Page 17 of With Good Grace
‘And yet Barber did not require your husband’s services when he took over the agency,’ Jake said in a casual tone.
‘I still cannot understand why you did not let Hubert take it over, Olivia,’ Rupert said, sounding affronted. ‘He would have provided a safe pair of hands and you would have been assured a steady income.’
‘Thank you, Rupert,’ Olivia replied with asperity. ‘But I preferred to sell, and do not need a steady income, as you put it. And if you need to ask why I preferred to sell, then you are even more insensitive than I supposed.’
Jake wanted to applaud. His Olivia could always be relied upon to rise to a challenge and the put down she had given her brother, whose face was now stained scarlet with indignation, was far kinder than he deserved.
‘Did Sir Hubert set up in opposition to Barber?’ Jake asked into the ensuing silence.
‘That must be it!’ Rupert cried. ‘I should have thought of it sooner. Barber was jealous of Hubert, couldn’t stand the idea of competition and…and…’
Lady Grantley’s anguished wail finally stopped the idiot from articulating his thoughts. Jake shot him a castigating look and returned his attention to Lady Grantley.
‘There is no need to suppose that anything untoward has happened to your husband,’ he said calmly.
‘Thank you for trying to spare my feelings, Lord Torbay, but I fear there is every need. Hubert has many faults, I would be the first to admit that. Indeed, I have no alternative but to speak candidly if I require your help.’
‘You may depend upon my discretion, ma’am.’
‘Again, I thank you, but I must also find a way to convince you that Hubert would not leave me without an explanation. If he had been delayed, or if business required him to travel to another part of the country, he would have sent a telegram.’
‘There is no delicate way to ask this question,’ Jake said gently, ‘and I would not do so if it were not essential.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Is there any particular lady, an actress perhaps if he is intent upon pursuing a career as a theatrical agent, with whom he might have become intimately acquainted?’
‘Torbay, is that question really necessary or do you take delight in oversetting the lady?’ Rupert asked pompously.
‘Be quiet, Rupert!’ Olivia said crisply. ‘Or leave the room.’
‘I will not be spoken to thus by my own sister!’
Jake turned to glower at the fool. He grunted something unintelligible and fell silent.
‘I am not aware of any such liaison,’ Lady Grantley said, elevating her chin. ‘Besides, he does not have the…the wherewithal to support such a person.’
‘Hubert relies upon charm and his title to make an impression,’ Olivia said. ‘I have seen him do so on more than one occasion. He and Marcus were similar in that regard.’
‘Since you refer to your financial situation,’ Jake said, his glance taking in the neglected state of what had once obviously been a handsome drawing room, ‘are you aware what your husband planned to do to resolve that situation? Did he take loans? Had he asked his bankers to extend further credit?’
‘I think the bank refused to…oh dear, this is very hard for me.’ Lady Grantley sucked in a shuddering breath. ‘It must be obvious that we are on the point of ruin. I have two sons at Eton and their fees have not been paid for two terms. My daughter ought to be presented next year but there is not the least likelihood of that happening, not as things stand. If only…but it does no good to repine. Facts must be faced, Lord Torbay,’ she said with surprising dignity, tears sparkling like diamonds on her lashes. ‘Marcus was the younger brother but he had a better head for business. Hubert was able to make ends meet whilst working with Marcus, but now…’
‘What about Sir Hubert’s involvement with your import business, Maynard?’ Jake asked Rupert. ‘Olivia tells me the two of you were in partnership at one time.’
‘We were. Marcus and I worked together but when Marcus took his money out, Hubert invested in his place, knowing a good deal when he saw one. However, we lost a few customers shortly thereafter through no fault of our own and…well, Hubert decided to concentrate upon working with Marcus in the theatrical business after that.’
Which explained a lot, Jake thought. Marcus really was the one with the business brain, explaining why he kept Hubert on such a tight leash within his agency and did not permit him to become a partner. ‘Are you still in business alone?’ he asked Rupert.
‘What’s that to do with the matter?’
From which Jake took it that either Rupert had given up his business, or trade was not booming, as it most assuredly ought to be in the current climate. He cared only because he didn’t want Olivia’s conscience troubled by her direct family’s impecunious state.
‘Idle curiosity,’ Jake replied.
‘Hubert was excited about something when he went off this time,’ Lady Grantley said into the awkward silence that ensued. ‘He told me not to worry. That if things worked out in the way he expected them to then our troubles would be over.’
‘Ah, I see.’
And Jake did see, all too clearly. He exchanged a glance with Olivia and could tell that she was highly suspicious too. Any situation that would restore Grantley’s fortunes at a stroke would be highly speculative or illegal. Possibly both. The need to discover whom Grantley had been engaged to meet with on the day he disappeared became more pressing by the second. That person was referred to in his appointment book as A.C.
‘Your husband was driven to the station in your gig on the day he left here with the intention of catching the train into London?’ Jake asked.
