Regardless, it would be a good idea to speak with this Mr. Fergusson.
“What of the other families?” Gage questioned my sister and her husband. “Did either the Casselbecks or Lord Buchan have any disgruntled relatives?”
Alana stared up at the chandelier suspended over the table in thought and then shook her head. “Not that I can think of.”
“There was that matter with the Erskines,” Philip remarked. “But that was more of the wife’s doing.”
Gage frowned, clearly trying to place the names. “The Erskines?”
“The late Lord Buchan’s youngest brother and his family. When Buchan died without issue and left the title to his nephew Henry, his second brother’s child, the wife of his youngest brother complained because her son received nothing. She thought the estate should be split between the two nephews. But she wasn’t born into the aristocracy, and didn’t understand how the rules of inheritance work,” Philip added, waving the matter aside.
I supposed I might be displeased, too, if my older nephew inherited an earldom, several estates, and a large fortune, while my son was given nothing. It seemed the late earl could have left the boy something. But I wasn’t privy to all the details of that family’s affairs. Perhaps the earl had gifted the younger nephew before he died.
In any case, Gage didn’t appear concerned with the matter, and Alana had already moved on to talk about the upcoming balls, dinner parties, and other events occurring over the course of the next week. I was not particularly interested in attending any of them, but I also had to admit they would be good places to collect information. I was aware of the irony in my seeking out gossip for potential evidence when I hated the insipid conversations and petty blather that made up such society gatherings. Especially as I’d been chattered about in just such a manner since the day I entered society, and even more so since the revelations after Sir Anthony’s death. But I bit my tongue and surrendered to Gage and my sister’s better judgment as they selected which events they would write to the hostesses of and beg an invitation for Gage and me. There was no doubt of Gage being obliged—he was one of the most sought after gentleman guests in the country—and most would be willing to accommodate the request of my sister, a countess, on my behalf.
We had just finished luncheon and exited the dining room when there was a knock at the door. The butler went to answer it as we all began to climb the stairs to the drawing room, but a familiar voice made Gage and me stop and turn. It was Anderley, bundled up in a dark greatcoat and hat.
“I beg your pardon, sir,” Anderley murmured as his posture stiffened, clearly startled by the sight of all of us. “But this message just came for you. It said that it was urgent.” He held out a letter, beaten and soiled by its journey.
“Excuse me.” Gage released my arm and descended the stairs to take the letter. He flipped it over to examine the seal. His jaw hardened.
“Gage, you’re welcome to use my study,” Philip began, but fell silent when Gage forcefully broke open the seal and unfolded the missive.
We stood awkwardly by as he perused its opening contents, his expression growing stonier with each line. Before he’d even reached the middle of the page, he lowered the papers and began to refold them angrily.
“I apologize,” he bit out crisply. “But I must see to this.”
“Of course,” Philip replied, his voice echoing the same confusion I felt.
“Does it have to do with the investigation?” I ventured hesitantly.
He took a deep breath and returned to the base of the stairs to look up at me. “No. Just . . . a personal matter.”
I nodded slowly, unsure exactly what that meant.
His lips flattened in a self-deprecating smile. “I’ve told you how little my father likes his orders being disobeyed.”
And Gage had postponed his return to London in order to take on this inquiry.
I indicated my understanding, but I couldn’t help but wonder if that was really all there was to it. I knew Captain Lord Gage had been instructing his son to return to London for almost four months now, so surely he wasn’t still waiting for his son to take over an investigation for him. Was he really so autocratic, or was there another reason for his urgency that his son return?
Gage climbed the few steps separating us and pressed a kiss to my hand as he promised to call for me early the next morning for our trip to Woodslea. I said I would be ready. I watched as he and Anderley departed, their two tall frames, one golden-haired and one dark, descending the front steps of the townhome side by side.