AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The men were jovial and in good spirits as they entered the mansion, most of them heading to their chambers to clean up and perhaps take a short repose before dinnertime.
Women scurried about as well, up from their nappings after lunchtime and sitting in the parlor, where various young ladies showed off their skills on the pianoforte.
“I say, Ashford,” a young lord said to Thomas. “You missed a damned fine hunt.”
“I daresay I shall attend the next,” Thomas said. “I’m glad you had a good day.” Through the crowd assembling in the foyer, servants attending to them, Thomas finally spied Viscount Polk still on the veranda, and he was talking to his son and Jonathan.
Odd, Thomas thought to himself, but that was as far as he thought as he strode out the doorway, mumbling salutations to people as he passed.
“Polk,” he said loudly.
Both the viscount, Hawthorne Polk, and his son looked up, raising their eyebrows.
“Ashford,” the elder Polk said. “Fine hunt today. So sorry you missed it.”
“Yes, yes, so I’ve heard. ’Tis a shame your son and my cousin missed it as well.”
Viscount Polk coughed into a hanky. “Yes, yes. You know young people.”
What in the world did that mean? Thomas didn’t have time to dwell on it.
“If you have a minute,” Thomas said to Viscount Polk, “I should like to see you in my study if I may.”
“About what?”
“About some border and water disputes that you were having with my father before his untimely demise. Odd that he didn’t mention them to me.”
“Oh yes, yes.” Polk coughed into his hanky once more. “We got all that settled between Crispin and myself. No need to worry about it.”
“I’m afraid I am worried about it,” Thomas said. “My father told me nothing about anything of the sort.”
“It only just came about shortly before his death, but we came to peace on the matter.”
“I’m very glad to hear that,” Thomas said, “but I would like to speak to you about it straightaway anyway. In my study, shall we?”
“Really, Ashford,” the younger Polk said. “Can’t you see my father has need to retire? Being out all day has his asthma acting up.”
Thomas resisted rolling his eyes. What was going on here?
And why…
Why had Victor Polk and Jonathan been near his study earlier?
And why had the study been unlocked?
Chills gripped the back of Thomas’s neck.
Something was afoot here. And he had a feeling his friend and cousin knew more than they were letting on.
“I should only take a few moments of your time, Viscount,” Thomas said again.
“What about after dinner?” Viscount Polk said. “Over brandy and cigars. After I’m well rested, with a full belly.”
This time, Thomas couldn’t hold back his eye roll. “Fine, fine. After dinner.”
He turned and walked back into the house.
Something was going on, and he aimed to find out exactly what it was.
