Page 49 of House of Thorns
“I am inclined to agree with you, my lord, but I am still inspecting the matter.” Mr. Timms folded his pudgy hands across the vast expanse of his belly. “As for Lady Deborah…”
Nicholas tapped his finger in anticipation.
“Hers is a common enough plight. Until five months ago, she was keeping close company to Lord Piers Deveraux, second son to the Comte de Gercourt. A man I believe you know well?”
“Piers?” Nicholas drew a sharp breath in surprise. “He never mentioned her. Of course, I haven’t seen him since Paris—last fall, I believe.”
Mr. Timms nodded. “Their affair was of a whirlwind nature, and from all appearances, a genuine one, despite Lord Deveraux’s passing distraction to the Lady Marie Rochambeau.”
“Passing distraction?”
“Lady Deborah discovered them, ahem…shall we say…in a compromised position?” Mr. Timms mopped his face.
“Caught them in bed, aye?” Nicholas queried dryly.
“Aye, my lord.” The investigator nodded. “Her heart broke. She left Paris and returned home to her grandfather’s estate, outside Glasgow. There, shall we say, she succored her heart with the attentions of the stable lad.”
“The stable lad?” Nicholas repeated, surprised. So, the stable lad had fathered the child? Deborah’s desperation could now be understood. Then, he recalled Mr. Timms’ first comment. “You said their affair—Piers’ affair with Deborah—appeared genuine in nature?”
“The man is distraught. He pines for her in Edinburgh, according to those with knowledge of the matter.”
Nicholas strode to the window and crossed his arms. Pined for her, did he? Genuine? Genuine enough to forgive her for making the same mistake Piers had himself? He drummed his fingers on his arms.
Well, there was only one way to find out. He’d have to speak with the man himself.
