Dangerous

Chapter Eighteen

Ten minutes later Sebastian got into the carriage behind Prudence. He closed the curtains as the vehicle rolled forward. Then he lit the lamp and unfolded the document he had discovered in Bloomfield's desk.

Prudence sat across from him, huddled deep into her cloak. She watched with keen anticipation as he studied the papers. "Explain it to me at once, Sebastian. I am consumed with curiosity."

He looked up briefly, frowning in concentration. Then he saw the look in Prudence's eyes and he smiled. She was enjoying this as much as he was. It struck him again that he had been incredibly fortunate in his choice of brides. No one else except his unusual Prudence would be able to understand how he felt at this moment, let alone share that moment with him.

And she loved him.

"Well, Sebastian? Do not keep me in suspense."

He returned his attention to the document. "This is a business agreement formed for purposes of making investments in shipping ventures." He smiled. "The principals of the firm are Ringcross, Ox-enham, Bloomfield, and Curling."

Prudence gave him a quizzical look. "The Princes of Virtue were in business together?"

"Precisely. This agreement is dated three and a half years ago. They sold stock in the company and invested the money in a series of ventures."

"What has that got to do with the deaths of Oxenham and Ring-cross?"

Sebastian scanned the fine legal handwriting, searching for details.

"According to this agreement, if any one of the principals dies, the others would assume his portion of the company." He looked up. "Following that logic, if three out of the four were to perish, then the last of the four would inherit the company."

Prudence understood at once. Her eyes widened as she leaped to the obvious conclusion. "Curling."

"Yes." Sebastian smiled with cold satisfaction. "Conceivably it could be Bloomfield, but I rather think it has to be Curling. Bloom-field is obviously too disordered in his mind to concoct, let alone carry out, this elaborate scheme."

"You believe Lord Curling has already killed two of his friends?"

"I think it highly likely. Bloomfield was no doubt next on his list."

Prudence tapped one gloved finger thoughtfully on the seat beside her. "The first two deaths have raised no questions. Everyone as­sumed Ringcross's fall was an accident and that Oxenham's death was a suicide. It would have been easy to make Bloomfield appear a sui­cide also. Everyone already considers him mad. Why go to the trouble of trying to implicate Jeremy as the murderer?"

"Because someone might have eventually questioned the conve­nient deaths of three men who were in business with a fourth," Sebas­tian said. "Especially when the fourth became extremely wealthy by taking complete control of the company."

"So Curling, if he is the one behind the murders, decided to take precautions?"

"That's the logical assumption. He protected himself by trying to arrange for someone else to appear guilty. He needed to produce a motive for that other person, however."

"Curling must have discovered that Jeremy was in love with Lillian at one time," Prudence said. "He realized your cousin had the perfect motive for murdering The Princes of Virtue."

"He set Bow Street to investigate so that he would appear entirely innocent when it all came to light. Who would suspect the man who had commissioned the investigation?" Sebastian thought about Curl­ing's behavior the previous night. "Especially when that man has made it increasingly clear that he fears for his own life."

Prudence tugged her cloak more closely around herself. Her face was shadowed by the hood. "If we're right in assuming Curling is the killer, then there is another interesting aspect of this investigation to be considered."

"What is that?"

"We cannot overlook the fact that you were the one who made the inquiries for Whistlecroft. Do you not find it is a rather extraordinary coincidence that the person who conducted the investigation hap­pened upon evidence at the scene of the deaths that implicates a member of his own family?"

Sebastian smiled with slow appreciation. "My dear, there are occa­sions when I do not know quite which it is that I admire most about you: your cleverness or your passionate response to me in bed."

"Sebastian."

"I know, it is a difficult choice. Fortunately for me, I do not have to decide between the two. I am able to enjoy both. Now, then, you are quite correct. We cannot assume that my involvement in this particu­lar investigation was entirely a coincidence."

"How do you suppose Curling knew about your hobby?"

"If he was able to learn of Jeremy's affection for Lillian, then he must have excellent sources of information."

Prudence frowned. "But who could have informed him?"

Sebastian shrugged. "Whistlecroft, no doubt. Although why he gave Curling the information defeats me. Whistlecroft has always been even more eager than I to keep my hobby a secret. He prefers to take full credit for the investigations so that he can collect the re­wards."

"Well, I suppose it does not matter how Curling learned of your interest in conducting investigations. The point is he did." Prudence shook her head in disgust. "He left evidence implicating poor Jeremy at the scenes of the deaths, trusting that you would find it and identify it."

"Which I did."

