Page 25

“ I s the Earl of Sheringham at home?”

The butler took Seth’s card, glancing over it before stepping back and nodding his head.

“If you will give me a moment, Your Grace, I shall inform him of your arrival.”

“Thank you, I am happy to wait. He is not expecting me.”

“Very good, Your Grace.”

Seth rubbed his sweaty palms on his thighs, hoping that Sheringham would be able to see him.

Is this madness? To go behind my friends’ backs like this?

But he had mulled it over all night. If he were to speak to Michael, Isaac, or Lucas about his suspicions, they would only grow curious as to his reasoning.

The worst thing he could do would be to make his friends begin to doubt one another.

He touched a hand to his inner breast pocket, where he had tucked the letter he had discovered as he had searched through Gordon’s correspondence.

It was from the Earl of Sheringham—or Lord George Russell, as he was called back then. Somehow, it had gotten mixed up with the other letters, and Seth was glad of it.

A single line within the text had particularly caught his attention.

Hopefully, that business with Fernside is over now. Such trouble—over a woman, no less!

If Sheringham could shed some light on the history there, it could help Seth understand Gordon’s love affair.

Had he wronged her? Did she enact some kind of revenge?

The envelope crinkled in his pocket as he waited, staring up at an enormous painting of the former Earl of Sheringham, George’s father.

Seth and George had both lost their fathers at a young age and had navigated their new responsibilities together for a little while. But Seth had not been good at keeping in touch with the man.

He scowled.

And now I have arrived on his doorstep unannounced and asking for a favor!

“His Lordship will see you now, Your Grace.”

Seth turned, following the butler through the gloomy hallway and into a long, imposing room, lined with green-backed leather books and not much else.

Seth’s heart soared at the sight of the Earl, who was already on his feet and walking toward him.

Sheringham was stocky, well-built, and one of the best boxers Eton had ever had. He was shorter than Seth by several inches, closer to five feet than any other man Seth knew.

“George,” Seth exclaimed, genuinely happy to see him.

“My God, it’s been years!” George chuckled as he took Seth’s hand and shook it warmly. “You look dashing, as ever. Always were too handsome for your own good.”

Seth laughed as Sheringham indicated two chairs in front of the wide, empty hearth. They were plush and beautifully upholstered, but one looked more used than the other. Seth sat opposite it.

“Would you care for a drink? My doctor has sworn me off most things, worst luck. But do you want brandy?”

“Thank you, but no. I want to have a clear head for this conversation.”

Sheringham leaned forward, his smile fading. “You are here on business, then?”

“I confess, I am not entirely sure why I am here, but I must apologize for arriving without prior notice. I have not seen you for far too long. I really must arrange a dinner with you and Lady Sheringham.”

George waved him off. “I have been just as remiss; you recently got married, and I did not even send my congratulations. I deeply regret that I was unable to attend your wedding. Detained in the docks at Calais for a week with inclement weather!”

Seth put a hand over his heart. “Well then, we are both at fault, and I forgive you entirely.”

“Good, good,” George said with a wicked smile. “I would not wish to be on your bad side.”

Seth’s stomach clenched.

Surely, he is not one of those who believe me guilty?

“Do not look so chagrined, Your Grace. I did not mean that nonsense about the trial. We have a wager at Gentleman Jackson’s—if you recall—that you could win three bouts against me.” George flexed a hand at his side. “But I may cry off. We are not as young as we once were.”

“No, indeed,” Seth said. “I would not win in any case.”

George looked satisfied with that answer, both of them knowing full well that he was by far the superior boxer between the two of them.

“So, what brings you here today?”

Seth reached into his inner pocket and pulled out the letter. George took it eagerly, looking at it with interest.

“My God, my handwriting was not fit to be seen.”

“I found it at the bottom of a locked chest in my house. I was wondering if you could explain the line I have marked for you.”

George’s frown deepened as he read the letter. “My, my, I hardly know.”

Seth watched him carefully. “You have no recollection of the ‘business’ you were referring to?”

His heart sank. It had been a fool’s hope, but he had wondered whether George’s excellent memory would come through for him.

George stroked his chin, leaning back in his chair. “Well… I remember there was a lady. But then, with Fernside, there generally was. This one seemed more important than the others, however. Her father’s debts had landed them in trouble.”

His pale blue eyes flicked up to the ceiling, then closed as he tried to recall more.

“That was it,” he said, crumpling the letter a little as he sat forward in his seat. “Her father wanted her to marry a man much older than her. Fernside was desperate to help.”

Seth shook his head. “He never told me.”

George’s eyes turned sad. “No, well, he might not have wanted you involved. The lady’s father was a blaggard, uncompromising and ruthless.”

A spark of excitement flared in Seth’s gut.

Could the father have found out about the tryst?

“You are sure?”

“Oh, certainly. Fernside only told me when he was deep in his cups. I was the cox for the rowing team if you remember. I think it was at an event of some kind, but he was rambling, talking about how much he cared for her. He was worried he wouldn’t be able to help, that her father would discover his plans. ”

“Was Gordon thinking of eloping with her?” Seth asked, genuinely shocked at the thought.

His strait-laced friend was not someone who would usually have gone against tradition in such a way.

George shrugged, handing back the letter. “Who knows? What fools we are when we are young and innocent. I do not think he would have gone through with it. There was some suggestion of a rival. Someone else had offered to help her. Popular girl! Fernside was rather cut up about it all.”

“And he did not tell you who it was?” Seth asked, suspicions growing in his mind with every turn the tale took.

“No. Just that he hoped someone could save her, even if it meant his heart was broken in the process.” George’s intelligent eyes were fixed on him now. “Do you think it could be linked to his death? We were all silly boys—I cannot believe it is relevant.”

“I do not know. I have been searching for the truth for so long, I wonder if I have compromised my own reality. For a long time, I believed I could never discover it. But lately, I’ve been determined to be done with this.

If he slipped and fell—I shall never know for sure.

But if someone did him harm, that I hope to discover. ”

George nodded sagely. “And what does your lady wife think of it all?”

Seth’s throat tightened. “She does not know.”

“About any of it?”

“Indeed.”

George’s kind eyes softened, and he smiled knowingly. “But you wish to tell her?”

“It was a dark time. I do not want…”

I cannot bear the thought of her suspicion.

Seth grimaced. “It is not her concern.”

George’s eyes were sharp as he met his gaze. “She is your wife, Radcliffe. I am afraid whatever past you have, you share together.”

Seth looked down at the letter, a new fear rising with him at the idea of telling Alicia the truth.

Why does it matter what she thinks? It should not matter.

But it did, more than he had ever thought possible.