry.”

“Did he?” Sir Reginald chuckled. “Well, he may have been at the House of Pleasure, my lady, but I can assure you he was not with Amorina Vestry.”

Judith looked askew at the handsome magistrate, who sounded very sure of himself. “If you say so, Sir Reginald. Anyway, I had suspected my husband’s infidelity, but to blatantly flaunt it before me was too much. I told him I would inform his parents of his lecherous behavior, to which he didn’t bat an eye. But then I told him I’d inform his Aunt Eloise, who’d promised to make him her heir. Such a black stain on his reputation with her and, well, Aunt Eloise would likely withdraw her generous offer.”

Almost without knowing what she did, she lifted her hand to her cheek, as though she could feel the sting of his slap all these months hence. “That is when he slapped me, and I fell. And woke up in March with no recollection of that night until now.”

“My dear, I am so sorry.” John put his arm around her.