Read Online The Berkeley Square Affair (Malcolm & Suzanne Rannoch) by Teresa Grant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Teresa Grant
Ads: Link
events in the Peninsula and France.”
“Which are precisely the sort of events you expertly influence. Don’t sell yourself short, sir. Suffice it to say, the events two years ago didn’t leave Dewhurst and me on amicable terms. I think it’s safe to say he blames me for his estrangement from his son.”
“But those same events should have left you with considerable leverage over Dewhurst.”
“I thought you said you stayed out of things.”
“That didn’t stop me from noting the pertinent developments. You have a hold on Dewhurst, Malcolm. Don’t be squeamish about using it. God knows Dewhurst doesn’t deserve such consideration.” Carfax shook his head. “The man was a fool. By going after Bertrand Laclos, he only roused his son’s anger. If he’d simply left his son alone, Caruthers and Laclos would have grown apart and Caruthers would have done what was expected of him as his father’s heir.”
As you’re hoping your own son will do? Malcolm bit the words back just in time. Carfax never directly referred to David and Simon’s relationship. Malcolm sensed that not referring to it was crucial to keeping Carfax from interfering. Lord Dewhurst’s interference in his son Rupert’s relationship with Bertrand Laclos two years ago had crystalized many of Malcolm’s fears for David and Simon.
The events two years ago had also left Malcolm with a strong desire to draw Lord Dewhurst’s cork, but such an action would scarcely produce the desired results. “You strategized missions with Dewhurst.”
“Yes, I know. I watched him carefully, but he never betrayed himself. Dewhurst was in and out of France all the time in the nineties and the early part of this century. Excellent cover if he had been an agent.”
“He’s—”
“One of our most prominent diplomats. Quite.” Carfax pushed his spectacles up on his nose. “If Harleton and your father knew who was behind the Dunboyne leak and the codebook could reveal that man’s identity, it’s likely that man is also behind their deaths.” He laid his hand, palm down, on the newspaper, pressing out the wrinkles. “Whether Dewhurst leaked the information himself or left his dispatch box where someone else could get at it, I should never have trusted him with the information. The Dunboyne leak is one of my worst failures, Malcolm. I’ve wanted to find out who was behind it for almost two decades. This codebook could be the break we need to unearth the agent, but it’s an investigation that will require the utmost discretion. All of these men have powerful friends. Even with proof, it won’t be easy to bring the agent to justice.”
“And accusing the wrong person could be a catastrophe.”
“Quite. Even the questions have to be asked delicately.”
“A lot of feathers could be ruffled.”
“Precisely.” Carfax tightened a spectacle piece behind his ear. “Which is why you’re perfectly placed to conduct the investigation. Whatever your politics, your pedigree is impeccable. And I know I can rely upon your discretion. Especially with your father involved.”
“And I provide you with deniability.”
Carfax settled back in his chair. “But of course.”
CHAPTER 5
“Oh, dear God.” Manon put her face in her hands. The read-through was over. Simon was beginning to block the opening scene with Horatio and the other guards and the ghost. Manon and Suzanne had escaped back to Manon’s dressing room.
Suzanne clunked her cup of fresh tea back in its saucer. Her stomach was roiling. “You didn’t know about Lord Harleton being a French agent?”
“Can you imagine I’d have involved you if I did? That I’d have involved myself?” Manon dragged her hands away from her face and stared at Suzanne. “You do believe me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know that you’re wise to do so, but it happens to be the truth.” Manon pushed herself to her feet and moved to a cabinet with chipped gilt paint. “You didn’t know? About
“Which are precisely the sort of events you expertly influence. Don’t sell yourself short, sir. Suffice it to say, the events two years ago didn’t leave Dewhurst and me on amicable terms. I think it’s safe to say he blames me for his estrangement from his son.”
“But those same events should have left you with considerable leverage over Dewhurst.”
“I thought you said you stayed out of things.”
“That didn’t stop me from noting the pertinent developments. You have a hold on Dewhurst, Malcolm. Don’t be squeamish about using it. God knows Dewhurst doesn’t deserve such consideration.” Carfax shook his head. “The man was a fool. By going after Bertrand Laclos, he only roused his son’s anger. If he’d simply left his son alone, Caruthers and Laclos would have grown apart and Caruthers would have done what was expected of him as his father’s heir.”
As you’re hoping your own son will do? Malcolm bit the words back just in time. Carfax never directly referred to David and Simon’s relationship. Malcolm sensed that not referring to it was crucial to keeping Carfax from interfering. Lord Dewhurst’s interference in his son Rupert’s relationship with Bertrand Laclos two years ago had crystalized many of Malcolm’s fears for David and Simon.
The events two years ago had also left Malcolm with a strong desire to draw Lord Dewhurst’s cork, but such an action would scarcely produce the desired results. “You strategized missions with Dewhurst.”
“Yes, I know. I watched him carefully, but he never betrayed himself. Dewhurst was in and out of France all the time in the nineties and the early part of this century. Excellent cover if he had been an agent.”
“He’s—”
“One of our most prominent diplomats. Quite.” Carfax pushed his spectacles up on his nose. “If Harleton and your father knew who was behind the Dunboyne leak and the codebook could reveal that man’s identity, it’s likely that man is also behind their deaths.” He laid his hand, palm down, on the newspaper, pressing out the wrinkles. “Whether Dewhurst leaked the information himself or left his dispatch box where someone else could get at it, I should never have trusted him with the information. The Dunboyne leak is one of my worst failures, Malcolm. I’ve wanted to find out who was behind it for almost two decades. This codebook could be the break we need to unearth the agent, but it’s an investigation that will require the utmost discretion. All of these men have powerful friends. Even with proof, it won’t be easy to bring the agent to justice.”
“And accusing the wrong person could be a catastrophe.”
“Quite. Even the questions have to be asked delicately.”
“A lot of feathers could be ruffled.”
“Precisely.” Carfax tightened a spectacle piece behind his ear. “Which is why you’re perfectly placed to conduct the investigation. Whatever your politics, your pedigree is impeccable. And I know I can rely upon your discretion. Especially with your father involved.”
“And I provide you with deniability.”
Carfax settled back in his chair. “But of course.”
CHAPTER 5
“Oh, dear God.” Manon put her face in her hands. The read-through was over. Simon was beginning to block the opening scene with Horatio and the other guards and the ghost. Manon and Suzanne had escaped back to Manon’s dressing room.
Suzanne clunked her cup of fresh tea back in its saucer. Her stomach was roiling. “You didn’t know about Lord Harleton being a French agent?”
“Can you imagine I’d have involved you if I did? That I’d have involved myself?” Manon dragged her hands away from her face and stared at Suzanne. “You do believe me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know that you’re wise to do so, but it happens to be the truth.” Manon pushed herself to her feet and moved to a cabinet with chipped gilt paint. “You didn’t know? About
Similar Books
