The Daughter of an Earl (30 page)

T
HEY
were joining Lord Roberts in a meeting room in his offices located on Cheapside in a grand Elizabethan mansion. Its frontage boasted three bays that were four stories high, a cornice balustrade, and imposing Doric pilasters, making for a majestic and imposing welcome to any visitor.

Brett had never seen Taunton carry a cane before. Brett assumed the accessory to be another aristocratic affectation, but Taunton assured him that the feral lion's head gave opponents pause. Brett also had to concede that Daniel and Drew both carried a disdainful ducal scowl rather well. Emily's ivory gown threaded with blue ribbons broke up the austerity of their black and blue jackets. A spring flower amid dark storm clouds.

He wished he could ease the lines of worry furrowing her brow. A bandage covered his right front temple, but other than mild pain if he moved abruptly, he was quite recovered. Once they finished with Drummond, he looked forward to proving to Emily exactly how healthy he was.

A clerk met them in the foyer and ushered them into the spacious meeting room. “My lords, the Duke of Prescott, the Duke of Bedford, the Earl of Taunton, Lady Emily Chandler, and Mr. Curtis,” he announced. After delivering the array of formidable introductions, the clerk departed with a bow.

Drummond was seated at a mahogany table polished to a gleaming sheen. A flicker of alarm crossed his features before he tamped it down. He rose slowly, nodding a curt greeting. When his gaze fastened on Brett, his eyes turned hard and assessing.

Brett stiffened at the sight of Wentworth, surprised to find him seated beside Drummond. He appeared to begrudgingly rise to his feet. Brett grunted. The man had always been a pompous arse.

Lord Roberts surveyed the group through gold-rimmed spectacles. The tall, sharp-featured man dipped his head. “For those of you who are not acquainted, allow me to introduce Mr. Lawrence Drummond and the Earl of Wentworth. Please, everyone be seated.”

Brett drew back a chair for Emily and then sat to her left across the table from Drummond and Wentworth. Taunton flanked Emily's right side, with Daniel beside him and Drew one seat further down.

Roberts waited until everyone was seated before reclaiming his own chair at the head of the table. “I see you have brought a strong contingent in your defense, Mr. Curtis,” he said, arching a brow at Brett.

Before Brett could respond, Wentworth sneered. “I do not know what this is all about. As I have explained to Lord Taunton, facts are facts, and opinions to the contrary cannot alter them.”

“That is true when the facts have been unequivocally established,” Taunton said mildly. “However, the customs officials have yet to find anything to justify these charges. Thus, the facts are still in question. Or am I mistaken?” Taunton cocked a brow.

Wentworth drew himself up. “There have been problems with imports from Curtis Shipping in the past, so it is not—”

“My pardon,” Daniel interceded. “But I was a full partner in the firm during that particular charge to which you refer. Therefore, I can attest to the fact that those allegations, like these, proved groundless. I am surprised you are familiar with the incident, considering it was not public knowledge.” He smiled thinly, eyes narrowed.

“I do not need to account for how I come by my information,” Wentworth snarled. “But in regard to this complaint, Mr. Drummond brought to my attention—”

“You once warned me to choose my friends with care. I suggest you heed your own advice,” Daniel said coldly.

Brett grinned at Wentworth's apoplectic expression. Pity the arse could not choke on his indignation. But they were not here for Wentworth. “My pardon, but I think it is time we turned our attention to the real purpose of this meeting. Lady Emily?”

“What?” Drummond blurted, red-faced. “Surely you cannot be serious.”

Wentworth took equal umbrage. “What is the meaning of this? This is a business matter, not an open forum for ladies to profess their—”

“That is enough!” Lord Roberts's booming voice silenced the room. “Mr. Curtis is right. It is my responsibility to investigate nefarious dealings within the East India Trading Company, and that is what I am doing.”

Wentworth furrowed his brow. “I do not understand. What the devil does this have to do with the charges against Curtis Shipping?”

“If you will be patient, all will be explained,” Lord Roberts said, his tone brooking no further interruptions. “Many of us are apprised of the history of one of my investigations, but for those who are not, I will briefly summarize. Four years ago, Mr. Drummond brought to my attention that someone in the company was embezzling funds from the Calcutta factories. Per Drummond's recommendation, I appointed the late Viscount Weston to investigate. After the viscount's death, I had no evidence to substantiate the charges of embezzlement, so I believed the matter closed. However, his fiancée
has uncovered new information that has recently come to light, thus reopening this investigation.”

“
You
brought Jason's name to Lord Roberts's attention?” Emily said and stared at Drummond. “
You
lured Jason to India? Why? I do not understand.”

“Because he desired to go!” Drummond bit out. “And I thought he could handle it. Alas, he could not.” He addressed Roberts. “Due to Viscount Weston's abuse of opium, any information that has come to light in regard to his tenure with the company cannot be taken seriously. The man was not of sound mind.”

“That is a slanderous lie, one of many of yours,” Emily cried. “Jason never took the drug. We have sworn statements from his clerk and his valet affirming that. The two men who knew the viscount's habits as well as their own. It was you who spread slander about Jason and ruined Bertram Marsh. You then blackened Jason's legacy to undermine any accusations he made.”

His Athena
. Brett grinned, almost pitying the whoreson.

“You then sought to damage Mr. Curtis to stop him from assisting me, hence the false charges against his company. You knew I was searching for more information, and you could not allow me to find any because it would prove
you
embezzled the money. You were the man Jason had implicated, and you murdered him to silence him!”