"I cannot imagine what made Curling believe that you would be eager to see Jeremy arrested for murder."

"Everyone knows I have no love for my relatives," Sebastian said.

"Yes, but Curling should have realized that when all is said and done, family is family. He should have understood that you would protect Jeremy."

Sebastian arched a brow. "My dear, your naivete alarms me ai times. Curling was far more pragmatic than you in his logic. He knew my opinion of the rest of the Fleetwoods and he had every reason to suspect I would not lift a finger to protect any of them."

Prudence glowered at him. "Do not tease me anymore about this matter, my lord. You know very well that you would never have let Jeremy hang."

Sebastian smiled at her. "Your boundless faith in my character never fails to amuse me, my dear."

Prudence gave him a quelling frown. "What are we going to do now? We cannot prove that Curling is behind the murders. So far all we have accomplished is to remove the evidence against Jeremy be­fore it fell into the hands of the authorities. Next time we might not be so fortunate."

"I think it is time I had another talk with my cousin," Sebastian said.

"Right now?"

"I cannot envision a better time," Sebastian said. "It is nearly three. He will no doubt be at his favorite club."

"I shall come with you," Prudence said eagerly.

"You will not come with me," Sebastian said evenly. "You know damn well that you cannot enter a gentlemen's club."

"I am aware of that." Prudence smiled serenely. "I shall wait in the carriage with you until Jeremy leaves the club."

"Bloody hell," Sebastian muttered. But there was no real heat in the words. He was learning to recognize a losing battle when he saw one.

They did not have to wait very long in the fog outside the St. James Street club before Jeremy emerged. Sebastian watched his cousin descend the steps and start toward a waiting hackney. He noted with satisfaction that Jeremy did not appear unsteady in his walk.

Sebastian opened the carriage door just as Jeremy went past. "A word with you, Cousin."

"What the devil?" Startled, Jeremy looked into the darkened car­riage. His glance went from Sebastian to Prudence. "What are you doing here, Lady Angelstone?"

She smiled reassuringly at him. "We wanted to speak with you about a very urgent matter, Mr. Fleetwood. Would you mind joining us?"

Jeremy hesitated, clearly torn between good manners and a dis­tinct distaste for Sebastian's presence. Good manners won.

"Very well." He got into the carriage and sat down. "I trust this will not take long. I am on my way home. It's been a long night and I plan to attend a boxing match in the morning."

"It concerns Lillian," Sebastian said quietly. He closed the car­riage door.

"Lillian?" Jeremy stared at him as the carriage rumbled forward. "Haven't you already said enough on that subject?"

"I have recently learned how she died," Sebastian said. "I thought you should know the truth."

"I don't understand. I told you that Lillian drowned."

Prudence touched Jeremy's arm. "Listen to Angelstone, Mr. Fleet-wood. Your beloved Lillian did not drown. She was driven to her death by four terrible men."

Jeremy gazed at her in astonishment. "I don't understand," he said again.

"Neither did we until tonight." Sebastian relit the carriage lamp. He leaned back into the corner of the seat and quietly told Jeremy the entire tale, including his own involvement in the investigation.

It was just as well he had brought Prudence along, he reflected when he was finished. Jeremy might not have believed him otherwise. But Prudence's presence and her air of genuine concern lent credibil­ity to the story. Jeremy looked at her several times for confirmation. Each time Prudence nodded soberly.

"It's true, Mr. Fleetwood," she said at last. "All of it. I myself helped question Bloomfield."

"And Curling is the one who is trying to implicate you in the deaths of Ringcross and Oxenham," Sebastian added. "He deliber­ately made certain that I would find the evidence that pointed to you."

Jeremy's mouth tightened. "Because he thought that you would seize the opportunity of seeing me arrested for murder."

"Yes."

"You say you occasionally involve yourself in investigations such as this?" Jeremy looked at Sebastian.

"Yes."

"But why in God's name would you choose to do so?"

Sebastian shrugged. "It amuses me."

Prudence pushed the hood of her cloak back slightly. "Curling miscalculated badly, of course. He apparently did not realize that as the head of the family, Sebastian would not hesitate to protect you."

"I beg your pardon, Lady Angelstone," Jeremy said tightly, "but I find that as difficult to believe as Curling obviously does."

"Nonsense," Prudence said. "I told you the other day that there is no question of where Sebastian's ultimate loyalty lies."

Sebastian regarded her with a hooded gaze. "There is no necessity to go into that right now, madam."

Jeremy glanced at him and then looked back at Prudence. "Did those four men really abuse my poor Lillian and drive her to her death?"

