Deerhurst felt the presence of two men flank him. He didn’t need to look to know they were Leeds and Mortimer, and both wore grim expressions. He smirked at the man opposite him.
“Cromby,” Leeds spoke first, his voice cold as ice. “Tell me you haven’t done what Deerhurst is accusing you of.”
“His claims are nothing but hearsay,” Cromby said with an arrogant lift of his chin. “He can’t prove anything.”
Deerhurst removed an envelope from his jacket and slammed it onto the table. “As a matter of fact, I can.”
Cromby scowled at the document. “What is this supposed to be?”
“A signed confession from Neville Howard that you concocted a plot for him to ruin Lady Phaedra and that you’d receive a substantial amount of the dowry as commission if it succeeded.”
“That’s horseshit!” Cromby spat. “If Neville did do this then he acted on his own.”
Mortimer pointed to the envelope. “May I?”
Deerhurst nodded.
Mortimer’s lips thinned as he read the content of Howard’s confession. “This is damning indeed.”
Cromby paled. “He is lying. They all are.”
“What do you think we should do about him, Deerhurst?” Leeds asked as he too read the confession.
Cromby leaped to his feet. “There is nothing to be done.”
“I don’t know about that,” Mortimer drawled.
“Revoke his membership,” Deerhurst said. And that was just the beginning of what he had planned for Cromby. The man would be lucky to be accepted into polite society anywhere after Deerhurst was done with him.
“That’s madness!” Cromby exclaimed.
“It’s done,” Mortimer growled. “And let me impart another warning, Cromby, in case this one doesn’t penetrate your skull. If I find out you’re behind any more such schemes, I will personally reduce you to nothing.”
Deerhurst watched Cromby stalk off with a stiff back. Impressed, he inclined his head toward Mortimer. He hadn’t known what to expect of the man, but it appeared that he needn’t have been worried. Mortimer once again proved he was on their side.
“Well, that was interesting,” Leeds murmured. “I’ll make sure he is blacklisted from every other club in the city.”
“Many thanks,” Deerhurst said. “The man is an ass.”
“Agreed,” Mortimer said. “I take it the woman you referred to was Lady Phaedra?”
Deerhurst gave a curt nod.
Leeds patted his back. “You saved her from a lifetime of misery.”
Yes, but Deerhurst might also have caused her a lifetime of misery as well. He didn’t know how they had all gotten to this point.
No, that wasn’t true. Secrets. That was what got him here, at least. All secrets, no matter the intention behind keeping them, became a deep well of obscurity. Became dark.
“I was lucky enough to overhear Cromby boast,” Deerhurst admitted. “The man is a fool. Fortunately.”
“Howard?” Mortimer asked. “I overheard you say he left London.”
“He knows what will happen if I see him back here this season.” Not to mention anything about Huntly.
“Good, we need to settle this before the season ends,” Mortimer said. “There is no telling if there’ll be a next if this madness continues.”
“As long as the book is in rotation and copies are being circulated there’s not much we can do,” Leeds pointed out.
