“What happened to my brother was tragic, absolutely tragic. There is scarcely a day goes by that I do not mourn his absence.”
“As do we all,” Lord Nevard boomed in his ponderous voice. “His generosity and gentle guidance is sorely missed. Nor do I intend to lose his son, who has continued according to his father’s guidance.”
“Oh, I am sure,” Lord Ronald sneered. “You would lose an income source for your various endeavors.”
“Hardly,” Lord Nevard contradicted. “While his hard work is valuable to us, we should soon run aground if we depended upon Lord Northbury to fund all our endeavors. Do you fear to become destitute, thanks to your nephew’s contributions?”
Lord Ronald seemed to be collecting himself, as if to make answer when suddenly there was a commotion at the back of the long dining hall. The Watch guarding that door parted, and admitted a knot of struggling men.
At the center of the knot was Jones, followed by a lawyer who carried a slim leather folder.
Chapter 61
Percival jumped to his feet. “What is he doing here?” he exclaimed.
“A very good question,” Constable Brooks responded. “Gentlemen, what is he doing here?”
A tall, muscular member of the watch kicked the back of Jones’ leg, forcing him to kneel. When he and a stocky fellow on the other side of Jones had their captive adequately restrained, the tall man said, “Found him sneaking in through the kitchen an’ makin’ a mess down there in spite of the young lady an’ the spit boy screaming at him to stop.”
“Are you so resentful that you are no longer cook here that you must destroy property?” Percival asked.
Jones simply glowered at everyone there.
“Sophie!” Lord Ronald barked. “Tell everyone what you found in Lord Northbury’s study.”
Sophie slowly rose from her chair. “Will it free Jones?”
“It well might,” Lord Ronald reassured her. “You know what to say.”
“I saw her . . .” Sophie started to say. Then she looked at Tiffany, who had also risen from her seat beside Mr. Ironholder.
“Sophie, you came to tell me that Lord Northbury wanted me in the study, did you not? Was it something you saw that made you call me?”
“Sophie!” Lord Ronald growled warningly. “Tell them.”
Tiffany looked across the crowded room toward Sophie. “I have never done you harm,” Tiffany said gently. “Why do you wish to hurt me?”
“You . . . you . . .” Sophie burst into tears. “It has been awful, just too awful.”
Constable Brooks stepped around the kneeling man, and gently pulled Sophie out of the crowd. “What has been awful, my dear?”
“They promised the Marquess would not be hurt,” Sophie sobbed. “They promised!”
“But he was hurt, wasn’t he, Sophie?” Constable Brooks questioned gently.
Wordlessly, she nodded.
“Tell us what happened the night Lord Northbury was harmed,” Constable Brooks urged her.
“I brought up Lord Northbury’s supper. He was working late, an’ Miss Tiffany had made him a special one. It was what we’ve done pretty often here of late, ‘cause His Lordship has been putting details to the agreements that would make the orphanage happen.”
“Was there something different that happened this night?” Constable Brooks asked her gently.
Sophie nodded. “Lord Ronald asked me to get Tiffany’s old knife an’ put in on the tea tray underneath the cloth. He said that they’d rough Lord Northbury up a bit an’ leave the knife in the room. That way, Tiffany would get blamed.”
“No such thing!” Lord Ronald burst out. “This young woman is making up a tale. You’ve coached her to incriminate me.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” Constable Brooks asked him. “Have you angered someone?”
