A Gentleman’s Position(61)

Richard felt one kind of tension ease out of his shoulders, even as his gut tightened a little at the sight. “Good evening, Cyprian. Please come in.”

David walked to the fireplace, opposite Richard, gaze flicking from man to man. “Gentlemen, thank you. I’ll get to the meat of it: We have to retrieve this letter; we have to find out what Mr. Skelton knows and take him off the board one way or another; and we have to deal with Lord Maltravers. While he can accuse Lord Gabriel and Mr. Webster, even without the letter, he is a threat. And it seems to me likely that if the letter is stolen his response will be to make accusations. He will not take defeat well.”

“But he will always be able to accuse us,” Francis said. “He knows, damn it. What are you going to do, cut out his tongue?”

“In a way,” David said. “I wondered if we might silence him blackmail for blackmail, but I have found no weapon worth using for that. Unless anyone here knows otherwise, it seems that he has no sordid secrets or hidden crimes.”

“Unfortunately, those are all on our side,” Julius remarked.

“Indeed, Mr. Norreys. The next best option is to make sure that, when he speaks, he will not be believed. I need your help with that.”

The Ricardians exchanged looks. Harry spoke for them all when he asked, “How?”

David’s lips twitched in an echo of his mother’s razor-sharp smile, a warning of danger that made Richard’s skin prickle with the sudden understanding that his red fox was in his element.

“I will explain, but first there is something to establish. I intend to destroy Lord Maltravers’s character.” Ash’s eyes widened. “This is not going to be gentlemanly at all. It will be ruthless, unscrupulous, probably unlawful, and if anyone here cannot be part of it, please say so now.”

Every head turned to Richard.

“Dominic?” he said.

Dominic bit his lip. “Do what you must with Maltravers. He started this, and with Ash and Silas at stake, he can take the consequences. But what about Skelton?”

“What about him?” Francis demanded.

“He’s a professional man. I don’t like him, but he is doing his job.”

Francis and Julius both made explosive noises. “He accused Silas of murder!” Harry objected over them.

“I know, and I should be grateful if you didn’t repeat this conversation, because Silas will doubtless have my hide for it, but Skelton is supposed to hunt down radicals. It’s what he’s paid for. And yes, he’s Maltravers’s ally, but I can’t see him destroyed for that.”

“I don’t need to destroy him,” David said. “I think there is another way to deal with Mr. Skelton, but I will require your help, Mr. Frey.”

Dominic gave him a relieved smile. “Anything. Thank you.”

“Good,” Richard said. “Julius, have you any concerns?”

“Dear fellow, he may rip the balls off anyone he sees fit,” Julius said. “Cry havoc, Cyprian, and consider me your dog of war.”

Francis rolled his eyes. “Seconded.”

“Thirded,” Harry added. “Ash?”

Ash made a face. “I feel a deuced villain, you know. He’s my brother.”

“And you’re his brother, and that hasn’t stopped him,” Francis pointed out.

“I know. I’ll do what I have to.”

“What about you, Richard?” Dominic asked.

“Cyprian has my full support in whatever he does. All of you will kindly treat his requests as though they came from me.” He nodded at David. “Carry on.”

David took a deep breath. “Firstly, time. When is the trial of the conspirators set?”

“The other conspirators, you mean?” Dominic asked a little sardonically. “The fifteenth.”

“Nine days,” David said. “Lord Maltravers will want Silas added to the accused as soon as possible. Lord Gabriel, you need to delay him. Tell him that you are prepared to give in to his blackmail but that you are still working on persuading your friends. Say they are intransigent; Lord Richard is offended. Seem cowed and afraid. Can you do that?”

“I can seem afraid without any trouble at all,” Ash assured him.

“Ask to see the letter, to confirm he has it. You may be able to find a clue as to where it might be. And”—his chin tilted upward—“make Lord Richard the focus of your objections.”

Ash frowned. “How do you mean?”

“Imply that he is the man stopping you from giving in, but he has secrets himself. Use phrases like holier-than-thou, or a fly on the wall might see things. Don’t be drawn into specifics; clam up when he asks. But set that trail for me, Lord Gabriel—that Lord Richard has secrets for Lord Maltravers to learn. I want him on Lord Richard’s scent.”