Page 29 of Fit for a Duke
‘I don’t suspect herof being the killer, or of being associated with him.’
‘Even so, guv’nor, what made you do such a thing?’ Godfrey looked perplexed. ‘Everyone knows that women can’t keep secrets to save their lives. Word of your impending demise will have spread like wildfire by the end of the day, you just mark my words. It’s far too juicy a snippet for her to keep to herself.’
The moment Clio had left him, Ezra found himself pondering upon the wisdom of his candidness himself but wasn’t about to confess that the minx was a little too easy to confide in. Or that by sharing his concerns with her, he had assured himself of her continued company and would be in a position to defend her against unwanted advances. ‘She had decided to warn anyone I frowned upon that I might be about to kill him,’ Ezra said, rolling his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t put it past her either, so it seemed safer to tell her the truth. If an agent of the assassin’s is here, we don’t want him alerted to the fact that we’re on to him.’
‘You don’t have to justify yourself to me,’ Godfrey said, grinning.
‘Remind me to dismiss you for impertinence as soon as we return to Wickham Hall.’
‘She’s too young to be trusted with such a deadly secret,’ Godfrey insisted as Ezra plunged his face into the hot water, vigorously washing the smell of horses from his skin. ‘No good will come of it, you just mark my words. Personally, I reckon you’ve had a rush of blood to the head. Can’t think of any other reason why you would have taken the young lady into your confidence.’ When Ezra emerged, his hair dripping with water, and looked to his man for a towel, there was a broad grin gracing Godfrey’s face as he handed it to him. ‘Or there again, she’s a prime minx, as unconventional as she is spirited, so perhaps I can.’
‘She is not a horse!’ Ezra grabbed the towel and grunted. ‘You have a lively imagination and apparent disinterest in remaining gainfully employed.’
‘Well, what’s done is done, and we’ll just have to hope that the young lady realises how vital it is that she respects your confidence.’ Godfrey handed Ezra a clean shirt and he pulled it over his head. ‘The word below stairs is that she’s on the point of accepting Salford’s offer so she’ll have more important matters to occupy her mind.’
Ezra frowned. ‘For once, the servants’ hall has it wrong. She has as little time for the man as I do.’
‘Useful cover for an assassin though, don’t you think? Have the world think you’ve come a-courting and no one will give a passing thought to a more sinister motive.’
Ezra paused in the process of tying his neckcloth. ‘Indeed. I thought his telling Lady Fletcher that Miss Benton was expecting his declaration was a little brazen, even for him, but it had the desired effect and the lady is delighted to be playing Cupid.’
‘Word is that she issued an invitation to him, agreeing to keep it a secret because Salford wanted to surprise Miss Benton.’
‘Right, and I would suspect him, but for the fact that we know where he was when my brother and father died.’
‘Which means that whoever wants you dead so badly is going to a lot of time, effort and expense to cover his tracks, and is particularly ruthless.’ Godfrey shook his head, watching Ezra as he buttoned his waistcoat. ‘Have a care, your grace. You ain’t quite as invincible as you appear to think.’
‘I bleed like any other.’ Ezra gave a grim nod. ‘I am well aware of that. Did you find out anything to help narrow down the field of suspects this morning?’
Godfrey grunted. ‘Only that your cousin has been complaining about everything and running the servants ragged. There are draughts in his room, even though it’s the height of summer, and he’s afraid of catching a chill. His bed isn’t aired properly and he is convinced that will result in the dreaded chill if the draughts do not, and so forth. Lady Fletcher’s butler has lost all patience and given instructions that his bell should be ignored.’
‘I do wonder if his making a nuisance of himself is somehow significant,’ Ezra mused, absently tugging at one of Merlin’s ears. ‘He is complaining about insignificant matters that make him appear weak and ineffectual.’ Ezra shared a dark look with his man. ‘You and I know differently.’
‘Hmm. I’d agree, but for the fact that he would be clearing a path for Brennan.’
‘Who might well have given him certain assurances.’
‘True enough.’ Godfrey nodded thoughtfully. ‘As things stand, Silas is entirely dependent upon your largesse, but if your mother tired of him then he knows he would have to find his own way. Perhaps he prefers the prospect of a settled future in which he can be lord of his own manor and complain about the draughts to his heart’s content.’
‘True enough. Keep a weather eye on him, Godfrey. Him and Salford. Use Arkwright to help you,’ Ezra said, referring to his groom. ‘He’s dependable and discreet. I want to know everything that Silas and Salford get up to this afternoon.’
‘Seems to me that if Salford has Miss Benton in his sights, then you’ll be watching him for yourself.’
‘You may depend upon it, but I might get waylaid.’
‘That’s something I can definitely depend upon.’ Ezra followed his man’s gaze and groaned when he noticed a bevy of young ladies gathered together on the lawns immediately below his window. One or two of them glanced up and he abruptly stepped back, but not before Lady Cora sent him a coquettish smile and waggled her fingers at him.
‘Right, well I suppose I’d better hurl myself to the she-wolves,’ he said, whistling to Merlin, who rose from a deep slumber and trotted happily along in Ezra’s wake. ‘Bite any of them who get too familiar,’ he instructed his dog.
He stepped onto the terrace, where he was greeted by a group of gentlemen, Salford amongst them. Thinking there was safety in numbers, Ezra joined them and listened with half an ear to their conversation, which centred around an early evening visit to the local tavern, prior to changing for dinner.
‘How about you, Wickham?’ someone asked. ‘Will you join us?’
It was an invitation that Ezra would ordinarily seize with gratitude, a common ploy at events of this nature that permitted the eligible gentlemen a brief respite from the machinations of ambitious mothers.
‘What, the locals not good enough company for you, Wickham?’ Salford chided when Ezra hesitated.
‘On the contrary, I shall of course be there.’
