Something Scandalous

Selby shrugged. “Not much. If you are looking for information on a person, Somerton is your best bet. He can find out things on anyone.”

Blackburn muttered his agreement.

Will considered this for a moment. “I think I shall find him right now.”

“If he is in attendance, he is most likely in this room,” Blackburn stated.

“He’s a gambler?” Will asked.

“A damned good one,” Blackburn replied.

Will glanced around the room and found Somerton in a darkly lit corner playing cards. Unlike Richard, Somerton seemed to be winning a large amount of money. He looked up as Will came closer.

“Might I have a word?” Will asked.

“Of course, Your Grace.”

Somerton tossed his cards into the pile in the middle of the table, collected his winnings, and stood. “Is there a problem?”

“Let’s talk outside.”

They walked to the doors that led to the small garden. Will found a private corner to talk.

“What do you know about my cousin Richard?”

“The Baron Humphrey?”

Will nodded.

“I have never had the need to learn anything about him,” Somerton replied.

“I was told you are a man who can find out anything about another person.”

Somerton laughed. “Who told you that? Selby?”

“Exactly.” Will waited to see if Somerton would say more, but as usual, he did not. “Can you find out what the man is about?”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything. His finances, his love life, anything of importance.”

“Very well, Your Grace. I will see what I can find out about him.”

“Quickly.”

Somerton frowned. “Do you think there is a reason he would hurt you?”

The thought had briefly crossed his mind. Though he suspected Caroline pulled the strings. She might be the one to want him dead.

“I doubt it. But he was upset that I became duke over him.”

“That is the way these things are done.”

“Still, I don’t trust him.”

Chapter 16

Elizabeth looked around the ballroom and suddenly wished everyone would just leave. The pressures of the last few days had finally caught up with her, and all she wanted to do was retire to her room. Or better yet, Will’s room. What was she thinking?