Seduced at Midnight

very serious. He was involved in some high-stakes gambling on the Continent. He lost not only an enormous amount of money but two unentailed properties as well.'

'Do you have an amount?'

'Not for the properties, but the monetary losses were reportedly fifty thousand pounds.'

Jennsen nodded. 'Anything else?'

'Just that he keeps a mistress in London, which is expensive, and has reportedly fathered a number of by-blows. Apparently he has a fondness for the household help.'

Jennsen shrugged. 'Not surprising. Based on my observations, the words gentleman and morals have little to do with each other. Is that all?'

'For now. If I learn anything further, I'll contact you.'

'Thank you. I'll see to your payment and include a bonus for acting so quickly. Actually, I planned to call on you today. I recalled where I saw the snuffbox.'

Gideon's interest quickened. 'Where?'

'Daltry's party. Soon after I arrived. I was standing with a group of gentlemen, one of whom took the box from his waistcoat pocket.'

'Do you recall which gentleman?'

'Lord Haverly.'

Gideon instantly added Haverly's residence as another stop he needed to make this morning. He thanked Jennsen for the information, then they walked to the study door. Before turning the brass knob, Jennsen remarked, 'The Times is once again filled with lurid speculation about the murdering ghost robber. Any new developments?'

'Nothing I can discuss. But rest assured, he'll be caught.'

Something glinted in Jennsen's eyes. 'Not worried that his ghostly self will slip through your fingers, Mayne?'

'Not in the least. He will be caught. And punished for his crimes.'

'So if I were a betting man, I should wager on you rather than the ghost.'

'Unless you're fond of losing your money.'

'Can't say I am. Indeed, I'm not fond of losing anything, in any manner, for any reason.'

'Neither am I,' Gideon said grimly. 'And I don't intend to start now.'

He left the house and gave the driver Haverly's direction. Fifteen minutes later he was shown into his lordship's dining room.

'Rather early for a visit,' Haverly said, looking none too pleased at having his breakfast interrupted.

For a reply, Gideon held out the snuffbox. 'Recognize this?'

Haverly's eyes widened. 'Of course I do. It's mine. Where did you find it?' He reached for the box, but Gideon pulled his hand back.

'Find it?'

'Yes,' Haverly said with a frown. 'I lost it. Sometime during Daltry's party. Is that where you found it?'

'As a matter of fact, yes. Specifically, I found it beneath a window. One whose lock was tampered with. A window someone attempted to use to gain access to the house.' Gideon's eyes narrowed. 'Where, as you know by now, Lady Daltry was robbed and murdered.'

Haverly blinked. 'And you think I am in some way responsible?'

'Are you?'

'Certainly not.' Haverly tossed down his napkin and stood. A red hue colored his face. 'How dare you ask such a question. Why would I do such a thing?'

'I'm not certain. Yet.'

'Well, I wouldn't. And I didn't. Obviously whoever did either found or stole my snuffbox.'

'Rather careless of 'whoever' to drop it after taking the time to steal it,' Gideon said, watching him carefully.

'Perhaps it was dropped on purpose. To implicate me.'

Gideon set the box on the table. 'Perhaps. But rest assured, I'll discover the truth. I'll show myself out.'

He left and settled himself in the waiting hack, this time giving the driver the Duke of Eastling's direction.

His Grace was no more pleased to see him than Haverly had been. 'I'm leaving in precisely five minutes for an appointment,' the duke said, after Gideon was shown into his private study.

'I'll be brief. You're aware Lady Daltry was robbed and murdered yesterday.'

'Yes. Terrible tragedy.'

'You knew Lady Daltry well?'

'Known the entire family for years.'

'You consider Lord Daltry a friend?'

A hint of annoyance flashed across the duke's features. 'Of course. As I said, we've known each other for years.'

'Did he have any objections to you tupping his wife?'

The flash of surprise in the duke's eyes was nearly imperceptible, but Gideon had been expecting it. 'That's an ill-mannered thing to say about a dead woman.'

'I was saying it more about you.'

'What makes you think we were… involved?'

'I saw you together. At Daltry's party. In his private study. Next time you decide to lift the skirts of a friend's wife and bend her over a chair, you might want to lock the door.'

The duke's eyes turned to slits. 'If you're suggesting that because Lady Daltry and I enjoyed a private moment together I had something to do with the robbery and her death-'

'I'm merely suggesting the timing of those two events is… curious.'

'Then I'm certain you'll also find it curious that I wasn't the only one lifting her skirts. Lady Daltry was a woman of insatiable appetites. Indeed, I wasn't the first man she'd had that night.'

Gideon raised his brows. 'Now who's saying ill-mannered things about a dead woman?'

'Unfortunately, it appears I must be less than discreet to defend myself.'

'How do you know you weren't her first lover of the evening?'

'She told me.'

'Did she give you a name?'

'No. But you won't have any difficulty finding former lovers. I'd wager most of the male guests at the party had at one time or another enjoyed the lady's charms.' He rose. 'Is that all?'

Bloody hell, it was exceedingly difficult not to show his extreme dislike for this man. This man who had everything yet clearly valued nothing. At least not friendship. Or marriage vows. Or a lady's reputation. This man who would be Julianne's husband. Even though she'd deceived him and he was angry with her, the thought of her married to an immoral bastard like the duke made Gideon sick inside. 'That's all for now,' he said, matching His Grace's chilly tone.

He departed and this time gave the hackney Julianne's direction. As the hack rumbled along the cobblestones toward Grosvenor Square, he wondered how many lies he'd been told this morning.

* * *