Ducal Encounters In the Duke’s Estimation

“Followed?” Zach scowled at Nate. “Why on earth would anyone want to follow Lady Katrina? Tell me everything she said. What aroused her suspicions?”

The brothers were back at Sheridan House. They had left the masquerade well before midnight and delivered the ladies safely back to Park Street, Katrina appearing to have recovered from her shocking treatment at Avon’s hands. Nate had extracted a description of the man she had thought was following her and looked out for him when they returned to Westminster. There was no sign of him but it would have been easy for him to conceal himself in the shadows cast by the warehouses lining the wharf.

“She noticed a cove loitering outside of the house in Park Street. The same man two days in succession. She also thought she saw him in the crush when we left the theatre the other night and you were accosted by Mrs. Longhurst.”

“Why didn’t she say something before?” Zach asked, refilling his brandy glass and passing the decanter to Nate.

“She thought it a coincidence because she didn’t think the man could have any interest in her.”

Zach sighed. “I’m sure she didn’t.”

“But yesterday, when we were skating in the park, she almost took a tumble and I only just caught her in time. I thought it odd since she’s very proficient on the ice. She told me this evening that she stumbled because she saw the same man sitting on the bank of the lake, away from the other spectators, appearing to watch only her.”

“Damn it, she should have mentioned it at the time. We would never have gone to Vauxhall tonight if we’d known.”

“Which is probably why she didn’t speak out. I think she’s enjoying being disobedient for once in her life. I can understand that. All those constraints that have been placed on her for so long. Someone with her inquisitive nature was bound to rebel eventually.”

“I’d like to tell you that your thinking is impaired by your feelings for the chit,” Zach said with the ghost of a smile.

“I do not have feelings for—”

“Of course you don’t,” Zach replied distractedly. “You realise what this could mean for you, little brother.”

“That’s what genuinely worries Katrina. But of course she doesn’t know about the hold Brown apparently has over her father.”

“You seem to think Brown set the man to watch over Katrina but have you stopped to consider that he could be acting on her father’s orders? We know he’s displeased with her since learning that she waltzed with you. If he now discovers that she also went to Vauxhall in your company as well as skating in the park, then it will give him just the excuse he’s looking for to break his word to Brown.”

“Possibly.” Nate conceded the point with a negligent shrug. “But I don’t believe it will be that easy for him to renege. Whatever Brown has over him is water-tight and life-threatening.”

“Except his daughter’s well-being probably matters to him more, especially now that his own life is nearing its end.”

Nate harrumphed. “He has a damned odd way of showing it.”

“Damn Avon for recognising her.”

“He won’t say anything.”

“He won’t tell her father but he could start a rumour that she was there and spoil her reputation that way, just out of spite.”

Nate sighed. “Let’s hope he doesn’t.”

“I’ll do my best to dissuade him with threats of going to his father,” Zach said. “I shouldn’t have let you talk me into the jaunt.”

“You can’t feel any worse about it than I do,” Nate replied.

Zach flashed a brittle half-smile. “You don’t seem too concerned that you might have to offer for the chit.”

“That’s if Heston did set the man to watch Katrina.” Nate took a sip of his drink and waited for the fiery liquid to trickle down his throat. “My money’s still on Brown.”

“Why would he do that if he knows Heston will make Katrina marry him?”

“He saw for himself how she behaved at the ball and how little time she had for him. He might imagine the splendours of the ton have turned her head and that he needs a little bargaining power to ensure she does marry him. I do think he genuinely has feelings for her, as Avon does, and it’s not just Heston’s property he hopes to inherit along with his only child. He knows she would do anything rather than disappoint her father and if he threatens to speak out about Vauxhall…” Nate spread his hands. “Well, she’d be desperate to spare Heston that knowledge. We can prevent Avon from speaking up but there’s nothing we can do about Brown.”

“Threats and bribery.” Zach permitted his disgust to show. “Not the best basis for a felicitous marriage.”

Nate shrugged. “I couldn’t agree more.”

“Then we’d best find the cove who’s been following her and see what he has to say for himself,” Zach said briskly. “Always supposing he waited for us to return to Westminster tonight, even though you say Lady Katrina didn’t notice him amongst the crowd, where would he have waited?”

“In the nearest tavern,” Nate replied without hesitation. “It was freezing down by the river.”

“Right. I’ll have someone ask questions there first thing tomorrow and see if we can identify him.”

“Thank you. I myself intend to pay my respects to Mrs. Caston.”

“The woman we think Heston was besotted with in his youth?”

“Right. I believe they are in town at present. It’s my understanding they have a small establishment in Cheapside.”

Zach elevated a brow. “You have been industrious. How could you possibly know that?”

