Chapter 26

26

"Y ou can't possibly think Viscount Polk is involved in any way in Papa's death," Lily said after Thomas filled her in.

"If I hadn't found his journal entries, Lily, nor found Polk and Jonathan hanging around my study, I would not be entertaining the thought."

"But Viscount Polk told you point-blank earlier this evening that all the disputes had been handled."

"But what disputes?" Thomas rubbed his forehead, attempting to ease the throbbing. "Papa would have told me. I had my hands in all of the estate's business. I was well prepared to?—"

"Thomas, this all happened shortly before Papa's death. You'd just returned from the continent. Perhaps he hadn't had a chance to bring you into it."

"Don't go any further, Lily. I feel guilty enough as it is. I should have seen this coming."

"There's no way you could have seen it coming. Cut yourself a little bit of slack, Thomas."

"But this could be serious," he said. "If there was some kind of border or water dispute… And then Papa ended up dead.…"

Lily shook her head. "What, did you think they were trying to take the estate? That's ridiculous. You're still here, Thomas. You're the?—"

But then Lily gulped.

Clearly she'd just had the same thought he himself had.

He was the heir. But he had no heir of his own. What if his life was in danger next?

"None of this makes any sense," Thomas said. "We've always had a good relationship with the Polks. At least I always thought we did."

Lily nodded. "And Victor and Daniel have been friends for years. Decades, even."

"I know." Thomas paced around the study, his head feeling like someone was pounding nails into it. "Then there's the other issue. Jonathan was with Polk when I found them skulking around the study…and the door was unlocked."

Lily nodded. "Very true. How much do we even know about Uncle Pem and Jonathan? Just that they made money in gemstones in the Americas, and that Uncle Pem preceded Papa in death by a few months." Lily's eyes widened. "Now Jonathan is back, and the only thing standing in his way is…"

"Me," Thomas said. "I'm the only thing standing in his way. If something happens to me, Jonathan is next in line to inherit the estate, become the next Earl of Ashford."

"It would seem that is the case."

Thomas scratched his chin. "But he has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he has no interest in the earldom, nor the responsibilities contained therewith."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "I know you are not so na?ve, Thomas, as to think that he might have just said that to you to misdirect you."

Thomas rubbed at his forehead. "Damn it all. You could be right."

"I think, brother, you'd better hope you put a babe in Tricia."

"It's doubtful, and even if I did, it may not be a boy."

Lily stood and paced the study. "What I don't understand is this. Why would the Polks…" She stopped and snapped her head back in Thomas's direction. "Do you think they made some kind of deal with Jonathan? I could fetch Daniel. He knows much more about estate business than I do."

Thomas shook his head quickly. "For the love of God, no. No one else needs to know about this. I shall approach the viscount again—along with Victor and Jonathan—on the morrow. I shall get to the bottom of this, Lily."

"I fear for you," Lily said. "If they had anything to do with Papa's death…"

"It doesn't seem possible…" Thomas said, more to himself than to Lily. "But Papa was in such robust health, and he seemed to be ill every time after he had taken a meal with the viscount."

"The person to talk to might be the viscountess," Lily said. "Or perhaps his butler or valet."

"He's too smart to involve any of them. Unless he has something on them."

"He may. We just don't know, Thomas." Lily gazed out the window of the study. "What would you like me to do?"

"Keep those ears of yours open, Lily. Listen." Thomas stood up, approached his sister. "Cozy up to the viscountess. Perhaps I'm wrong. Maybe she does know something."

"Oh, she's a dreadful bore, but I will do it for you, Thomas."

"Thank you, dear sister." Thomas grabbed the leather-bound journal and placed it under the cushion of a wingback chair near the study's door. "Best to keep this hidden. I don't want the viscount to think he can get away with destroying evidence."

Lily nodded. "Good thinking. But even more important than that journal is you ." She opened her arms and took him into an embrace, whispering in his ear, "You need to keep yourself safe."

Thomas broke the embrace and placed his hands on his sister's shoulders. "Don't fear for me. I'm more than capable of keeping myself safe."

