Chapter Eighteen

Ten minutes later Sebastian got into the carriage behind Prudence. He closed the curtains as the vehicle rolled forward. Then he lit the lamp and unfolded the document he had discovered in Bloomfield's desk.

Prudence sat across from him, huddled deep into her cloak. She watched with keen anticipation as he studied the papers. "Explain it to me at once, Sebastian. I am consumed with curiosity."

He looked up briefly, frowning in concentration. Then he saw the look in Prudence's eyes and he smiled. She was enjoying this as much as he was. It struck him again that he had been incredibly fortunate in his choice of brides. No one else except his unusual Prudence would be able to understand how he felt at this moment, let alone share that moment with him.

And she loved him.

"Well, Sebastian? Do not keep me in suspense."

He returned his attention to the document. "This is a business agreement formed for purposes of making investments in shipping ventures." He smiled. "The principals of the firm are Ringcross, Ox-enham, Bloomfield, and Curling."

Prudence gave him a quizzical look. "The Princes of Virtue were in business together?"

"Precisely. This agreement is dated three and a half years ago. They sold stock in the company and invested the money in a series of ventures."

"What has that got to do with the deaths of Oxenham and Ring-cross?"

Sebastian scanned the fine legal handwriting, searching for details.

"According to this agreement, if any one of the principals dies, the others would assume his portion of the company." He looked up. "Following that logic, if three out of the four were to perish, then the last of the four would inherit the company."

Prudence understood at once. Her eyes widened as she leaped to the obvious conclusion. "Curling."

"Yes." Sebastian smiled with cold satisfaction. "Conceivably it could be Bloomfield, but I rather think it has to be Curling. Bloom-field is obviously too disordered in his mind to concoct, let alone carry out, this elaborate scheme."

"You believe Lord Curling has already killed two of his friends?"

"I think it highly likely. Bloomfield was no doubt next on his list."

Prudence tapped one gloved finger thoughtfully on the seat beside her. "The first two deaths have raised no questions. Everyone as­sumed Ringcross's fall was an accident and that Oxenham's death was a suicide. It would have been easy to make Bloomfield appear a sui­cide also. Everyone already considers him mad. Why go to the trouble of trying to implicate Jeremy as the murderer?"

"Because someone might have eventually questioned the conve­nient deaths of three men who were in business with a fourth," Sebas­tian said. "Especially when the fourth became extremely wealthy by taking complete control of the company."

"So Curling, if he is the one behind the murders, decided to take precautions?"

"That's the logical assumption. He protected himself by trying to arrange for someone else to appear guilty. He needed to produce a motive for that other person, however."

"Curling must have discovered that Jeremy was in love with Lillian at one time," Prudence said. "He realized your cousin had the perfect motive for murdering The Princes of Virtue."

"He set Bow Street to investigate so that he would appear entirely innocent when it all came to light. Who would suspect the man who had commissioned the investigation?" Sebastian thought about Curl­ing's behavior the previous night. "Especially when that man has made it increasingly clear that he fears for his own life."

Prudence tugged her cloak more closely around herself. Her face was shadowed by the hood. "If we're right in assuming Curling is the killer, then there is another interesting aspect of this investigation to be considered."

"What is that?"

"We cannot overlook the fact that you were the one who made the inquiries for Whistlecroft. Do you not find it is a rather extraordinary coincidence that the person who conducted the investigation hap­pened upon evidence at the scene of the deaths that implicates a member of his own family?"

Sebastian smiled with slow appreciation. "My dear, there are occa­sions when I do not know quite which it is that I admire most about you: your cleverness or your passionate response to me in bed."

"Sebastian."

"I know, it is a difficult choice. Fortunately for me, I do not have to decide between the two. I am able to enjoy both. Now, then, you are quite correct. We cannot assume that my involvement in this particu­lar investigation was entirely a coincidence."

"How do you suppose Curling knew about your hobby?"

"If he was able to learn of Jeremy's affection for Lillian, then he must have excellent sources of information."

Prudence frowned. "But who could have informed him?"

Sebastian shrugged. "Whistlecroft, no doubt. Although why he gave Curling the information defeats me. Whistlecroft has always been even more eager than I to keep my hobby a secret. He prefers to take full credit for the investigations so that he can collect the re­wards."

"Well, I suppose it does not matter how Curling learned of your interest in conducting investigations. The point is he did." Prudence shook her head in disgust. "He left evidence implicating poor Jeremy at the scenes of the deaths, trusting that you would find it and identify it."

"Which I did."

"I cannot imagine what made Curling believe that you would be eager to see Jeremy arrested for murder."

"Everyone knows I have no love for my relatives," Sebastian said.

"Yes, but Curling should have realized that when all is said and done, family is family. He should have understood that you would protect Jeremy."

Sebastian arched a brow. "My dear, your naivete alarms me ai times. Curling was far more pragmatic than you in his logic. He knew my opinion of the rest of the Fleetwoods and he had every reason to suspect I would not lift a finger to protect any of them."

Prudence glowered at him. "Do not tease me anymore about this matter, my lord. You know very well that you would never have let Jeremy hang."

Sebastian smiled at her. "Your boundless faith in my character never fails to amuse me, my dear."

Prudence gave him a quelling frown. "What are we going to do now? We cannot prove that Curling is behind the murders. So far all we have accomplished is to remove the evidence against Jeremy be­fore it fell into the hands of the authorities. Next time we might not be so fortunate."

"I think it is time I had another talk with my cousin," Sebastian said.

"Right now?"

"I cannot envision a better time," Sebastian said. "It is nearly three. He will no doubt be at his favorite club."

"I shall come with you," Prudence said eagerly.

"You will not come with me," Sebastian said evenly. "You know damn well that you cannot enter a gentlemen's club."

"I am aware of that." Prudence smiled serenely. "I shall wait in the carriage with you until Jeremy leaves the club."

"Bloody hell," Sebastian muttered. But there was no real heat in the words. He was learning to recognize a losing battle when he saw one.

They did not have to wait very long in the fog outside the St. James Street club before Jeremy emerged. Sebastian watched his cousin descend the steps and start toward a waiting hackney. He noted with satisfaction that Jeremy did not appear unsteady in his walk.

Sebastian opened the carriage door just as Jeremy went past. "A word with you, Cousin."

"What the devil?" Startled, Jeremy looked into the darkened car­riage. His glance went from Sebastian to Prudence. "What are you doing here, Lady Angelstone?"

She smiled reassuringly at him. "We wanted to speak with you about a very urgent matter, Mr. Fleetwood. Would you mind joining us?"