Page 41 of The Duke's Forbidden Bride
“I do, Your Grace. Why do you ask?”
“Lord Follet recently sent me a wedding gift but left no return address. I was wondering if you have seen him recently—I wish to thank him, you see.”
“Ah. I have not but—” Lord Heswall gestured to the man who was cutting the wheat. “This is Eddie. He has recently come to work for me, and I believe he was employed by Lord Follet before seeking the position here in the countryside. Eddie! Come over here for a moment.”
Without hesitation, the farmer approached them, his rugged face friendly and open. “What can I do for you, Lord Heswall?”
“This is His Grace, the Duke of Everdawn. He is enquiring about Lord Follet. I was just explaining that he was your former employer.”
Eddie straightened up and gave him a wary look. “He was, Your Grace,” he said carefully.
Spencer paused, studying him carefully. “And why did you leave his employ?”
Eddie hesitated, his eyes flicking to Lord Heswall before he spoke. “Begging your pardon, My Lord, but I don’t know how much I ought to say.”
Lord Heswall let out a quiet chuckle. “Come now, Eddie. His Grace is a man of honor; you can speak plainly with him. If there’s something worth hearing, he’ll know how to make use of it.”
That seemed to reassure Eddie. He gave a small nod.
“Wages, mostly,” he began. “His Lordship was often in town, attending meetings, scheming, making money hand over fist, but we stopped seeing much of it. I worked as a gardener at one of his London townhouses. I asked to be moved to his country estate, but he refused. Said it wasn’t in use enough to justify the expense. Truth be told, folks say he’s got a hand in everything, always chasing some profit.”
“I see. Anything else worth mentioning?”
Eddie scratched the back of his neck. “Not from me, but Thomas there”—he nodded toward the man lifting bales of hay—“he has a distant uncle who is some sort of accountant in London. Knows more about Lord Follet’s dealings than anyone.”
Moments later, Thomas joined them. He was younger, his blonde hair as bright as the wheat around them.
“Lord Follet?” he echoed, after being brought up to speed. “Sure, I know of him. My uncle, Elias Larkin, keeps his books. Well, more so his shipping business with Lord Belgrave. Only minor ledgers, mind you, but… Well, my cousin is a private man. He does his work, goes home, and lives a quiet life. However, he mentioned that he’d received logging requests for larger transactions of late. It’s all coded, he says, but it’s tied to the ports. He believes that the gentlemen have come into something big. Horses or something, and that’s what the codes are for. Maybe Italian steeds.”
“Elias Larkin, you said?” Spencer asked, committing the name to memory.
He thought back to what Eleanor had said—something about women being crammed onto a ship.
Women… horses…
Could it be the lead he had been looking for?
Thomas nodded. “That’s the one. His office is on Garnet Street if you’re looking to bet onhorses.”
Spencer only smiled tightly. He nodded his farewell to both servants and resumed his walk with Lord Heswall, ensuring that he did not end the conversation too quickly, too suspiciously.
Lord Heswall mentioned his eldest daughter’s upcoming betrothal to a neighbor’s son and invited him for a small celebratory dinner being held later that week.
“It would be an opportunity to meet Her Grace,” he said.
Although Spencer loathed the idea of parading themselves as a couple in front of strangers and furthering the pretense, he nodded as though he was eager.
“Indeed. I am sure she will be thrilled.”
And knowing the Duchess, she would be.
Elias Larkin was a young accountant who looked timid yet intelligent behind round spectacles as he greeted Spencer later that day.
The journey had been long, but Spencer had refused to stop, not wanting to rouse Eleanor’s suspicions; it would only mean more questions.
“I have heard you are the man to visit when discussing potential bets,” Spencer said, making himself comfortable on the chair opposite. “And business.”
“I am, Your Grace. Are you looking to open an account for betting solely?”