Lily looked at him seriously. "So was Papa, Thomas. So was Papa."

* * *

The next morning, Thomas invited the viscount, Polk, and Jonathan for a game of Pall Mall. Thomas enjoyed the game, and he was exceedingly good at it. However, he had every intention of letting the viscount win, which he did.

After the game, he invited the gentlemen to the stables to admire his new prize stallion.

"He is wonderful, Ashford," the viscount said.

"He is indeed," Jonathan agreed.

Polk said nothing, only looked at Thomas and shrugged. "I say, Ashford, what is it that you want with us?"

Thomas was taken aback. "Do I need to have a reason to want to spend the morning with my neighbors and my good cousin?"

"Of course not." Polk's cheeks reddened. "It's just that…I have my eye on a young lady, and I was hoping to convince her to take a stroll with me."

"I see," Thomas said. "And might I ask which one?"

"If you must know, it's Lady Patricia Price-Adams, your sister-in-law."

A dagger of jealousy speared through Thomas.

"I believe you may have to fight me for her, Polk," Jonathan said. "She is a luscious little thing."

Thomas drew in a breath, nearly choking, to combat the anger that was sprouting across his neck.

"You young bucks…" The viscount chuckled, gazing off into the distance. "I am envious. Those were the days."

It was no secret that the viscount and his wife, Victor's mother, had not been a love match. The viscount kept several mistresses, at least he had in the past. Last Thomas had heard, the old man could no longer function below the belt.

Which might be why…

No. The viscount was a good man. At least he had been. But perhaps losing function of his manhood made him vulnerable to…

He looked at his friend, Victor Polk, who had the respect of Thomas's brother-in-law, the Duke of Lybrook. Lybrook was a good man and a decent judge of character.

Then Thomas regarded his cousin, Jonathan Jameson, whom he hadn't seen since they were young lads of twelve years.

Jonathan was a man Thomas truly no longer knew.

Perhaps it was Jonathan who had gone to the viscount.

Perhaps it was Jonathan…

"Polk," he said, "go ahead and ask your young lady on a stroll. And Viscount, I've enjoyed your company. If the two of you will excuse us, I'd like to have a word with my cousin."

The father and son both bowed and quickly left the stable.

"For the love of God, Ashford," Jonathan said. "You just gave Polk a leg up on a young lady who interests me."

"You're not going near that young lady, Jonathan," Thomas said. "And while Polk may escort her on a stroll, trust me that he won't get anywhere with her either."

Jonathan cocked his head. "What are you talking about, Thomas? What's gotten into you?"

Thomas nodded. "Finally, you use my Christian name. You've known me as Thomas since we were lads, as I've known you as Jonathan."

Jonathan furrowed his brow. "And that's supposed to mean something?"

"Indeed it does. Tell me something, Jonathan." Thomas looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice. "Exactly when did you get in touch with the Viscount Polk and his son?"

His cousin blinked. "I'm certain I don't know what you're talking about."

Thomas couldn't help himself. His anger took over. He grabbed Jonathan by his cravat and pushed him into the wall of the stable. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. My father's death was no accident, was it?"

"I don't think the physicians determined what the cause of his death was," Jonathan said, his voice rasping. "Now if you'll let go of me, please."

"It's all becoming clear to me. Why I saw you and Polk near my study. Why my study door was unlocked."

"If you want to accuse me of something, Ashford, just do it."

"I don't accuse people without evidence. But trust me, I will find evidence. You will go down for this." Thomas loosened his hand from Jonathan's collar. "Get the hell out of my sight. And if I see you with Patricia, I will fucking pummel you into the ground."

Jonathan's eyebrows rose at Thomas's profanity.

"I do believe your mother, the countess, would wash your little blueblood mouth out with soap if she heard what you just said."

"You leave my mother out of this. You leave Lady Patricia out of this. I wish you had left the viscount and his family out of this, but apparently you were able to sway them."

"I'm sure I don't know?—"

Thomas glared at his cousin. "Don't play me for a fool, Jonathan. It will be the last thing you do."