Page 42
“And short,” Jonas said.
“Indeed,” Alexander said, thoughtfully. “Probably not much taller than a Welsh pony.”
Jonas grinned. “All twelve hands’ worth. And Travers’s height puts him closer to a shire horse.”
“I assume these measurements mean something?”
“According to Miss Doyle, our man is taller than her father but shorter than me. I think you can eliminate Sumfield and Travers using those criteria.”
“He could have been purposely hunched over,” Alexander said.
“She saw him several times. I have to believe she was able to make a fairly accurate assessment. Especially if he was ever standing near her father.”
“Very well.” Alexander drew a line through the two names. “That leaves us with Baron Forwood and Lord Hargrove.”
Jonas nodded. “Forwood lives in Kent, and Hargrove lives in Sussex, which is not so far from Kent.”
“They both meet the conditions you established and are equally disagreeable,” Alexander said. “Your sister plans to invite all six gentlemen to her garden party. We should continue to keep our eyes open for further clues but focus our attention on Forwood and Hargrove.”
“Agreed,” Jonas said. “And in the meantime, let us hope they both deign to attend.”
“Who would dare refuse an invitation from the Duchess of Kelbrook?” Alexander asked, humor shining in his eyes.
“She is a force to be reckoned with,” Jonas said, finally dropping into his favorite chair. “Do you know she even managed to persuade me to allow the innkeeper’s daughter to temporarily take on the role of my mother’s companion?”
“The duchess has always been a forward thinker.”
“That’s a rather nice way of putting it,” Jonas said. “Renegade might be more accurate.”
Alexander’s lips twitched. “And Lady Langton? What does she think of that arrangement?”
“She has agreed to try it. Not so much because of her need of assistance, I think, but rather for Miss Doyle’s. Mother has always been one to look out for those in distress.”
“Including stray dogs and birds with broken wings, as I recall.”
Jonas chuckled. “She did allow me to care for quite a menagerie over the years, didn’t she?”
“You were the envy of every boy at Eton, old chap. No one else had a mother so kindhearted or open-minded.” He walked over to the brandy decanter, poured them each a glass, and handed Jonas one. “It’s not hard to see why your sister is similarly inclined to offer service.”
“Rosalind’s vigor, however, is in a league of its own.”
Alexander laughed. “She has written to me three times regarding her garden party. I’m beginning to think she intends to run every nobleman in attendance through her own screening.”
“I do not doubt it. She is indomitable and annoyingly correct about most things.”
“Including assigning Miss Doyle to be your mother’s companion?” Alexander asked.
“Yes,” Jonas admitted somewhat reluctantly. “As unorthodox as it may be, I think she was right. It will benefit all parties, and the more time I spend with Miss Doyle, the more impressed I am by her character. She has shown strength and integrity under the most adverse conditions.”
Jonas had told Alexander of Miss Doyle’s timely escape from The Fox and Hare but had given him limited details regarding the deplorable condition in which she’d arrived at Langton Manor. Just the thought of it caused his hands to ball into fists.
“But does she have the necessary skills for such a position?” Alexander asked.
Jonas sighed. “Probably not. So I am also charged with finding her something more suitable in the city.”
Alexander swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “I can mention her to my housekeeper. It seems to me that we’re always in need of some kind of maid, and your favorable character reference would go a long way.”
Jonas was wholly unprepared for his intensely negative response to Alexander’s suggestion. His irritation over his friend’s willingness to help was completely unreasonable. Tightening his grip on the glass, he attempted to do the same for his emotions. “That’s very good of you, Alex,” he said, trying to make it sound as though he meant it. “Let me know what you find.”