Prudence nodded sadly. "I do not think there is any question about it. But we will never be able to prove it."

Jeremy's eyes narrowed. "I do not care whether or not you can prove it, Lady Angelstone, as long as you are certain of the facts."

"As certain as we can be." Prudence looked at Sebastian. "Is that not right, sir?"

"I believe Bloomfield's tale." Sebastian watched as Jeremy's gloved hand curled into a fist. "But I think it will be possible to get confirmation."

Jeremy's head turned swiftly toward him. "From whom?"

"From Curling himself," Sebastian said slowly. He met Jeremy's eyes. "I suggest that you and I talk to him."

Jeremy hesitated, searching Sebastian's face. Then he jerked his chin up abruptly. "By God, yes."

"It is obviously time to make our plans." Prudence glanced expec­tantly at Sebastian. "What shall we do first?"

"First, my dear, Jeremy and I are going to take you home."

"Oh, no, my lord, you cannot leave me out of this."

Jeremy frowned. "You cannot possibly come with us, Lady Angel­stone. This is men's business. Isn't that right, Angelstone?"

"Yes," Sebastian said, surprised by the vehemence in Jeremy's voice. "Quite right."

He braced himself as Prudence opened her mouth to argue. This time he would stand his ground, he told himself.

But to his astonishment, she closed her mouth again without say­ing a word.

It was nearly four in the morning before Sebastian finally found himself alone in the carriage with Jeremy. They were headed for Curl­ing's house. Prudence had maintained her unaccustomed silence all the way home, where Sebastian had quickly escorted her inside and sent her upstairs to bed. He knew she would be waiting up for expla­nations when he got home.

"I shall challenge Curling, of course," Jeremy burst out as soon as the carriage was in motion.

"Will you?"

"It is all I can do to avenge poor Lillian. When I think of what she must have gone through that night, my blood boils."

"Risking your neck in a duel will not bring her back," Sebastian said softly.

Jeremy's eyes glittered. "I intend to kill him."

"Are you a creditable shot?"

"I have practiced for some time at Manton's gallery."

Sebastian smiled faintly. "Is your mama aware of your interest in the sport?"

Jeremy shifted uncomfortably. "No, ‘course not. She wouldn't ap­prove."

Sebastian listened to the clatter of the horses' hooves on the pav­ing stones. "Tell me, Cousin, have you ever actually engaged in a duel?"

"Well, no, but I'm certain I can hit my target"

"Putting a bullet in a man who is aiming a pistol at your heart is not quite the same as putting a bullet in a target at Manton's," Sebas­tian said quietly. "It requires ice, not fire, in one's veins. You are too hot-blooded for dueling."

Jeremy scowled at him. "There are rumors that you have fought one or two duels in your time."

Sebastian gave him a bland look. "Dueling is illegal."

Jeremy's eyes slid awkwardly away from Sebastian's face. "Yes, sir, I know." He cleared his throat. "You are accounted something of a legend, sir, as I'm certain you are well aware. You are a man of the world. I would greatly appreciate it if you would give me some hints on the subject of conducting a duel."

"Your mama would not approve."

"Hang my mama." Jeremy's eyes were suddenly fierce. "It's none of her affair. I have to do this for Lillian. Don't you understand? I loved her."

Jeremy meant every word, Sebastian thought. He made his own decision. "Very well. If it comes to a duel, I shall act as one of your seconds."

Jeremy was taken aback. "You will?"

"Yes."

"I say, Angelstone." Jeremy stared at him in astonishment. "That's very good of you, sir. I appreciate it."

"You do realize that if you get yourself killed your mama will blame me. And so will my wife." Sebastian smiled faintly. "I can deal with your mama, but I do not like to contemplate my future if Lady Angelstone concludes that I did nothing to prevent you from getting yourself shot."

"I do not intend to get myself shot," Jeremy said. "The goal is to put a bullet in Curling."

"No, Cousin," Sebastian said softly. "The goal is to destroy Curl­ing. Challenging him to a duel is a tactic of last resort."

"Why?"

"The results would be far too uncertain. He might very well sur­vive, for example, even if you do lodge a bullet in him. Many men do. Trust me when I tell you that there are other, more reliable methods for accomplishing your goal."

Jeremy watched him as the carriage rumbled down the street. "How do you suggest I go about destroying Curling?"

Sebastian explained the plan he had been formulating since the moment he had discovered the business agreement that bound The Princes of Virtue.

They arrived at Curling's town house an hour before dawn. The fog was thickening rapidly.