“After speaking with Surrey, I had Higgins ask around for me, just in case the need arose to speak with them.”

“How very forward thinking of you.” Zach fell into momentary contemplation. “Cheapside is hardly a fashionable address. I wonder what made them decide to settle there. I suppose Caston could have business interests in the vicinity.”

“He’s Scottish,” Nate replied, as though that explained everything. “According to Surrey they only spend a few months a year in town. I don’t suppose it’s worth the expense of maintaining a house nearer to the hub of things, especially if they aren’t ones for society.”

“What makes you imagine they aren’t?”

“We don’t know her and I’ve only glimpsed him in passing at White’s. Anyway, I shall leave my card in the hope that she will receive me. I want to discover precisely what happened leading up to Davis’s death.”

“You can hardly ask her that. You don’t even know the woman.”

Nate grinned. “I shall use my charm. It’s been known to work wonders.”

“God help her,” Zach replied, rolling his eyes.

Early the next morning Nate sent Higgins on an errand. He returned a couple of hours later, having succeeded in tracking Caston’s coachman down.

“Caston leaves at two o’clock every day, my lord, and goes to White’s. His routine never varies. He stays until it’s time to return home for dinner.”

“Thank you, Higgins, that’s just what I needed to know.”

Accordingly, Nate set off for Cheapside at two that day. He reasoned that Mrs. Caston would be unwilling to speak in front of her husband of the cataclysmic event that preceded her marriage, but might just be persuaded to open up to Nate if they spoke alone.

He arrived at the neat dwelling she occupied and rang the bell. It was answered by a maid who took his card and left him to wait in the vestibule while she went to enquire if her mistress was at home.

She was and Nate, having left his outdoor garments in the maid’s care, followed her into a small but comfortable sitting room.

“Lord Nathaniel.” A tall lady several decades older than Nate rose to greet him, a small frown creasing her brow. Her hair was completely silver, her face wrinkled with age, but there was an elegance about her that transcended the years and Nate could already see why she had reduced young men to fighting for her favours. “This is an unexpected pleasure.”

“I realise we don’t have the pleasure of being acquainted, Mrs. Caston,” Nate said, bowing as he took her extended hand and offering her his most engaging smile. “But by agreeing to receive me, I hope that is a circumstance we can rapidly rectify.”

“How could I not?” She smiled, indicating the seat that faced hers. “I don’t get many visitors, especially not of your standing, and I confess to being curious about your reason for calling.”

“And I am more than ready to explain. I spoke recently with your uncle, Lord Surrey. My family has a small estate close to his which gave me reason to be in the district.”

“And how is my uncle?” she asked. “It is some time since I heard from him.” A slight smile illuminated her features. “He is not what could be described as a diligent correspondent.”

“He suffers with gout but apart from that seems remarkably cheerful.”

“I am glad to hear you say so.”

The same maid who had admitted Nate returned with a tea tray. Nothing was said while Mrs. Caston poured for them both and handed a cup to Nate. He thanked her politely and waited for the maid to leave the room before he embarked upon the reason for his call.

“I apologise in advance if I appear indelicate in raising a sensitive subject, Mrs. Caston,” Nate said, taking a sip of his tea and placing his cup aside, “but I was hoping you might be able to satisfy my curiosity.”

“If I possibly can,” she replied, looking intrigued.

“My family has recently had some small involvement with Lady Katrina Heston.”

Mrs. Caston paled and looked pensive, indicating to Nate that she most likely did see. Whether or not she enjoyed having the subject of her past behaviour brought to her attention by a stranger was yet to be established. If she asked him to leave, Nate would have his answer.

“There has been some—”

“I was once well acquainted with her father,” Mrs. Caston said, cutting across Nate’s clumsy attempt to dispel an awkward silence. “But presumably you are aware of that fact, which is what brings me to your door.”

“Quite so, but it has also afforded me the pleasure of enjoying your society and so if you would prefer not to talk about it then I shall understand perfectly.”

“My, what a charmer you are,” she said, her eyes alight with amusement. “All right. What is it that you wish to know? I will help you if I possibly can.”

“In that case, may I speak frankly, Mrs. Caston?”

“I would prefer it if you did.”

“Very well. I’m told that Lord Heston was a wild young man but that something happened at about the time he knew you and his entire character changed as a consequence. He is now a diplomat, as you are probably aware, and has a reputation for being…well, dull and emotionless.” Nate waved a hand. “I have never met the gentleman but I have it on good authority that’s the case. Oh, I realise that young men mature and their attitudes change with the burden of responsibility but the complete change that occurred in Heston’s case seems extreme.”

“And your interest, unless I mistake the matter, is in Lady Katrina.”

