Page 2 of Lord Trafford's Folly
Sir,
It has come - - my attention that the true heir to Lord - - - - - - - - has not been acknowledged.
I was speaking with his lordship before the coronation, and he informed me of his recent bout of ill health. He spoke fondly of his youngest brother, informing - - of his strength, intelligence, and wit at great length. There was no mention of his lordship’s middle brother, Peter, who you may be aware died near twenty years - - -.
Peter and I attended Oxford together, - - - his death was tragic - - - unexp- - - - -. I have thought of him often over the years, which is why I feel the need to pass this information - - - - - -u.
Before departing England, Peter married a wom- - of Catholic descent. She convert- - - - - - - - - were married - - - - - Church of England, before leaving our shores. I maintained correspondence with him until his death. He had written just months before his death to inform me of the birth of his son.
I cannot say for certain where the boy and his mother are - - - - - all these years, but he would be the true heir and I implore you to look into th- - matter. - - - - - - - - - is the true heir to the title of - - - - - and his father’s legacy cannot be ignored.
I understand the trials of being a second son, and I cann- - allow this matter to stand. Whether - - - - terrible injustice is a mistake due to ignorance of the child Peter sired, or a deliberate obfuscation of the facts, I must speak on my friend’s behalf. His son is the true heir and must be found immediately. I will locate our shared correspondence when I return to Somerset and have them forwarded to - - - - - - - - - - -
J. Ridley, Baron of Filminster
Julius whistled through his teeth, looking up to shake his head in disbelief. “This provides a serious motive for murder. This is both wealth and power at stake.”
Abbott held out his hand with an expectant air; Julius handed the letter to him without comment. He read intently before sagging back, the implications setting in. “Lily is in danger if the killer believes his secret might be contained within the walls of Ridley House.”
Julius snorted. “And the culprit would be correct, considering the letter you are holding.”
“There is insufficient information to reveal his identity!”
Julius twisted his lips at Abbott’s inane protest. “There is enough. An elderly lord, suffering from a recent bout of ill health, with a younger brother named Peter who died some twenty years ago, and an even younger brother set to inherit his title. Who has likely killed the baron to conceal the knowledge of the true heir in order to secure his inheritance? It drastically reduces the number of suspects.”
“Precisely,” Brendan responded. “Lily and I spent last evening and this morning comparing a recent copy of Debrett’s to a copy from thirty years ago to compile a list of peers. The runner, Briggs, is investigating what happened to each of the Peters to learn the circumstances of their deaths. Thus far, we have a list of six heirs who might fit the description, which is why I need your help.”
Julius lowered his gaze to the ring between his agitating forefinger and thumb.
Abbott leaned forward. “What do you need?”
Brendan cleared his throat, twisting the toe of his boot on the bright Aubusson rug adorning his study floor while his dark chestnut curls fell forward over his face. “It is much to ask …”
Julius smirked. “That has not stopped you before.”
“This is different, Julius. My bride is in danger.” Brendan faltered before continuing. “If anything happened to Lily, I would never forgive myself.”
Nor would I, since the young woman saved a dear friend.
Abbott rose to his feet, interrupting thetête-à-têtebetween Julius and Brendan.
“Whatever you need, I will do it.”
Brendan’s brandy eyes flickered to Abbott, and he nodded. “Thank you … Aidan.”
Julius heaved a heavy sigh. Why not? Investigating this matter would fill his idle hours. It would be a lark to solve a murder, he supposed. And he could not allow harm to befall his friends.
“I am in. What is next?”
Returning to the window, Brendan leaned against the sill. “I need your help to investigate these six men. Lily and I are still considered scandalous for our supposed tryst on the night of the coronation. Although the scandal is abating now that we have wed, it is difficult to be discreet when all eyes are upon us. You two gentlemen, as single young bucks around Town, will be welcomed into the homes of polite society with high hopes you might make a match with their daughters or nieces. That access will allow you to search for information that might shed light on their involvement.”
Abbott rubbed his face, mirroring Julius’s horror to engage with marriageable young ladies. In the normal course of things,he would never agree to such risky interactions. If he did not keep his wits about him, he might find himself caught in the parson’s trap like the rest of his friends.
But this is for Brendan and the courageous baroness.
Abbott responded first. “Where is the list?”
Brendan shot a questioning look at Julius, so he shrugged with deliberate nonchalance, extinguishing the anxiety that such a notion caused in his gut. “If we travel as a pair, we should be safe even within the perilous ballrooms of the infamous marriage mart.”
