“You said something about a meeting. What meeting?”
“Weren’t you listenin’? I was telling ye how Lord Suthenshire had shouted at me in a meeting with the other members of the House of Lords and I told him something they didn’t like. I said—”
“What other members?” Michael pressed. “Do you know their names?’
George frowned, slowly shaking his head. “I cannot recall, truthfully.”
“How many of them were there?”
“Two? Three?”
Michael didn’t think he could hide his frustration at the lack of clarity. “Do you know the Duke of Ryewood? Was he there?”
“The duke? I knew the duke. I heard he passed away though.” George’s eyes began to widen. “Wait, are ye—”
“Answer the question,” Michael demanded.
“Yes, yes, I knew the duke. But he wasn’t there. That man was the only noble who was ever nice to me so I made sure to learn who he was. I thought it odd that he wasn’t there though.”
Michael did as well. “Do you remember what they were meeting about?”
George shook his head again. “I can’t recall a thing. I do remember the way Lord Suthenshire tried to degrade me, however. I believe I resigned one week later. That was my finalstraw, ye see. And it was at a good time too because Lord Suthenshire was giving evidence for a trial a few days later and I know he intended to bury me in paperwork.”
Michael nodded stiffly, his mind whirring. He absently fished out another shilling. “I do see. Thank you for your time, Mr. Horton. Have another drink.”
“Ye don’t have to tell me twice!” Again, George was quick to snatch up the coin. “Feel free to reach out if ye ever need more information.”
Michael doubted this man had the information he was looking for, but he nodded as he stood. At least he was walking away with something. Something small, something that may not be anything at all. But it gave him renewed focus.
He exited the tavern, striding briskly toward his carriage waiting at the end of the dimly lit street. Michael made sure no one was following him before he climbed in and told the coachman to head to Belington House.
Michael barely paid attention to the trip and so was taken by surprise when they arrived. He exited the carriage, realising that it was late at night and that his uncle might have already gone to bed. That didn’t stop him from heading inside, however.
The butler admitted him and informed him that Henry was having a drink in the parlour. That was where Michael found him, sipping amber liquid by his bookshelf.
“Have you ever read Hamlet, Michael?” Henry asked him without turning.
Michael made his way to the sideboard to pour himself a glass of brandy. “You know very well that I have, uncle.”
“Then you know what I intend to say next, don’t you?”
Michael held back his sigh, joining his uncle by the bookshelf with his glass of brandy in hand. “If you intend to lecture me on the consequences of acting on one’s need for revenge, you will be wasting your breath.”
Henry finally looked at him, face softening. “That is no reason not to speak when you know you should.”
Michael couldn’t hold back his sigh this time. “That is not why I have come here. I actually wished to share a small tidbit of information I gleaned this evening.”
“Regarding your father?”
“Everything I do pertains to my father,” Michael couldn’t help but drawl. “I spoke with Lord Suthenshire’s former clerk. He did not possess much knowledge, but he did make mention of a meeting Lord Suthenshire had with a few other members of the House of Lords.”
“Did he say who those members were?”
“Unfortunately, not. I shall have to ascertain that on my own. However, hedidsay he resigned one week later, only a few days before Lord Suthenshire provided evidence in the trial against my father.”
“Do you believe those men were the conspirators?”
“I would wager they are. I need only ascertain their identities. The clerk mentioned that there were no more than three of them, aside from Lord Suthenshire.”