“I cannot deny it. The lady has a lively, inquisitive personality that has been ruthlessly suppressed. Since the death of her mother she has been hidden away at a strict school in Switzerland and then required to act as her father’s hostess at his diplomatic functions.”

“Presumably she is now in the ton, which is how she came to your notice?”

“Yes, and having a wonderful time.”

Mrs. Caston tilted her head and executed an elegant little shrug. “Then I do not see the difficulty.”

“The difficulty is that she adores her father and will do anything not to disappoint his expectations. Not only has he suppressed her character but he also warns her against impulsiveness or developing passionate feelings of any type.”

“And worse, he has taken on a man called Brown—”

“Brown, you say?” Mrs. Caston inhaled sharply.

“Yes, he had adopted him as his protégé and expects his daughter to marry him.”

“Presumably Lady Katrina is attractive and could do a great deal better?” Mrs. Caston said with a significant glance in Nate’s direction.

She had got the wrong idea but Nate didn’t set her straight. “Without doubt,” he said in a languid tone.

“And you cannot help involving yourself in affairs that, forgive me, Lord Nathaniel, are no concern of yours.”

“Ordinarily I would not do so but a situation has arisen, the particulars of which I am not at liberty to disclose, which leaves me with little alternative.”

“It’s strange,” she said after a prolonged pause, “but I have not had occasion to think about Lord Heston for years. In fact, I avoid doing so whenever possible because it’s simply too painful.”

“You were in love with him?”

“I was very young at the time, and exceedingly foolish. Having two attractive gentlemen vying for my favours did, I’ll grant you, turn my head. Perhaps if my mother had been in Surrey with me at the time…but it does no good to dwell upon what might have been.” She sighed. “My uncle’s chaperonage I now realise left a great deal to be desired. I didn’t behave particularly well and not having a proper example to emulate is no excuse. Anyway, Heston was well-off and titled and ardently in love with me, so he would have me believe.”

“He proposed to you.”

“Almost daily,” Mrs. Caston replied, smiling at the memory. “Davis was from a good family but not titled and not particularly wealthy.”

It was Nate’s turn to smile. “And so naturally you preferred him.”

Her expression was wistful. “Oh yes. He was the most beautiful, most sensitive man I have ever met, before or since. He wrote lyrical poetry and didn’t have a practical bone in his body. To a young girl with romantic notions and no idea that money was a basic requirement if one wished to uphold one’s lifestyle, he was impossible to resist.”

“Did Heston know you preferred Davis?”

“Possibly. I did not actually tell him so but I expect he noticed. I wasn’t exactly subtle at hiding my preference, although I thought at the time that I was.”

“What happened to Davis?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Her demeanour grew sombre. “I believe he and Heston got into an altercation about me and Davis died as a result of it, but that is mere speculation on my part. My uncle dealt with the situation and I only saw Heston once more after that. He came to renew his proposal but…but I saw that his knuckles were scratched and the horror must have shown on my face. He assured me he hadn’t done anything to Davis but his unwillingness to discuss him led me to believe otherwise. And so, heartbroken myself, I sent him away disappointed.”

She shook her head. “A close neighbour of Heston’s, I believe, but not of our social circle. I know not how the intimacy developed between them or why Heston should have taken his son under his wing but can only assume it’s somehow connected with Davis’s death.”

“You think Heston might have killed his rival and Brown helped him to cover up the crime?”

“I have heard that Lord Heston is devoted to his daughter so I can’t think why else he would be so keen to see her make a disadvantageous marriage.” Her eyes twinkled as she fixed her gaze upon Nate. “Why would he object if she could marry a man with more prospects? A man she would most likely find it easy to fall in love with. Having loved himself, even though many years have passed since then, I cannot believe he has forgotten how it feels or that he would be cruel enough to prevent his daughter from experiencing such blissful agony for herself.” She closed her eyes for an expressive moment. “One never forgets the feeling of being admired, Lord Nate, no matter what happens to one subsequently. Take it from one who knows.”

They talked for another half-hour, but it was obvious there was little more that Mrs. Caston could add. Nate thanked her with great civility, aware that it couldn’t have been easy for her to speak with such candour about her behaviour all those years ago; behaviour which by her own admission had not been without fault. He also suspected that it had been a relief to expunge her guilt by talking about it. She appeared content in her marriage to Caston, even though it evidently was not a love match. Even so, Nate was glad she had found some peace.

Upon his return to Sheridan House, Faraday informed Nate that he was wanted in the library. He entered that room to find Zach there, an individual he had never set eyes on in his life before standing in front of his desk, awkwardly shuffling his feet.

