At the Duke's Discretion by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“Sorry, Amos,” Zach said, his tone terse yet sympathetic. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this.”

Amos felt a virulent rage surge through him and moved away from the hand Zach tried to place on his shoulder. “You knew about this and didn’t warn me?”

“Romsey just this minute told me, and I immediately called you in. He had no idea about Miss Brooke being here before today. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, and still do not, but my first loyalty is to King and country. My second is to the welfare of this district. You said yourself something isn’t right about Miss Brooke. She never told you who her father was, and allowed us all to think she learned what she knows about jewellery from her uncle.”

Amos managed a curt nod. “If she knew her father was doing something like this, she had good reason not to reveal the connection.”

“Good point,” Zach agreed “And an equally good question we ought to ask ourselves is why was he murdered if he was in league with the thieves? You said yourself, Romsey, if Brooke made the pieces, they were worth a lot more than if any other jeweller fashioned them.”

“That’s true, and as to why he was murdered, I cannot say,” Romsey replied. “Maybe he had a fit of conscience and said he would no longer play along.”

“We need to talk to Miss Brooke,” Zach said, flexing his jaw. “Find out what, if anything, she knows. I thought you would want to be included, Amos, since you know the lady better than any of us.”

Amos walked towards the mantelpiece and leaned one arm against it, his back to the room. “She made the jewellery for our mother herself,” he said after a moment’s contemplation. “I would stake my fortune on that. But,” he added, turning to face his brother and the earl, “that doesn’t mean she has anything to do with this mess.”

“When Winchester told me she was here, and you suspected her of making jewellery and being involved with a cove by the name of Reece, it rang alarm bells. You see, the new pieces made by Brooke necessarily dried up after his death.” Romsey paused, his expression sombre. “Then, about a month ago, a few more appeared.”

“How do you know?” Amos challenged. “They could have been made by Brooke before he was killed.”

“Oh, I have a network of spies in all sorts of places, and I know for a fact the pieces in question were commissioned after Brooke died. I actually spoke to a lady who owns an emerald bangle. She has no idea the gems in it were stolen, and I did not enlighten her. I don’t want the rogues behind the scheme to know we are on to them. Once Brooke died, his designs became even more sought after, you see, which could be another reason why he was killed. Anyway, the woman’s husband was told when he made enquiries about a Brooke emerald bangle, it was one of the last items the designer made before his death.

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