These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 1)

Mr Manvers thumped the table.

‘Stolen, sir, by your brother, Lord Rupert Alastair, this very day!’

His words brought about a sudden silence.

‘Continue!’ requested his Grace. ‘You interest us now exceedingly. Where, when, how, and why did Lord Rupert steal your horse?’

‘He stole it in the village, sir, this morning! And I may say, sir, that I consider it a gross impertinence! A piece of insolence that infuriates me! I am a calm man, sir, but when I receive such a message from a man of birth, of title –’

‘Oh, he left a message, did he?’ interposed Merivale.

‘With the blacksmith, sir! My groom rode over on the roan to the village, and the horse casting a shoe, he took him to the smith, very properly! While Coggin was shoeing the animal my fellow walked on to Fawley to execute my commands.’ He breathed heavily. ‘When he returned, the horse was gone! The smith – damn him for a fool! – tells me that Lord Rupert insisted on taking the horse – my horse, sir! – and left his compliments for me, and his – his thanks for the loan of my horse!’

‘Very proper,’ said his Grace.

‘Damme, sir, it’s monstrous!’

A gurgling laugh came from Jennifer.

‘Oh, was there ever such a boy?’ she cried. ‘What in the world should he want with your horse, sir?’

Mr Manvers scowled at her.

‘Exactly, madam! Exactly! What did he want with my horse? The man’s mad, and should be clapped up! Coggin tells me he came running into the village like one demented, with no hat on his head! And not one of those gaping fools had the sense to stop him from seizing my horse! A set of idiots, sir!’

‘I can well believe it,’ said Avon. ‘But I do not yet see how your information can help us.’

Mr Manvers fought with himself.

‘Sir, I am not come here to help you!’ he raged. ‘I have come to demand my horse!’

‘I would give it you had I it in my possession,’ said his Grace kindly. ‘Unfortunately Lord Rupert has your horse.’

‘Then I want its recovery!’

‘Do not distress yourself !’ Avon advised him. ‘No doubt he will return it. What I wish to know is, why did Lord Rupert want your horse, and where did he go?’

‘If that dolt of a landlord is to be believed,’ said Mr Manvers, ‘he has gone to Portsmouth.’

‘Fleeing the country, evidently,’ murmured his Grace. ‘Was there a lady with Lord Rupert?’

‘No, there was not! Lord Rupert went off at a disgraceful pace in pursuit of a coach, or some such nonsense.’

The Duke’s eyes widened.

‘Almost I begin to see daylight,’ he said. ‘Proceed.’

Merivale shook his head.

‘I’m all at sea,’ he confessed. ‘The mystery grows.’

‘On the contrary,’ his Grace replied gently. ‘The mystery is very nearly solved.’

‘I don’t understand you – any of you!’ exploded Mr Manvers.

‘That was not to be expected,’ said Avon. ‘Lord Rupert, you say, went to Portsmouth in pursuit of a coach. Who was in that coach?’

‘Some damned Frenchman, Fletcher said.’