Amanda Scott (41 page)

“If I should
choose
to go out of town,” Melissa said tartly, “be sure I will do so for my own good reasons and not because of any unpleasantness arising from Papa’s death.”

T
WO HOURS LATER, WHEN
Nick entered the Billingsgate Club, he had already been to St. Merryn House in the hope that Penthorpe might have returned. He had found only Lady Ophelia and Susan, the latter worrying herself to the bone over where her husband might have gone after their return from the park. Nick went on to Brooks’s, White’s, and Boodle’s without finding Penthorpe. When he did find him, he decided, he would tie him up like a parcel, take him straight back to St. Merryn House, and throw him down at Susan’s feet.

The thought made him smile as he passed into the high-ceilinged entrance hall. A man approaching him smiled back and said bluffly, “Evening, Vexford. Expected you to be down at Epsom by now. Didn’t you have nags running in today’s heats?”

Jolted out of his brown study, Nick shook the hand held out to him and said, “I do have horses running, but not till tomorrow and Friday. I’ll go down early in the morning.” He excused himself after some brief conversation, and moved toward the stairs, his thoughts returning to his ever-increasing responsibilities. He realized when they did, however, that he was not irked by his obligations. He was certainly no longer bored. In fact, he decided as he approached the subscription room, one thing he could say for a certainty was that his boredom with the game of life had ceased the night he met Melissa in the Newmarket stable. That he had even ceased to think of life as a game occurred to him now with some force.

A footman leapt to open the double doors leading to the subscription room, and a low hum of voices punctuated by terse announcements of odds by the groom-porters greeted Nick. His gaze swept the room, searching for Penthorpe’s red hair. Seeing his brother at the faro table with Yarborne’s brat, he made a mental note to have another stern chat with Oliver just as soon as he had time for it. He spotted his quarry at the hazard table and moved toward him, not noticing until he had nearly reached them that Penthorpe was standing with Tommy Minley.

Both gentlemen greeted him cheerfully when he stepped between them. Minley added, “Amberley’s thrown in four times now. Bound to throw out soon, dashed if he ain’t. Dig out your blunt, Nick.”

“Not tonight, Tommy. May I have a word with you, sir?”

“Got markers on the table,” Penthorpe said, turning back to watch the cast, then sighing loudly and reaching to retrieve his markers when he lost. The groom-porter raked in the losing wagers. Watching, Penthorpe said with exasperation, “Damme, but it seems I’ve only to put a sovereign down to lose it. Been out of vein all evening.”

“Then you won’t mind coming away,” Nick said. “I’ve unpleasant news for you.”

“If it’s about that damned Seacourt, I’ve heard it,” Penthorpe said bluntly, “and I don’t think it’s unpleasant at all. Footpads did us all a public service, if you ask me.”

“All the same, sir,” Nick said patiently, concealing his annoyance at the unthinking response, “I’d appreciate a private word. You’ll excuse us, Tommy.”

“I’ll come with you,” Minley said. “My luck’s no better than Penthorpe’s, and I want the pair of you to dine with me. They put an elegant dinner on the table here, and Dory’s in town. Said he wants to see the place. Don’t mean to let him throw his blunt away, mind you, just to give him a good meal.”

“I’ll dine with you,” Nick said, adding to Penthorpe as the three men moved away from the hazard table, “See here, sir, don’t you think you ought to go home? I don’t mind telling you I’ve turned the town upside down, looking for you.”

“Looking for me? Why?”

“Because your wife desires your presence at home,” Nick said flatly, urging him toward the nearest doorway. When Penthorpe looked at him in surprise, he added, “Surely, that’s not odd, under the circumstances.”

“What circumstances? Look here, lad, you ain’t going to try to convince me that Susan’s crying her eyes out over that scoundrel’s death, because I know for a fact she won’t do any such thing. I daresay Melissa ain’t weeping much either.”

Glancing around, Nick saw several men looking their way. He said in an adamant undertone that left no room for discussion, “Come with me into that next room. I think you do not quite understand the situation.”

Penthorpe did not argue, nor did he object to Minley’s presence. When they entered the small, empty anteroom that Nick had used in a previous conversation with Oliver, he shut the door and said bluntly, “Don’t you realize half of London must be speculating on whether you murdered Seacourt?”

