That was not for Harry’s and Julius’s ears. Dominic had one more disaster of the day to reveal first, though.
He took a breath. “Thaddeus Skelton is a protégé of Lord Maltravers.” That got a general subdued groan. Lord Maltravers had loathed the Ricardians for years, for the simple reason that they excluded him, and he did not care to be excluded. His animosity had grown ever since they had admitted his loathed younger brother Ash to their company. If Lord Maltravers had known that the requirement for membership was a taste for men, he would have had an apoplexy. Dominic wished he would.
Ash and Harry had developed a close friendship. Dominic had no doubt that Lord Maltravers would crush Harry underfoot for no better reason than to hurt Ash, and that humiliating the Ricardians by association would sweeten the act for him considerably. More than that, though, Maltravers was notable for his political ambition and deep loathing of reformers. He’d like nothing better than to prosecute Jack Cade, especially if he could disgrace Harry Vane at the same time. Dominic made himself spell it out: “If Skelton finds evidence of Harry’s involvement at Theobald’s, we may assume he will pass it to his patron.”
“If Maltravers learns information discreditable to my cousin,” Richard growled, “he will do well to keep it to himself.”
“Will they raid the shop again?” Harry asked. “Does Skelton intend to arrest Silas, do you think?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know.”
“You seem to be taking this very hard, considering it is merely a matter of duty,” Julius observed, and that word stabbed Dominic through the lungs so that he couldn’t breathe, could barely see.
“Go to hell,” he choked out. “Oh God, Rich, help me.”
Then Richard was holding his hand in his own, sending the other two away, dropping to his knees by Dominic’s chair as the door closed. “Dominic, dear one, what is it? What the devil has happened?”
“Oh, Richard, Richard.” He swallowed hard. “You know…Wednesdays.”
Richard knew his needs, despised them, and was well aware that Dominic had them met at Millay’s. “Yes.”
“And that it has been the same man, for the last year and more.”
“And?”
“I didn’t know his name,” Dominic said urgently. “You have to understand, Rich. I didn’t know his name. He didn’t know mine.”
“Very well, but why does this matter? What is his name?”
Dominic stared over Richard’s shoulder. “Silas Mason.”
There was a short silence.
“I pray that this is a jest in poor taste,” Richard said at last.
“No.”
“Harry’s accursed seditionist has been abusing you on a weekly basis, and…” Dominic could see understanding dawn. “And you found out today.”
“When I raided the bookshop.”
Richard released his hand in order to put both of his own over his face. “Sweet merciful heaven,” he said, his voice muffled. “Dominic.”
“I know.”
“Dominic. How—what—ah!” Richard pushed himself to his full, imposing height with a sound of explosive frustration. “At what point will you stop trying to have yourself killed? Will this not end until you are swinging by the neck, or dead in the streets? What the devil did you think you were playing at? And now you are like to arrest him, and, what, he’s threatening you? Demanding your protection? Or does he merely intend revenge?”
“None of those,” Dominic said. “He could have ruined me with a word, and he did not. He says he won’t inform against me.”
Richard exhaled. “You believe him?”
“I do, yes.”
“Why?”
“I…think he’s honest. I know he’s honest.”
“If he were honest, you would scarcely be arresting him,” Richard pointed out. “Think, for heaven’s sake. The man is a criminal. Can he be disposed of?” Dominic looked up with a pulse of horror. Richard waved an irritable hand. “I meant, can we put him on a ship to America? Pay him off, get him out of the country?”
Could they? The idea brought a tiny flare of hope. “I don’t know if he’d agree. He isn’t very, uh, amenable, but perhaps. Harry might have a better idea of that.” Because of course Harry knew Silas. Harry was intimate with Dominic’s brutal, tender lover in ways he couldn’t dream. Harry shared trust with him, friendship, years of comfortable association.
Dominic found himself disliking Harry intensely.
“It could be done without his agreement,” Richard said. “Just get the fellow on a ship; it could be arranged. I don’t greatly like the idea, but I prefer it to your disgrace, and Harry’s.”