Page 26 of Her Heart's Rightful Earl
“It does look likely,’ the captain confirmed morosely.
“But who would have wanted to kill my cousin!” Alexander was outraged. “A more kind, generous, and amiable fellow, you could not hope to meet!”
Captain Morrison fixed Alexander with a poignant stare.
“Your father, too, was kind, generous, and amiable, was he not?”
“You believe the person who murdered my fatheralsomurdered my cousin?” Alexander’s face grew pale at the prospect.
The captain silently looked between the two friends, carefully articulating his next words.
“I have reason to believe the two deaths are inextricably linked.”
“But why?” Thomas asked, leaning up against a dusty stone pillar.
“Investigating Edmund’s activities in the lead up to his death, I have discovered that he was researching his uncle’s murder. Itseems he never believed you were the murderer, Wellwood …” The captain pointedly nodded towards Alexander, who breathed deeply in some form of relief.
Of course, he had only assumed those closest to him would trust in his innocence, but without having been able to reach out to them, it was impossible to know for certain. Alexander experienced a sad satisfaction that at least his deceased cousin had believed in his integrity.
“In digging into the circumstances surrounding your father’s demise, Edmund uncoveredquitethe controversial conspiracy! He discovered financial documents showing embezzlement on the Wellwood accounts and recorded all his findings in a journal—I consider these amounts large enough to motivate murder … and to frame you, Wellwood.”
Alexander stepped backwards as he experienced the shock like a punch to his gut.
“Do you know who could have done such a thing?” Thomas appealed to the captain.
“My investigation is young. My reason for requesting your acquaintance today, however, was to ask if you can think of anybody who may have a motive to commit fraud, embezzlement, murder, and frame for a wrongful conviction?”
Alexander and Thomas looked at each other aghast. Members of their families and friendship groups ran through both their minds, but they were at a loss.
“I cannot think of anybody who could be so malicious!” Alexander admitted.
“Consider then,” advised Captain Morrison. “Who may have benefited from killing your father and having you banished?”
There was a loaded pause whilst both men considered this.
“Certainly not my mother or brother. They both loved us dearly.”
“Your brother, Marcus Hartwell,” the captain clarified, “is now the acting Earl of Wellwood in your absence. Is this correct?”
“It is,” Alexander concurred.
“And might this be considered a reasonable incentive?” Captain Morrison took a notepad from his pocket to refer to some scribbled notes.
“Hah!” Alexander laughed. ‘My brotherneverwanted to be earl! As a child, he would say how fortunate it was that he had an older brother, as he did not desire such responsibility. In a moreambitious fellow, I could understand the suspicion, but Marcus never strived for much. This can be demonstrated by how notably the Wellwood estate has unfortunately been neglected since my brother’s peerage.”
“I can attest to that!’ Thomas contributed.
“Understood.” The captain frowned at his notepad. “You were betrothed to Miss Arabella Sinclair before you were compelled to leave, were you not, Wellwood?”
“I was.” Alexander straightened up, defensive at Arabella’s innocent name being dragged into such an abhorrent conversation.
“Might she have a father or brother who disapproved of the imminent union?”
“No …” Alexander could not conceive of it.
“Am I to understand she does not have a father or a brother?”
“No. She does, indeed. But they are good upstanding gentlemen of whom I am very fond and have reason to believe the sentiment is mutual.”