“What? Good lord, you are as mad as the rumors attest!” Drummond shot to his feet. Ashen faced, he appealed to Roberts, his voice shaking with rage. “You cannot listen to a grieving madwoman and her egregious accusations. She has never recovered from Viscount Weston's death, therefore anything she says—”

“That is enough!” Brett leapt up and circled the table, his face but inches from Drummond's. “Not one more slanderous word, or I will rip your tongue out of your mouth and silence you once and for all. Lady Emily has only brought to light the late viscount's charges.
His
words, not hers, condemn you.”

Drummond visibly swallowed, a sheen of perspiration
glistening on his brow. Every man had risen when Brett stood. After a taut impasse, Drummond clenched his jaw, his expression thunderous.

Wentworth, florid faced, did not retreat. “Lord Roberts, you cannot listen to this slanderous drivel. Good lord, Drummond is related to the Earl of Dayton, while this man is . . .” His gaze raked Brett with scathing contempt. “He is but a mere tradesman, a colonial, who—”

“Speaks the truth,” Lord Roberts said coldly. “Viscount Weston's missing ledger along with his sworn testimony detailing Mr. Drummond's culpability were turned over to my care yesterday.” He eyed Drummond, his tone cold. “Then there is the testimony of your former valet, a William Dean.”

“What?” Drummond gasped.

“Your valet has testified that you hired a sepoy to assassinate the viscount,” Lord Roberts continued. “When he failed to do so, you then provided the viscount with the opium that did succeed in killing him.”

“You cannot be serious!” Drummond barked. “These are lies, hearsay, and slander.”

“Yes, well, you would be more familiar with those than I,” Lord Roberts said, his eyes hard. “I deal in facts and the truth. Those are irrefutable, as is the evidence against you. You will be charged with embezzlement, but will hang for murder.”

A low moan escaped Drummond. He swayed on his feet and blindly reached out to clutch the edge of the table in a white-knuckle grip.

“As to the other matter, all charges against Curtis Shipping have been summarily dismissed. The customs officials have declared the imported cotton fiber to be of the finest quality, and the goods were accepted,” Lord Roberts said. “Mr. Curtis has the right to charge you and Lord Wentworth with libel for filing a false statement against his company.”

Looking dazed at the turn of events, Wentworth pressed his lips together, for once, wisely holding comment.

“No. I have no interest in Wentworth, and I plan to file
another charge against Drummond—that of attempted murder,” Brett said, locking gazes with Drummond. “You penned the note from Winfred arranging to meet us at the
Jolly Tar
, and you hired two men to kill me. Both have been apprehended, and they, too, have implicated you. Pity you cannot hang twice.”

“You bitch!” Drummond suddenly roared at Emily, his face contorted with rage. “It is all your fault! From the very first, it was your fault.”

“What?” Emily gasped, recoiling.

Brett froze. After a stunned moment, he shook his head, marveling that he had been blind to so obvious an answer, one that had been staring him in the face all along. He advanced on Drummond, who stumbled away from the table. “You planned it all from the very beginning. It was never about the money or the viscount. It was about Lady Emily. You wanted her for yourself.”

“
That
was his motive!” Daniel exclaimed, slapping his hand on the table.

Drummond glared at Brett and snarled, “You can have her! I was a fool. She picked Jason even though she was mine!” He thumped his fist to his heart. “I loved her first!”

Emily flinched and pressed her hand over her mouth.

“Good lord,” Taunton breathed.

“I had planned and waited for years. I had finally disposed of Jason, luring him to India, for God's sake. I sought to console you in your grief, but you disappeared on some trip with your sister, forcing me to again bide my time. When you finally approached me, it renewed my hope. But you kept harping about Jason's letters. I thought I had destroyed all the evidence against me.

“I had been so careful. I exiled myself in that blistering-hot, heathen country, working for a company that was imploding with corruption. It was so easy to poison the viscount tea's, cover it up with the appearance of an opium overdose, and then bribe an official to corroborate the means of death.”

Emily had moved to Brett's side. At this, she emitted a strangled cry. He reached over and gave her arm a squeeze,
wishing he could do more. Wishing he could strangle Drummond for the pain he had inflicted upon her. Hanging was too good for the bastard.

“I had considered everything but Jason's bloody honor. I should have known the man would keep his own private ledger with detailed accounts of his investigation. He was so maddeningly meticulous about his records and accounting. It is not surprising he found a way for you to finish his work from beyond the grave,” he snarled at Emily.

Wild-eyed, Drummond's gaze darted over each of them.

All the men had also circled the table, following Drummond and his macabre confession as he edged toward the door.

“Stop!” Drummond's hand shot up. “Do not come any closer. This is finished. None of it matters now. I am leaving. I have the funds to do so, don't I? Do not try to restrain me.” His hand slipped into his jacket pocket, and he withdrew a pistol. He swung it over the group, his hand shaking, and sweat beading his brow.

The silver flash of the gun shattered Brett's stunned immobility. He shifted in front of Emily, cursing when she struggled to shove him aside.

“You big lummox, you will not get shot over me again!” she bellowed, pounding his back.

Thankfully, Daniel and Drew moved in to flank him.

“You do not want to do that, Drummond. It is over,” Lord Roberts said evenly, holding his hands up as if to tame a wild animal.

Drummond's eyes fastened on Brett, and a perverse smile curved his lips. “If I cannot have her, no one can.”

“You will have to go through me to get to her,” Brett declared, ignoring Emily's shriek of protest.

“And me and Bedford,” Drew added. “With only one shot, you will not get away.”

Taunton stepped forward. “I may be old, but I can still stand up for my daughter, but I prefer to do it at the altar.”

“No!” Emily cried, and another pounding rained on Brett's back.

He grunted, but held his ground.

“You are all mad. Do not move or I will shoot!” Drummond warned.