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Authors: Jacquie D'Alessandro
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besides you where I was going. One other person. And only several hours before I left."
"Who did you tell?"
Bitterness stung him like a blow. "Gregory. Bloody hell, my own damn brother is trying to kill me."
Chapter 5
« ^ »
S tephen's announcement hung in the air for several long moments, the silence broken only by a pair of chirping bluebirds and the soft rustling of leaves in the warm breeze.
Finally Justin cleared his throat. "Perhaps Gregory told someone else?"
Stephen shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I stopped at his town house late that afternoon to deliver some papers. He asked if I was planning to attend the Harrimans' musicale and I said no, I was going to my lodge for several days." Stephen raked his hands through his hair, wincing when he accidentally brushed the lump on the back of his head. "He appeared agitated and preoccupied at the same time, and quite anxious for me to be on my way. I was happy to oblige him."
"And you told no one else your plans?"
"No. Did you mention my departure from London to anyone?"
"I told
Victoria
, but not until we were at the Harrimans' town house," Justin said. His expression grew thoughtful. "Gregory would have had ample time to make arrangements with those men who attacked you."
A sudden, overwhelming weariness washed over Stephen. "Good God, Justin. I always knew that with the exception of
Victoria
, my family was immoral and sickening, but I admit I'm taken aback by Gregory's possible involvement in this."
"Well, I think you'd best change 'possible' to 'probable' and decide what we're going to do about it."
"Actually, I have a plan."
"Excellent. I'm listening," Justin said.
Stephen clasped his hands behind his back and gathered his thoughts. Justin walked beside him, silently waiting.
"It occurs to me," Stephen began, "that our culprit—be it Gregory or Lawrence or someone else—believes, or hopes, I am dead."
"Yes," Justin agreed. "It will no doubt be quite a shock to someone when you reappear."
"Indeed. But I don't think I should reappear right away. I believe it would be best if I remain here, safe in the country, until I'm fully recovered. Hayley said I may stay here as long as I need for my injuries to heal, and it's an invitation I intend to take advantage of. In the meanwhile, you can conduct a discreet investigation. Observe Gregory's actions. Lawrence 's as well."
"Consider it done," Justin said without hesitation. "But you can hardly stay out here in the middle of nowhere forever."
"True. We shall set a time limit—say two or three weeks. That should give you ample opportunity to poke around. I'd planned to be away for this week, so no one should miss me yet. You can casually mention to my family and London staff that I'd told you several weeks ago I was planning an excursion to the Continent, which will explain my absence for the next few weeks. If you haven't discovered anything by then, I'll reappear and hopefully shock our culprit into revealing himself."
"A good theory, but what if he fails to take one look at you and drop to his knees and confess all? What if, instead, he makes another try for you—and succeeds?"
"We know who our main suspects are, so we'll be prepared," Stephen stated. "If all else fails, we can set a trap using me as bait and catch the bastard."
"I don't like the sound of that at all," Justin protested. "It's far too risky."
"I don't care for it overmuch myself," Stephen admitted, "but it likely won't come to that. With any luck, my loving brother or ex-business partner will reveal himself within the next several weeks. And if he doesn't, at least I'll have ample time to heal and regain my strength before returning to London ."
"There is one thing we can do," Justin suggested. "When you fail to appear, dead or alive, our killer is apt to grow increasingly anxious. I'll ask Miss Albright the exact location where she found you and post someone there to see if anyone comes around looking for your
"Who did you tell?"
Bitterness stung him like a blow. "Gregory. Bloody hell, my own damn brother is trying to kill me."
Chapter 5
« ^ »
S tephen's announcement hung in the air for several long moments, the silence broken only by a pair of chirping bluebirds and the soft rustling of leaves in the warm breeze.
Finally Justin cleared his throat. "Perhaps Gregory told someone else?"
Stephen shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I stopped at his town house late that afternoon to deliver some papers. He asked if I was planning to attend the Harrimans' musicale and I said no, I was going to my lodge for several days." Stephen raked his hands through his hair, wincing when he accidentally brushed the lump on the back of his head. "He appeared agitated and preoccupied at the same time, and quite anxious for me to be on my way. I was happy to oblige him."
"And you told no one else your plans?"
"No. Did you mention my departure from London to anyone?"
"I told
Victoria
, but not until we were at the Harrimans' town house," Justin said. His expression grew thoughtful. "Gregory would have had ample time to make arrangements with those men who attacked you."
A sudden, overwhelming weariness washed over Stephen. "Good God, Justin. I always knew that with the exception of
Victoria
, my family was immoral and sickening, but I admit I'm taken aback by Gregory's possible involvement in this."
"Well, I think you'd best change 'possible' to 'probable' and decide what we're going to do about it."
"Actually, I have a plan."
"Excellent. I'm listening," Justin said.
Stephen clasped his hands behind his back and gathered his thoughts. Justin walked beside him, silently waiting.
"It occurs to me," Stephen began, "that our culprit—be it Gregory or Lawrence or someone else—believes, or hopes, I am dead."
"Yes," Justin agreed. "It will no doubt be quite a shock to someone when you reappear."
"Indeed. But I don't think I should reappear right away. I believe it would be best if I remain here, safe in the country, until I'm fully recovered. Hayley said I may stay here as long as I need for my injuries to heal, and it's an invitation I intend to take advantage of. In the meanwhile, you can conduct a discreet investigation. Observe Gregory's actions. Lawrence 's as well."
"Consider it done," Justin said without hesitation. "But you can hardly stay out here in the middle of nowhere forever."
"True. We shall set a time limit—say two or three weeks. That should give you ample opportunity to poke around. I'd planned to be away for this week, so no one should miss me yet. You can casually mention to my family and London staff that I'd told you several weeks ago I was planning an excursion to the Continent, which will explain my absence for the next few weeks. If you haven't discovered anything by then, I'll reappear and hopefully shock our culprit into revealing himself."
"A good theory, but what if he fails to take one look at you and drop to his knees and confess all? What if, instead, he makes another try for you—and succeeds?"
"We know who our main suspects are, so we'll be prepared," Stephen stated. "If all else fails, we can set a trap using me as bait and catch the bastard."
"I don't like the sound of that at all," Justin protested. "It's far too risky."
"I don't care for it overmuch myself," Stephen admitted, "but it likely won't come to that. With any luck, my loving brother or ex-business partner will reveal himself within the next several weeks. And if he doesn't, at least I'll have ample time to heal and regain my strength before returning to London ."
"There is one thing we can do," Justin suggested. "When you fail to appear, dead or alive, our killer is apt to grow increasingly anxious. I'll ask Miss Albright the exact location where she found you and post someone there to see if anyone comes around looking for your
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