The Stanforth Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

course, to imagine anyone at Delamere Hall being in league with the French. . . .”
    “Impossible, I would have thought,” said Justin firmly. “Who was there at the time?”
    “Lord Stanforth’s—I mean Stephen’s, of course—mother, the Dowager Lady Stanforth. She is something of an invalid, I am told, and does not go about very much.”
    “Her wits are wandering,” said Justin bluntly, “and she never leaves the house unaccompanied.”
    Lord Liverpool gave a little cough. “Quite. Your uncle Mr. George Delamere was there. Upon your cousin’s death, of course, he became Viscount Stanforth, so the sailor might have given him the package, except that, by the time he succeeded to the title, Mr. Wright was already dead. In addition, he is . . . er . . . generally held not to be the sort to become involved with intrigues.”
    “He was one of the stupidest men I’ve ever met,” said Justin uncompromisingly. “Result of a childhood brain fever. It’s to be hoped the sailor didn’t give his precious cargo to him. Or is that the problem?”
    “Would that we knew,” said Lord Liverpool bitterly. “When my man got to the Hall, George Delamere denied any knowledge of the sailor or his business and flew into a rage if pressed. Everyone we have asked is in agreement that George Delamere could never have been a French agent, and what other reason could he have had for denying receipt of the package?”
    Justin thought his Uncle George had never needed reasons for his strange starts, but couldn’t imagine why he would deny receipt of the package. “What of the staff, then?” he asked.
    The Earl shrugged. “The lower orders can be bought, as we all know, but all the staff at Delamere have lived there forever. Some families go back to the Domesday Book. As there was no plan to send the documents there, it is scarcely believable that one of the staff suddenly decided to become a traitor. Also, it is unlikely that Samuel Wright would have passed his package on to a servant.”
    “Perhaps then, he was persuaded to give his package to another local worthy. The parson perhaps, or the justice?”
    “The Reverend Sotherby was absent all during this time. The justice is Sir Cedric Troughton, whose land runs alongside yours. He is a man of the old style, who lives on his land. Lancaster is as far as he travels. It is very difficult to imagine a reason for him to deal with the French.”
    “It seems to me you are out of suspects entirely,” said Justin.
    Lord Liverpool considered his long fingers. “There was one other inhabitant of the Hall. Your cousin’s widow, Chloe, Lady Stanforth.”
    Justin looked up suddenly. “You suspect Chloe ?” Astonishment was succeeded by anger. Beautiful, enchanting Chloe. It was bad enough what he and Stephen had done to her reputation six years ago, but this . . .
    Lord Liverpool pursed his lips. “Suspect is a trifle strong, Stanforth, but there is, as you point out, a shortage of candidates. Chloe Stanforth was the only person in residence of Delamere Hall that night who had her wits about her. With her history of . . .”
    Justin sat tight-lipped and refused, this time, to offer derogatory details about his family.
    Royalty had no such qualms. “Eloped from the schoolroom at seventeen. Led a damned rackety existence with your cousin, jollying up with the scaff and raff. Who knows what bad influence she might be under?”
    Justin decided again, with much more regret, that he couldn’t bloody the man’s nose, but that didn’t mean he would allow Chloe to be abused.
    “Chloe might be unconventional, Your Highness,” he said firmly, “but, with respect, she’s intelligent and loyal. She would never turn traitor. What possible motive could she have, Sir?”
    “Lover,” spat out the Duke. “Women’ll do anything for a certain type of man.”
    Justin told himself bitterness over the behavior of his pretty mistress was doubtless coloring the Duke’s point of view.
    Lord