Curling's butler, disheveled and angry at having been summoned from his bed at such an early hour, answered the door. He sighed at the sight of two gentlemen standing on the doorstep.

"Inform your master that Angelstone wishes to see him at once, Sebastian said.

"His lordship only got in an hour ago," the butler said. "He won't like being awakened."

Sebastian smiled. "I do not particularly care if he likes it or not.

The butler eyed Sebastian's smile. "Very well, m'lord. If you and your gentleman friend will step inside, I'll see that his lordship is informed of your presence." He stalked away.

Sebastian looked at Jeremy, who was rigid with anger and tension. "Calm yourself, Jeremy. Or at any rate, try to give the appearance of being calm. Nothing does more to unsettle the nerves of one's foe than to appear unutterably amused or even bored."

"You should know," Jeremy said dryly. "You're a master at the art. I'd give a fortune to know how you manage to act so damnably amused or excruciatingly bored in a situation such as this."

"There is acting talent on my side of the family, if you will recall."

Jeremy slid him an assessing glance. "There are many who say you are cold-blooded by nature."

Sebastian thought of Prudence waiting at home. "And one who says I am not."

The sound of voices at the top of the stairs caught Jeremy's atten­tion. "Here comes Curling."

"You will allow me to conduct this interview," Sebastian said qui­etly.

"Yes, sir."

Curling, garbed in a silver gray dressing gown, ran a hand through his hair as he descended the staircase. He had a vaguely irritated expression on his face, suitable to a man who has been rudely awak­ened, but his eyes were alert and watchful.

"What the devil do you want at this ungodly hour, Angelstone?" He gave Jeremy an unreadable glance. "I do hope this won't take long."

"Not long at all," Sebastian assured him. "Shall we go into the library?"

Curling shrugged and led the way into the small library that opened off the hall. He casually motioned toward two chairs as he went to the brandy table. "Will you join me in a glass?"

"No," Sebastian said. He sat down in an armchair and hooked one booted foot over his knee in a casual manner.

"No," Jeremy said in the same cold tone. He stole a quick glance at Sebastian and then he, too, sat down. He was unable to achieve the same degree of ennui in his manner, but it was obvious he was making the effort.

"As you wish." Curling poured himself a glass of brandy and turned to face them with a shuttered gaze. "Well? What is so impor­tant that you felt you must call upon me at this hour?"

"We are here to discuss the recent deaths of two of your business associates," Sebastian said.

"Business associates?"

"Ringcross and Oxenham."

Curling swallowed brandy. "What makes you think they're busi­ness associates of mine?"

Sebastian smiled. "A document I found in Bloomfield's desk. It is obvious by the terms of the agreement that you are now a great deal more wealthy than you were a few days ago. And if you succeed in finding and murdering Bloomfield, you will be even richer."

Curling went very still. "Good lord, man. Are you accusing me of murdering my business partners?"

"Yes," Sebastian said. "I am."

"That's nonsense." Curling shot a narrow glance at Jeremy. "Ring-cross died in a fall and Oxenham committed suicide."

"Give it up," Sebastian said. "I know everything, including how you attempted to implicate my cousin. I would be interested to learn how you came to know that I occasionally conduct investigations for Bow Street, but that is neither here nor there."

"You are mad," Curling snapped.

"No. And neither is Bloomfield. At least not entirely. He told me about what The Princes of Virtue did to Lillian."

Jeremy's hands tightened around the arms of his chair. "You kid­napped her. Raped her. Drove her to her death."

Curling turned on him with glittering eyes. "She was nothing but a tavern whore. Her uncle sold her to us for the night. We paid quite well for her services."

"She was not a prostitute," Jeremy shouted. "She would never have agreed to go with you. You kidnapped her, you bastard."

"Rubbish." Curling's mouth curved in contempt. "She was nothing but a cheap little doxy with rather pretty legs."

"You do not even deny it?" Jeremy asked in disbelief.

"Why should I?" Curling asked. "I know a nice bit o‘ muslin when I see one. And as I said, I paid well for her."

"Damn you." Jeremy was half out of his chair.

"Sit down," Sebastian said softly.

Jeremy hesitated and then dropped reluctantly back into the chair. "You raped her," he accused Curling.

Curling lifted one shoulder in casual dismissal. "I'll admit that I took a turn on her. She wasn't very skilled, if you want to know the truth. The old man assured us she was a virgin and I do believe he was right."

Jeremy stared at him with hatred. "You son of a bitch."

Curling was amused. "You actually thought yourself in love with her, didn't you?"

