The Stanforth Secrets Read Online Free PDF

Liverpool cut in before Justin could voice the protest on his lips. “Remember, Stanforth, you haven’t seen the young woman for three or four years. Ladies are flighty creatures, and I gather her marriage was not entirely happy. We do not suspect evil intent, but who knows into what foolishness she may have been led? Whoever is involved, we urgently need to gain possession of that list if it still exists.”
    Her marriage was not entirely happy. The marriage he had largely brought about. . . .
    Justin dragged his mind back to the matter in hand, thought of the growing count of deaths in this affair, and frowned. “Do you think they are in danger at the Hall, Sir?”
    “It is to be hoped not,” said Lord Liverpool. “We have no sign of activity there, but it is hard to believe some Napoleonic agent didn’t overhear your cousin blabbing about his letter. This is one reason we have not instigated a more open search of the area. After all, if the French become sure the package is in the Hall, they could well blow up the place, and the list would be lost forever.”
    And a score of good people, thought Justin, chilled.
    “Smugglers!” snorted the Duke of York. “In Lancashire!”
    Justin was bewildered and Lord Liverpool looked put out. “We sent a carefully selected troop of the Fifth Light into Heysham,” he explained, “claiming rumor of smuggling. They conducted a pretty thorough search of the cottages and the area in general.”
    Justin wondered what the locals had thought of that. It was true there was a little contraband brought over from Ireland, but not enough trade to warrant a full-scale search. He supposed they all muttered about crazy southerners and went on with their business.
    “What of the house?” he asked. “Has that been searched?”
    If anything, Lord Liverpool looked even more uncomfortable. “We have introduced someone into the house who has had no success. Now you will be in an excellent position to take on the matter.”
    “But it’s over a year ago, Sir. The trail will be stone cold.”
    “Do you think we don’t know that? As long as your uncle was Lord Stanforth, however, we saw no benefit in enlisting his aid. Then, when he died and the succession was in doubt, there was no one to look to. As I said, we have done what we could. The local people there are a secretive lot. You may be able to find out more.”
    “Chloe would have been able to sort this out months ago,” said Justin bluntly. “The estate manager says the local people adore her.”
    Lord Liverpool cleared his throat. “We really didn’t think we could take that risk, Stanforth, and I believe it would be wiser to keep her in the dark a little longer.”
    “Consider that an order, Stanforth,” snapped the Royal Duke. “I understand she’s a pretty little witch, but keep your wits about you. No business for a woman anyway.” This was accompanied by a glare at Lord Liverpool.
    “Yes, Sir,” said Justin coldly. “Could I ask whom you have sent to investigate from within the house?”
    The Earl cleared his throat. “We . . . er . . . could hardly send a man after your uncle died and it was a house of women,” he said a little uncomfortably. “It had to be someone with a reason for staying in the house, and someone we could trust.” One bony finger came up to rub his noble nose. “We sent the Dowager Duchess of Tyne.”
    Justin stared. “Chloe’s grandmother? Good Lord, Sir. She must be eighty!”
    “Not quite, I believe, and still with good health and all her wits. She has an excellent reason for being there to support her granddaughter in her bereavement, and she and her family have always been staunch supporters of the Royal family. It is sad to relate, but the taint of the Stuarts still lingers in some of our oldest families, making their allegiance not totally trustworthy.”
    Justin gritted his teeth as he thought of the sons of these families spilling their blood in Spain, but he kept his counsel. If