“Yes, that is it precisely,” Lady Callander confirmed. “What Lord Hazelton also said to Miss Sarah was that whilst he had refused Lord Callander’s offer, he knew that the gentleman had also approached others.”
A flicker of understanding came into Sebastian’s mind. “I see,” he murmured, slowly. “And so the suggestion is that Lord Chesterfield might now be involved in this scheme?”
Lady Callander shrugged. “Perhaps,” she said, softly. “I cannot be sure.” Pressing her lips together, she dropped her head and let out a long breath. “One thing Miss Sarah told me was that Lord Hazelton came to her one evening, shortly after he had called upon me. He was somewhat distressed, apparently certain that he had seen the gentleman he knew to be Lord Callander.”
“But he knew it could not be so, given that you were widowed these last two years and had given him a different description to the gentleman he knew,” Sebastian added, as Lady Callander lifted her head. “And he became afraid of what this meant. That is when, he received your note, he took great lengths to try and keep your meeting secret from anyone around him.”
“Indeed,” Lady Callander whispered, her face paling now. “Unfortunately, Miss Sarah stated that Madame Bereford came to her after Lord Hazelton had left and beat her until she confessed what he had told her.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as Sebastian felt his heart sink to the floor. “She did not tell her everything as regarded the ships and request for financial input, but simply that Lord Hazelton was sure he had seen someone who had already passed away.”
“And such a statement brought about Lord Hazelton’s death,” Lord Watt said, slowly. “Then Madame Bereford is involved in some way.”
“Although in what way, I could not even begin to suggest,” Lady Callander said, softly. “But I will state that now I think it is of an even greater concern that Lord Chesterfield be considered.”
Lady Madeline passed a hand over her eyes. “I do not understand all that has been said,” she said, slowly, “but I will do whatever is required.”
Silence ran around the room for a few minutes, with each gentleman thinking through what had been said. There now seemed to be a greater clarity to what had been going on, for evidently whoever had been pretending to be Lord Callander had been using the identity of the gentleman in order to set up a new shipping route.
“Might I ask why someone would use the Earl of Callander’s identity in order to pretend such a thing?” Lord Windsor asked, frowning hard. “Surely he was well known?”
Lady Callander shook her head sadly. “Indeed, he was not,” she said, quietly. “He was something of a recluse, I believe, and only came to London to seek a wife.” A rueful smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “And when he chose me, we wed within the month and returned to his estate. It was quiet, hasty and without any sort of importance.”
“Then someone pretended to be a gentleman that the ton would respect, in order to gain what they could not otherwise achieve,” Sebastian said, slowly. “So how do we discover who it is?”
“Lord Chesterfield might inform us,” Lady Callander said, quietly. “Although I do not know what to suggest when it comes to Madame Bereford.”
Lord Watt cleared his throat. “We shall leave Madame Bereford for the time being,” he said, firmly. “Let us continue with Lord Chesterfield.” He looked directly at Lady Madeline. “Perhaps Lady Callander might be willing to accompany you, Lady Madeline?”
“As shall I,” Sebastian said, quickly. “You may tell Lord Chesterfield that I am courting Lady Callander if you wish, as an explanation for our company.” He said this without even considering what Lady Callander herself would say and, his stomach swirling, he forced himself to look into her eyes.
Much to his relief, she was nodding and smiling, her eyes evidently holding a good deal of contentment.
“Very good,” Lord Watt said, decisively. “Then you must attempt to discover more about the ships that Lord Chesterfield has. Find out whatever you can about them, Lady Madeline. And Lady Callander,” he continued, with an encouraging smile, “mention Madame Bereford and Lord Millerton will watch how he reacts.” His smile grew. “And thereafter, we shall decide precisely what we are going to do next.”
Chapter Eleven
“And
how do you fare this fine afternoon, Lady Callander?”
Bridgette resisted the urge to tell Lord Chesterfield that she found it rather interesting that his persona was now back to the outgoing, delightfully happy gentleman that she had been introduced to at the first, Bridgette put a small smile on her face and replied that she found the day to be quite lovely, if not a little warm.
“But you would do anything to be in the company of Lord Millerton, I presume?” Lord Chesterfield replied, with a chuckle. “I hear you are courting now, Lord Millerton! How exciting!”
Lord Millerton looked sideways at Lord Chesterfield, his lips twitching just a little.
“How very good of you to notice,” he said, dryly. “Yes, I am courting Lady Callander and find myself quite blessed to be able to do so.”
As much as Bridgette knew that Lord Millerton was speaking for Lord Chesterfield’s benefit, she could not help but smile at him, a little embarrassed and yet greatly delighted at his remark.
“I see,” Lord Chesterfield murmured, a look of interest in his eye, which then moved towards Lady Madeline. “How strange it is that, only a short time ago, I was begging for your help in finding an appropriate young lady for my bride, only now to discover that you have found someone quite lovely and I, at the very least, have been graced with the delightful Lady Madeline’s company for the afternoon.”
Lady Madeline simpered, although Bridgette noted that it did not reach her eyes.
“I confess that there are a good many gentlemen who come to seek out my company for nothing other than their own pleasure,” Lady Madeline sighed, looking a little pained. “I know full well that they only want my attentions in the hope of gaining the dowry that comes with my hand in marriage.”
Bridgette let out a long sigh and shook her head. “How ridiculous,” she said, looking fixedly at Lord Chesterfield, her arm still tight on Lord Millerton’s arm. “I do hope you are not as one of those, Lord Chesterfield, else I shall have to chase you away from my dear friend!” She laughed, aware of how Lord Chesterfield laughed along with her, although there was no smile in his eyes.
“Indeed, I am not,” he said, firmly, once the laughter had died away. “I swear to you now, Lady Madeline,” he continued, looking at Lady Madeline and then to Bridgette herself, “I am not a cad. I seek only your attentions and your company because I can think of no better young lady than you.”