Page 39 of Lord Trafford's Folly
Julius felt frustration rising from his gut. This was why he worked alone. Or with Audrey. She tempered his plans, but did not try to stop him from pursuing his intentions. The young woman had buckets of courage, not to mention she was a useful companion when things went awry. Although … the fact that he now counted a female as one of his closest chums still served to disorient him.
Not just any female, a beguiling one at that!
“It is time we take the knowledge we have gathered to the Home Office. There have been far too many incidents where one of us could have been hurt or killed. Lily …” Abbott swallowed hard, evidently overcome by the recollection of the day his sister had been attacked.
Brendan’s face tensed, clearly reliving that terrible day. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you, Julius.”
Well … I suppose I should appreciate that!
Indeed, it warmed the cockles of his heart. Julius valued his friendships above all else. However, that could not be allowed to dissuade him from his commitment. His chums had suffered egregious offenses, and he had it within his grasp to solve their dilemma once and for all.
“We cannot give up our advantage when we are so close to unmasking the murderer.”
“We must! I demand we end this investigation and turn it over to the Home Secretary.”
Julius narrowed his lids, approaching the taller Abbott with a menacing mien, his temper roused. “Considering I cleared your father-in-law of a heinous crime, and ruined one of my favorite coats with a bloodied slash in a spot that can never be mended…” Julius shook his head in regret. He had loved that coat. “This is my call, Abbott. And I do not care to be told what to do!”
“Easy, gentlemen. Quarreling amongst ourselves will solve nothing,” Brendan called from across the room. Julius inhaled to calm himself, before spinning on his heel to retreat before he did something foolhardy, such as hit a larger man while he was recovering from a knife wound.
The baron paced, a thoughtful expression forming on his face. “The clubs are buzzing with talk about your disappearance with Miss Gideon.”
Julius’s resolve dimmed. The longer they were absent, the more her reputation was being decimated. He hoped that providing her the protection of his name would be sufficient to mitigate the scandal because it had now been six days since she had helped him flee to Aunty Gertrude’s.
“What is your point?” His bark belied the nonchalant front he preferred to portray, his belligerence unrestrained with Audrey’s welfare on his mind.
Brendan came to a stop, peering at him through the shadows of the dim tack room. “We could plant a story that you are terrified of your father’s reaction when he returns, certain that he will cut off your allowance for your dastardly behavior. The earl is healthy, so it will be years before you inherit and access funds from the estate.”
Abbott growled from the corner where he was standing. “No!”
Julius grinned. “I am a desperate man, willing to resort to blackmail to secure emergency funds.”
“Did you hear me? I said no!” Abbott’s tone was both adamant and pleading.
Brendan nodded. “Then, you return home and send the letters to inform the three suspects that you have obtained an interesting letter, which the late baron wrote. A letter you intendon delivering to the Home Office unless someone persuades you to do otherwise, but your time is limited, so a deadline looms.”
Folding his arms to think, Julius stared down at the hard-packed earth beneath his feet. “It is a good plan. The murderer might be wary of a trap, but we might incite him if we can trigger his emotions into making a rash move. Or … he may attend the meeting and reveal himself if he believes I can be paid off.”
Abbott strode between them, bristling with disagreement.
“Have either of you considered how vexed the earl will be when he returns home to find the family reputation destroyed with rumors? Or how this will affect Miss Gideon?”
Silence fell as they contemplated the questions.
Encouraged that he had caught their attention, Abbott inhaled deeply as if to calm himself. “This is as rash as anything you hope to provoke the killer into doing. We must calculate a better strategy than this. Each time we attempt to uncover the killer, we have made things worse. It is time to take what we know to the Home Office. If the killer makes a run for it, so be it. It is not worth risking anyone’s safety.”
The reaction Julius felt was visceral. To allow the murderous fiend to escape? After all they had been through, all the work they had done to uncover the facts they now possessed? He would not stand for it.
“I am not ready to give up. Once the killer knows a public investigation has been opened, he will disappear. He must pay for killing the baron, and for hurting the baroness. And what of Michaels? Does he have a say in this since he, too, has been assaulted? Do you forget he was forced to kill another servant to save your sister?”
Abbott stared back at him, a helpless expression on his face. “Do you think that does not keep me up at night? I think of nothing else!”
Brendan raked his hand through his hair, staring into space as he considered the arguments. “What of your father, Trafford? When does he return?”
“I do not know. He left for the Continent but did not provide any details, so he could be gone a few days or a few weeks.”
“We shall discuss all these options with the duke. If we agree to proceed, when will you return home?” Brendan’s response was a reasonable one. Halmesbury and Lord Saunton had proved reliable allies in the past, and Halmesbury knew the Home Secretary well. Considering the duke’s father-in-law had been the murder victim, it seemed ill-advised to exclude him from the decision.
“Miss Gideon wishes me another day or two of rest before I put myself in any danger. Even with runners hiding in the house and here at Aunty Gertrude’s, she does not advise physical exertion.”