“Ah, Nate, there you are. Meet Cedric Walker, the man set to keep watch over Lady Katrina.”

“Set by whom?” Nate asked, scowling at the cove.

Walker shuffled some more as he looked up at Nate, defiant yet clearly overawed by both his surroundings and the company. “Just following orders, my lord.”

“That much I already know,” Nate snapped. “I want to know whose orders.”

Before Walker could respond, the door opened and Romsey stormed through it. “Just save me from blustering windbags who—Walker, what the devil are you doing here?”

“You know this person?” Zach asked.

“He’s a clerk at the Foreign Office. Been given leave for a special assignment, so I’m told.”

“Following Lady Katrina,” Nate growled.

“Good God! Who asked you to do that, Walker?”

“Percival Brown, my lord. Said it was on Lord Heston’s orders.”

“The devil he did!” Nate muttered.

“Our friend here followed us to Westminster last night, Nate,” Zach explained. “He overimbibed at the local tavern, then spent the night in one of the doxy’s beds. Which is where my man found him this morning.”

“What were you doing at Westminster?” Romsey asked with a baleful glare. “Don’t tell me you took Lady Katrina to Everton’s masquerade?” He ran a hand distractedly through his hair. “What in the name of Hades made you do something so foolhardy?”

“Not now, Romsey.” Zach said with a significant glance for Walker.

“Do you know why Lord Heston wanted his daughter watched?” Nate asked, thinking he knew the answer to his own question but needing to have it confirmed.

“I was simply told that she wasn’t used to tonnish society and might be led astray. Lord Heston would feel better if she had someone protecting her interests.”

“And yet you didn’t protect her when you saw where she went last night,” Nate said, seeing no point in denying Katrina had been there. “So there seems little purpose in having you watch over her.”

“I couldn’t do anything,” he protested. “Not against a duke.”

“You weren’t expected to intercede, were you, Walker?” Zach asked.

“Well no, Your Grace, not precisely. I was told just to keep note of her comings and goings and to report back to Brown when he returns to England.”

“Why not report direct to Lord Heston, since he will be returning with Brown?” Romsey asked.

“I couldn’t say. Those were my instructions.”

“Have Faraday keep Walker downstairs in the servants’ hall for now,” Romsey said, taking charge.

Zach rang the bell and gave the instructions.

“We can’t let him report back with his findings,” Zach said, “so what do you propose instead, Romsey?”

“Oh, don’t worry about him. If he values his career, he’ll do as he’s damned well told. But first, I’d like to know what the devil’s going on here.”

Nate told Romsey of Brown’s report to Heston, the infamous waltzes, Lord Avon’s assault upon Katrina and everything that had happened since, finishing up with particulars of his visit to Mrs. Caston.

“I’m more convinced than ever that Brown has something in writing, possibly signed by Heston, that implicates him in the death of Davis,” he said.

“Why would he sign something that implicated him?” Zach asked.

“If he killed Davis, even in a duel, it would have been the end of him. Duelling is illegal and if Brown knew about it, it strikes me he wouldn’t have been averse to a little blackmail, given his gambling habit and perpetually empty pockets.” Nate rubbed the back of his neck. “We have to assume Brown knew that Heston killed his rival, accidentally or otherwise, and saw it as his financial salvation. He would have insisted upon a written agreement of some sort in return for his silence.”

“That makes sense,” Zach agreed. “And Heston would have felt convinced that Brown would keep his confidence, because by signing that document himself he became guilty of covering up the crime. In other words he could have swung for it too.”

“It would also explain the complete change in Heston’s personality,” Nate said. ‘Passion had got him into a potentially deadly situation and he didn’t want his daughter to become similarly embroiled if her feelings ran away with her.” He nodded. “A misguided view but it’s all starting to make sense now.”

“The question is: what do we do about it?” Zach asked. “It sounds as though Romsey will save your hide by having Walker deliver a highly edited report on Lady Katrina’s activities, I will make sure Avon keeps his mouth shut, but if she’s still determined to please her father, that won’t save her from marriage to Brown.”

“Which is none of our concern,” Romsey added pointedly.

“The devil it isn’t!” Nate cried.

“Ah, so that’s the way the wind blows,” Romsey said, addressing the comment to Zach.

“Looks that way,” Zach replied nonchalantly.

“We need to get our hands on that document,” Nate said decisively. “But I’d bet a pound to a farthing that Brown keeps it with him. He’d be a fool not to.”

“He won’t keep it on his person at all times,” Romsey said with authority. “No self-respecting diplomat would take that risk, times being as uncertain as they are. But I agree it probably travels with him. So you’ll just have to wait until he returns to England, Nate, if you plan to relieve him of it.”