"Yes, I loved her, damn you."

"And that's why you killed Ringcross and Oxenham, isn't it?" Curling concluded coolly. "You thought you were avenging your little tavern doxy."

"I did not kill them," Jeremy whispered. "Because I did not know about their guilt. But I fully intend to see you destroyed for what you did to Lillian."

"Destroyed?" Curling chuckled. "How do you intend to destroy me?"

Sebastian decided he had better take charge again. He had known it would be difficult to rein in Jeremy's hot-headed nature. "Curling, there is no sense dragging this out. Suffice it to say that I believe you killed Ringcross and Oxenham."

"You cannot know that for certain."

"You are the only one who had a motive," Sebastian countered softly.

"Your cousin had a motive," Curling retorted. "Avenging his tav­ern wench."

"No, he did not, because he did not know about what The Princes of Virtue had done to Lillian until I told him."

Curling's nostrils flared. "How can you be sure of that?"

"Let's just say I am trusting my instincts." Sebastian rested one hand negligently on his boot. "Not that it matters. If I thought Jeremy had killed Ringcross and Oxenham to avenge Lillian, I would not concern myself with the business."

"We're talking about murder," Curling said swiftly.

"So? They deserved to be murdered. If Jeremy had been responsi­ble, my main concern would be to see that he did not leave any evi­dence around the next time."

Jeremy flashed him a startled glance.

Rage glittered in Curling's eyes. "Damnation, Angelstone. Are you saying that you would protect a Fleetwood from the authorities even if he was guilty of murder?"

"I prefer not to make sweeping statements," Sebastian said. "I can assure you, however, that I am not going to turn my cousin over to Bow Street because of these particular murders."

"I cannot believe you would shield a Fleetwood," Curling rasped. "Everyone knows you hate the lot of them."

"I will admit I am not overly fond of certain members of my fam­ily. But I do not despise them nearly as much as I despise men who kidnap and rape helpless young women."

Curling slammed his hand down on a table with such force that the vase on top trembled. "She was a tavern wench. Why in the name of hell do you keep bringing her into this?"

"You don't seem to understand," Sebastian said. "Lillian is all that matters in this."

"I don't believe it," Curling snarled.

Jeremy's hands clenched into fists. "I will have justice for her."

Sebastian realized he was beginning to develop some grudging re­spect for Jeremy.

"Goddamn it, you can prove nothing, Angelstone." Curling fin­ished the brandy and flung the glass aside. "Absolutely nothing."

Sebastian twisted his mouth into another humorless smile. "We do not have to prove anything. You have admitted you bought Lillian from her uncle. You have admitted that you raped her. That is enough."

"Enough for what?" Curling asked derisively. "No court would convict me of rape. It all happened three years ago and she was noth­ing but a whore."

"It is enough for me to insist that you leave London this afternoon. You have another two days to make arrangements to leave England. You are not to return."

Curling stared at him, stunned. "You are as mad as Bloomfield. Why should I leave England?"

Sebastian met his eyes. "Because if you do not I shall take it upon myself to inform your creditors that the company you have formed with the other Princes of Virtue is insolvent and that the shares are worthless."

"But it's not insolvent. The shares are not worthless, damn you, they're worth a bloody fortune."

"They will be worth less than the paper on which they are written by the time I'm finished," Sebastian said. "I have the power and the connections to do it. We both know it."

Curling shook his head, dazed. "This makes no sense. I don't un­derstand any of it. You're trying to banish me from the country be­cause I once tumbled a tavern wench?"

"I believe that at long last, you're beginning to grasp the situa­tion." Sebastian got to his feet. "If you will excuse us, my cousin and I must be on our way."

Jeremy leaped to his feet. He faced Curling. "Make no mistake, Curling. If you do not leave London today, I shall challenge you to a duel. Angelstone has agreed to act as one of my seconds."

Curling's eyes instantly narrowed in fresh speculation. He looked at Sebastian. "Ah, now this makes a bit more sense. It would no doubt amuse you no end if I were to kill a Fleetwood for you, would it not, Angelstone? Is that the little drama you are trying to stage?"

"On the contrary, I would find it extremely tiresome if you man­aged to put a bullet into my cousin." Sebastian walked toward the door. "Because I would then be obliged to issue a challenge to you."

"Goddamn you, Angelstone. Why in hell would you challenge me in order to avenge a Fleetwood?" Curling shouted.

"I'm not precisely certain why," Sebastian admitted. "Something to do with my responsibilities to the family or some such nonsense. I expect my wife could explain it."