Page 39

“Damn,” Edward said. “I was hoping he was bluffing.”

“He may be. I have got an appointment with them tomorrow. Would you like to join me? Having a duke in their office might persuade them to be a little more forthcoming in their answers.”

He looked at the piles of work surrounding him. “What time?”

“Two o’clock.”

“I will meet you there. My barrister, Barlow, said that if it is in the will, it cannot be changed, but only if the money was specifically set aside for her and not just an allotment of money coming out of the estate. Let’s hope it is the former.”

“And if it isn’t?” Tony fingered the rim of his glass.

“We may need to persuade Brookhaven to…reconsider. See if your men can dig up any dirt on him. Not the usual stuff but something he does not want the ton to know.”

“I’ll see what we can do. What about the other matter in the House?”

“I have Dunstan on the lookout for any unusual discussions.”

Tony raised both brows. “Dunstan? I’m surprised he agreed.”

“Well, we have something he wants,” Edward said as he shuffled papers around.

“We do?” Tony sat forward, the beginning of a frown on his brow.

“Marianne,” Edward answered.

“He wants our sister?”

He sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “In love with her, or so he says.”

“Well, well, what does Marianne think of this?”

“At first she was disinclined to even speak to him, but after she did hear him out, she had a change of heart.”

“Interesting. I always thought he paid a certain amount of attention to her. Lucinda will be shocked.”

“Perhaps do not tell her yet. It may all come to nothing,” Edward cautioned.

“All right. What is this I hear about Dunstan painting Ashtonvale? Mother was none too pleased about how you went about that, by the way.”

“Yes, I have commissioned him to paint it. I think it is time.”

“Why? You hate the place.”

“I…do not hate it. I simply do not wish to go there. And besides, the painting is for you and Lucinda, seeing as you will be permanently in London.”

“Actually, we are looking at a small property just out of London. Close enough for me to ride in. It gets so hot here in the summer, and it would be nice for our child to have a little room to move. Lucinda would like a small garden as well.”

“It sounds delightful.” To his way of thinking, a townhouse would have done just as well, as they usually had a small back garden or at least access to a green area, but if they wanted to play cottage dwellers, that was up to them.

“I have checked out Morland. He lives here in London with his mother. He has only once made the trip to Jamaica, when his older brother died. He does own a sugar cane plantation there, so it is no wonder he is fighting to be able to ship slaves. He has a certain subset of like-minded friends, but none of them is in the political arena. He is open about his views but has no ties to any spies that I know of. I do not think he is our man, but I will keep someone on him for a few more weeks. See who he meets.”

“Excellent. Have you heard about any information being sold to those abroad?”

“Not really. There are always rumors and secrets sold, but without knowing what exactly was passed on, it makes it difficult.”

“I understand. I am beginning to think it may have been nothing. Someone, just wanting to play with me perhaps,” he said. “You don’t think it could be Brookhaven, do you? I mean, he would have reason if he is in debt, or perhaps he just wanted to play me because of Rose.”

“Perhaps. Leave it with me for now. I would say do not lose sleep over it, but I know you do not sleep.” He drained his glass and stood. “I hear Rose is as delightful as she was as a child. Lucinda liked her instantly.”