Page 53 of A Secret Consequence for the Viscount
‘When did this happen?’
Frederick spoke then. ‘About two weeks ago, after an altercation with Oliver.’
Nicholas cursed and was about to explain about encountering Bowles with the maid, when Fred carried on.
‘But if he is on your list of suspects, Nick, there is a big difference between being a degenerate coward and an out-and-out killer. He’s more of a nuisance, I think. Irritating and ineffective. He is also a cousin of Georgiana’s stepmother.’
‘All right. Who else?’
‘David Wilshire. He issued you a death threat when Lady Hannah Goode kissed you in front of him, remember. He thought she had atendrefor him and then took umbrage when you won a large sum of money at cards from him a few hours later.’
‘I met him a few days ago in Bullock’s Museum. He is still unpleasant.’
‘He was always a bit unbalanced at school, I thought. A boy one needed to be careful of.’ Jacob pointed this out as he poured them all some more of the wine.
‘What of your uncle’s friend, Vince Matthews? He promised to see all of us in our graves for our poor behaviour and even wrote us a letter stating it.’ Oliver frowned as he tried to recite exactly what had been in the missive. ‘He said we were heathens who would be punished. He also warned us to watch our backs on dark and lonely nights.’
‘But his was a more general warning to us all. It’s specific threats we need, to Nick in particular.’ Jacob stated this and the others agreed.
* * *
Half an hour later they had a dozen names.
‘The club has a reputation for passion and temper. You have to expect these contretemps for it comes with the territory. It’s like the army where there are always two sides to any argument and everyone wants to have their say.’ When Frederick said this they all laughed. ‘But it is good to be working together, to be sitting here and discussing problems and solving them again.’
Jacob lifted his glass to that and drank. ‘Has there been any word of your guardian, Nicholas, since he left Bromworth Manor?’
‘None. I understand he has gone to the Continent with what he could take of the family money. If he manages to stack away a reasonable amount and not spend it he might be able to stay away for ever. I won’t be chasing him. As far as I am concerned he’s dead and gone.’
‘What of his son? He was a member here, if I recall, although I have not seen him lately.’
‘I caught sight of him a month or so ago in town and he looked as angry as he usually does.’ Oliver gave this reply.
‘He would have the motivation to see you dead. Isn’t he the next in line for the family fortune?’
‘Unless I produce an heir, but it is rumoured that he has followed his father to the Continent.’
The realisation that more than one person wanted him dead made him feel vulnerable and sad. His life here had been fast lived and careless, so fast that he had numerous enemies waiting for their chance to strike.
Did Eleanor know of this animosity? Perhaps she had pulled back from him all those years ago because of it? The waste of living his life on the angry edge of a debauched underbelly made him see for the first time just how cunningly his uncle had encouraged him into such behaviour. His foolish recklessness had allowed Aaron Bartlett to manoeuvre himself into a stronger position financially in the taking of control of his inheritances. Hindsight was a fine thing, but he could barely believe he had not thought of this when he was younger.
‘I don’t believe Bartlett’s son would be a threat anyway. He was always too much of a coward from the start.’
‘Be thankful then for it. You could do with a few spineless adversaries, Nick.’ The humour in Jacob’s words was welcomed.
‘Well, whoever it is will show their hand again and now that I have a better idea of who my opponent might be I will be ready for them.’
‘We will all be ready for them.’ Frederick laid down his hand and the others followed.
‘In vitium et virtus.’
Nick only hoped it would be virtue that might win out.
