“With most of the grooms at supper,” Fergus said, “those that remained to watch over the horses were in the stable. They claim that a man in a black cloak and hood ran in with flaming bottles. He threw them in all directions. The flames spread so fast; they worked to get the horses out and did not chase him. He disappeared.”
Maximilian glanced at Dentonshire. “But he was still in here when I ran in, for he hit me.”
“Then he waited for you,” the Duke replied. “The fire was set to draw you in. You were meant to die in it.”
“It would seem so, as everyone knows how I feel about my horses. Everyone knows I would run in to get them out. But where did he hide? Where could he hide in the midst of a fire?”
“That question may not ever be answered,” the Duke said. “Unless you capture this criminal.”
“I have to,” Maximilian replied. “I refuse to let him kill me.”
“The bottles no doubt contained alcohol,” Earl Whitington said, his tone thoughtful. “Whiskey, most likely. Highly flammable and easily obtainable.”
“Good point,” Maximilian agreed, walking toward the smoking remains. He beckoned to Nigel. “Start recruiting workmen immediately. I want this rebuilt right away. I cannot have my ladies in the fields come winter.”
“I will attend to it now, Your Grace.”
Nigel hurried away, and Dentonshire stared after him. “Any idea on why you and the miss were targeted for murder?”
Maximilian hesitated before answering. He glanced around at the still, expectant faces in front of him. “While I am not pointing fingers, exactly, I do have some suspicions. I wonder if an old love has become jealous.”
Briefly he explained how he had fallen in love with Sophia, but she had left him to marry a man who would pay little heed to her activities. He then presented the idea that Sophia perhaps wanted him back. “She sees my interest elsewhere and decides to kill us both out of female revenge.”
Dentonshire shook his head. “I fear your former love can be cleared as a suspect, Bromenville,” he said. “Your Sophia was killed last month.”
Chapter 35
Maximilian gaped. His mouth worked, but no sensible words emerged. He swallowed and tried again. “Killed? How?”
Dentonshire smiled wryly. “Her husband is a business associate of mine. He warned her not to go to France, but she went anyway. She was caught in the crossfire between two opposing patrols on the road to Paris. Her husband grieved for perhaps a day, then proposed marriage to a young heiress with connections in the diamond business. Life goes on, eh?”
Stunned, Maximilian wanted to sit down, but could not.Sophia, dead? I should grieve for her, feel sorrow. But all I feel for her is – nothing.“I was so certain she was behind all this. I do not know what to say.”
“And there is no one else with any kind of motive?” Dentonshire asked. “Surely you have enemies.”
Struggling to get his mind in working order, Maximilian shook his head. “None that I could think of. Only her.”
“Greed and politics are the normal reasons men commit murder,” Earl Whitington said. “I myself know you have very few enemies at the royal court or Parliament. Forgive me for saying so, Your Grace, but you have not been in politics long enough to have gained any antagonism.”
“He is right,” Dentonshire said. “You are too new at the game.”
“That leaves greed.” Maximilian wanted to pull his hair out.
“One of the seven deadly sins,” Dentonshire added. “But perhaps there are reasons we have not yet considered.”
“Such as?”
“If you have not cheated anyone at cards, perhaps you have a tenant on your estates who feels aggrieved. You were right to think of Sophia but consider jealousy from another angle. Perhaps you stole her from another man. Maybe he feels you are responsible for her death.”
Maximilian shook his head, frustrated. “As far as I know, she had no one else in her life when I met her. And her husband does not blame me?”
Dentonshire chuckled, a rare emotion it seemed to Maximilian. “He had no idea she owned a roving eye when he married her. He was glad to be rid of her so easily.”
“Then perhaps shedidhave another man on her hook,” Maximilian said. “I have no idea since she left me.”
“Again, this is all speculation,” Dentonshire continued. “But I think if we can discover the motive, we can uncover the perpetrator.”
“That makes sense,” Maximilian agreed. “But how do I find the motive?”
