“I would like to sit in with you, Freddie,” Thea said. “Perhaps I can offer some insight.”
Freddie nodded. “You might at that. Just do not be offended if you hear a bit of swearing.”
Her right brow rose. “Have I ever?”
Laughing, Freddie led the way back into the house and into the cozy room lined with books that Freddie, and his ancestors before him, used to conduct the affairs of the estates. Nearly an hour passed before Charles was able to join them, apologizing for the delay. “I have workmen rebuilding the dock now, My Lord, Miss Miller.”
“Excellent, Charles, please, have a seat.”
He steepled his fingers together with his elbows on his desk. “Now who can you think of who might want me dead? If, indeed, yesterday’s shooting was not an accident, after all.”
“Why the change of heart, Freddie?” Thea asked.
“I do not know,” he replied, sitting back in his chair with a sigh. “Bad dreams, I expect.”
“My Lord,” Charles said, his voice slow and thoughtful. “I may have someone in mind. But his vendetta is not against you, personally, but of your father, the late Viscount.”
Confused, Freddie exchanged a glance with Thea. “Who is that?”
“The Duke of Bradford.”
“Good Lord.” Freddie felt like sinking into his chair and vanishing. “I heard about that. But I had forgotten it until now.”
“I did not hear or forget anything,” Thea said. “What are you two talking about?”
With a wave of his hand, Freddie gestured for Charles to explain while he stared at his shelf of books, chewing on his thumbnail.
“Miss Miller,” Charles said after clearing his throat. “Your father and His Grace, the Duke, shared a business interest. They both imported diamonds from the mines in Africa.”
Thea nodded, her brows furrowed. “I knew Father was involved in the diamond business. But what does the Duke have to do with it?”
“You see,” Charles went on. “His Grace and the late Viscount were rivals. While they were socially on good terms with one another in public, in private they tended to accuse one another of bad business dealings. They detested one another you see, with a hatred that went far beyond the bounds of business.”
Thea glanced from the steward to Freddie and back again. “But that has nothing to do with Freddie.”
“Permit me to finish, Miss Miller,” Charles went on, lifting his gnarled forefinger. “The rivalry continued beneath the surface, with nothing much occurring save a few words exchanged whenever the two met. That was until the day that Bradford’s courier, carrying millions of pounds worth of uncut diamonds, went missing.”
“What?”
“The Duke blamed Father,” Freddie said, picking up the story. “He accused Father of murdering his courier and stealing the diamonds. He dared not accuse him to the Prince Regent or the courts, but did so privately, in a rage. Of course, Father had nothing to do with it and told the Duke so. Bradford would not listen and swore to have his revenge on Father.”
“You do not think – ” Thea’s face paled. “That he killed them? Our parents?”
“I did not think so at the time,” Freddie admitted, tapping his fingers on the table top. “Now I am not so sure.”
“The sins of the father visited upon the son,” Charles said, his tone bland. “He may think his diamonds are here in this house.”
“That is nonsense,” Freddie snorted.
His uneasiness grew as he gazed at his sister. “If it is the Duke of Bradford behind all this,” he said slowly. “Perhaps I should send you to London, to our townhouse there.”
“No.” Thea shook her head emphatically. “I will not go. Nor am I any safer there than here.”
“She is quite right, My Lord,” Charles added. “If she is here, it is easier for you to keep a guard on her. And perhaps you should consider the same for yourself.”
“What? A bodyguard? No.”
“It is not a terrible thing to have someone watch your back, My Lord.”