To his surprise, Penthorpe grinned. “Are they, by God? Well, I must say, I’m flattered. Didn’t think anyone would mistake me for a man of action. Been a long time since Waterloo, you know, and folks tend to forget I was there. But, look here,” he added when Nick remained grimly silent, “I was driving Susan in Hyde Park just shortly before they found him. Do you honestly imagine anyone will think I asked her to hold the reins while I jumped down and nipped behind a bush to murder Seacourt?”

Not mincing words, Nick said, “You don’t know when he was killed. Many who don’t know of your disappearance do know that Seacourt has been making your wife’s life miserable, and the fact that she’s led a quiet life since coming to London hasn’t stopped rumors from sprouting. In fact, it’s probably added to them. Moreover, sir, those who do know of your disappearance believe Seacourt was responsible for it.”

“So do I,” Penthorpe said. “Damme, so do you. It can’t have been anyone else. The man did everything he could to frighten Susan. One moment he wanted her back, claiming to love her; the next he tormented her just for the fun he got out of it. I’ve no doubt at all that he arranged my abduction to frighten her out of her wits. Don’t think I haven’t realized I was the only thing standing between him and Susan. With me in the picture, he’d have had to apply to a court to get at her, in full view of the entire
beau monde.
With me out of the way, no one would have contested his authority over her. He could just have stepped in and taken her home with him.”

Nick sighed. “The fact that you realize that does not help your cause. I’d suggest you go home before you’re foolish enough, or become drunk enough, to say that to anyone who might repeat it in a court of law.”

Minley said, “He’s right, Penthorpe. You won’t like hearing that from me when we scarcely know each other, but the fact is I’ve heard talk myself. Didn’t realize this was a family chat, however, so I’ll just skip along now. Must keep an eye out for Dory, at all events. Will you still join us for dinner, Nick?”

Nick nodded. Watching Penthorpe, he saw that the older man had not dismissed their warnings out of hand, but he was not certain that Penthorpe understood his peril. Quietly, he said, “Tommy’s right about the rumors, you know. I looked for you in several clubs before this one, and while no one said anything to my face—they know better—I could see their suspicions in the way they looked at me.”

“But, damme, Nick, that’s most likely because they think
you
murdered him, not me,” Penthorpe snapped.

“I agree that a number of them might think I had cause if they know how I met Melissa,” Nick said calmly. “I haven’t heard a whisper about that night, but few would dare repeat to me what they’d heard about it. In any case, I’d guess you and Susan are more vulnerable to rumor just now than I am. You ought to go home to your wife, sir.”

“But, damme, she won’t have heard—”

“She didn’t have to. She and Lady Ophelia thought of the possibility of your being accused the moment they learned of Seacourt’s death. That’s why they were so anxious for me to find you. I don’t think they shared their fears with Charley, however. If they did, she had the sense, for once, not to blurt them out to Melissa.”

“I’d not count on her continued silence,” Penthorpe said. “That chit’s as sharp as she can stare. Even if no one pointed it out to her, I’d wager she’ll soon figure it out on her own—aye, and that you might have done it, too—and I’ve never yet known her to keep her tongue hidden behind her teeth.”

“Well, I’ve done what I can to protect Melissa from all the rumors that will be flying if the men who killed Seacourt are not quickly apprehended. For a start, I told her to stay home till I return from Epsom, so I hope you’ll explain to Susan that that’s why she did not go at once to see her.”

“Maybe you should take her to Epsom with you. She ain’t as horse mad as her cousin, but she’d enjoy the races.”

“I’d have to look after her,” Nick said, “and it would be difficult to keep an eye on her and still look into things. Even though my parents will be there on Derby day, I don’t know when they will arrive or how long they mean to stay, and I’ve learned over the years not to try to divide my attention at such times. I’m too apt to get caught up in the business of racing. Better by far that she stay safe in London, and better, too, that I look as if I’m behaving normally. That will do more than anything else to scotch any rumors directed toward me—or toward you, for that matter.” He realized that he was beginning to offer as many excuses as Clara did when she was lying, and cut himself off, saying abruptly, “I don’t want Melissa worried about this.”

Penthorpe smiled. “I hope that means this marriage of yours is working out better than we all expected at the outset.”

“I’ve no complaints,” Nick said, though his thoughts flicked to Yarborne. “Will you go home now, sir?”

“Oh, I’m off,” Penthorpe said, adding with a grin, “but mark my words, this riot and rumpus will die out just as soon as they catch the footpads that killed that blasted scoundrel. You’ll see.”

Nick walked with him to the stairs, where they found Minley waiting on the landing. He was peering down over the railing at the entrance hall, but he straightened and joined Nick in bidding farewell to Penthorpe. As they watched him descend, Nick smiled and said, “Waiting here to catch me in case I forgot about dinner, Tommy?”

Minley shook his head and said, “Just been telling one of the footmen to keep an eye out for Dory. Ought to be along soon. Had a word with that brother of yours, too.”

“Where is Oliver? I want a word with him myself.”

“He left. That’s why I was talking to him, as a matter of fact. Told him you were here. Even asked him to stay and dine with us. Very large-minded of me, I thought, considering that brat still gives me a pain. Most uncivil, he was tonight, too. Said he’d no wish to take his mutton with two sour faces and a parson. I tell you, that lad wants a lesson in manners, and I told him so, too.”

“Did you, Tommy? I hope he listened to you. He’s been avoiding me these past two days, but I’ve got a good notion why.”

“Yes, so do I,” Minley said roundly. “The lad’s been dipping deep, Nick. Heard about it from more than one chap, and saw a bit of it tonight for myself. Tried to put a useful word in his ear, don’t you know, but got rudeness in return.”

“He resents advice generally,” Nick said. “He’s long overdue for that lesson you mentioned.”

“Know what I think?”

“I know you will tell me.”

“What I think is that young Oliver’s not as smart as he thinks he is. If that sprout of Yarborne’s ain’t setting him up as a dupe, I’ve never seen a rig run before.”

“You’ve seen more of the pair of them than I have,” Nick said. “I’ve seen very little of Robert Yarborne. However,” he added, thinking of what he had learned from Melissa, “I’ve reason to believe Yarborne himself may be no stranger to duping.”

Minley’s eyebrows shot upward. “You don’t say so! I always did think there was something wrong with that fellow. Said so any number of times.”

“I know you did, but then you suspect everyone of something, so if I didn’t pay you the attention you deserved, you must forgive me. What makes you think Robert Yarborne is setting Oliver up for plucking.”

“For one thing, they call him Rigger, don’t they? I’d say that derives from thimble-rig, if anyone were to ask me. I can just see that chap picking up a pretty living with a quick hand, a rattling tongue, a deal board, three thimbles, and a peppercorn. Did you know he’d paid young Oliver’s debts for him?”

“No, I did not.”

“Well, he did. Won’t tell you where I had that. Promised not to name names, but someone thought you should know. No telling what Robert will want as interest on that loan, of course, but I’d guess he just wants young Oliver nicely under his thumb. That’s the general reason for plucking a minor, ain’t it? M’ friend said he heard Ulcombe had refused to keep paying the piper, and told Oliver he’d got to learn economy. Surprised to hear that, myself, but of course, if they present him with a lot of Oliver’s vowels, Ulcombe’s bound to pay them. Very expensive, your brother is.”

“Nearly as expensive as I am,” Nick said gently.

“Now, don’t take a pet! Would you rather I’d kept the news to myself? Don’t mind telling you I nearly did. Ain’t one to split on a fellow, dashed if I am, but—Well, when all’s said and done, I don’t want to see your brother rolled up.”

Nick reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’m not angry, Tommy. Not with you. I’ll agree that Oliver’s got some warm moments coming to him, but I want to see which way the wind’s blowing where Seacourt’s death is concerned first. If he was truly murdered by footpads, I hope they catch them quickly.”

Minley looked sharply at him. “You say that as if you ain’t sure, Nick. You think someone else did him in?”

“I don’t know,” Nick admitted, “but I’ve any number of thoughts on the subject. One thing Penthorpe said is true. Few people will mourn Seacourt, and there are many who might have wished him dead.”

He was thinking of one person in particular when he saw Robert Yarborne cross the lower hall toward the exit. Taking a quick step toward the stairs, meaning to speak to him, Nick stopped when, below him, the outer door opened and Lord Dorian Minley entered. Robert brushed quickly past him and out to the street.

The vicar turned abruptly toward the closing door, then turned back to speak to the porter before he looked up and saw them. Handing his cloak to the porter, he gestured toward Nick and Tommy. Less than a minute later, he joined them at the railing.