Alex gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I assume he was responsible for the men who attacked us last night.”
William nodded. “Whit and I went to your town house yesterday, Sophie, and found the documents detailing the conditions of Whitefield’s transfer—documents you should not have kept to yourself, by the way. We proceeded to Loudor’s last night to confront him with that evidence. That, along with your disappearance, was enough to have me worried. We found him in the midst of a rather heated argument with your failed kidnappers—rather reasonable chaps as it happens. Loudor decided he would rather give us a full confession than spend further time in their company. They sent their apologies, by the way, Sophie. Seems they have large families and were rather desperate—”
“They hit her over the head!” Alex roared.
“Yes, well, I said they were reasonable, not clever. At any rate,” William continued, wisely changing the subject “Loudor admitted to becoming quite nervous as your popularity with several gentlemen began to grow. He sent your erstwhile kidnappers to the Thurston house party with instructions to keep you hidden away until time ran out for you to take a husband and cancel the contract on Whitefield.”
“They followed me to London,” Sophie guessed.
“Well, they really more chased you to London, as it took them a bit of time to realize you’d snuck away. Found you walking just by your house and opted to abduct you inside.”
“But Alex and I escaped.”
“So you did. Unfortunately, you went to Whitefield, which was the original destination for your captivity.”
“Yes, that would be my luck,” Sophie muttered.
Alex just growled.
“And that,” William continued saying, “is where you were attacked by the group of men Lord Heransly insisted on hiring to follow the first two men. They had instructions to, shall we say, finalize matters should such extreme measures become necessary.”
Sophie gulped.
Alex growled louder.
“Where is my cousin now?” Sophie asked.
“On his way to Australia.”
“I see. But I found entries in Lord Forent’s ledger that matched the sums stolen from Whitefield, They were attributed to his son, Lord Heransly.”
“Ah, yes. I was curious myself as to how Loudor could steal so much money and have so little to show for it. Lord Heransly held a great many of your cousin’s vowels, you see, and Heransly owed his father a great deal of money for the support of numerous by-blows. The earl reminded his son the estate was entailed, but not the funds to sustain it. Its worth is at least four times that of Whitefield, no offense, my dear.”
“None taken.”
“But—and this is the one case in which treason has been committed—Heransly quickly tired of delivering the funds straight from Loudor to his father. With a few clever excuses, he held back some of the payments and used them to finance a smuggling adventure. The arms and information sort, I’m afraid.”
“You didn’t know of this?” Alex inquired.
“The operation, as I said earlier, was a recent development. Hernasly’s ship hadn’t yet made its maiden voyage. Thanks to the two of you, it never will. He too is being packed off to Australia.”
“Oh…good.” Really, what else could she say? Except maybe, “Your plan is the single most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.”
Mrs. Summers sniffed and took a sip of tea. “I told you it was a bit much, William. Too many details, you know.”
Insulted, William straightened in his seat. “Worked, didn’t it? God is in the details, after all.”
“It’s a wonder we aren’t overrun with the French,” Sophie muttered.
“Are there any other questions?” William asked, ignoring her completely, and with the clear hope that his job was now done.
Sophie effectively squashed that hope. “What of the letters I found in Lord Calmaton’s study?”
William’s face suddenly broke into a large grin. “It would seem that my dear friend Richard is a talented poet with a romantic bent. The letters were submissions to the small but rather popular publication, Le Journal de Prosateur. He was quite delightfully embarrassed when I returned them to him.”
Mortified, she groaned and dropped her head into her hands.
“Now, now my dear, no need for that. The man knew you would be snooping about the room. He should have taken better care to hide his little secret. He has only himself to blame and holds no grudge against you. Wanted to know what you thought of them, actually.”
“What did you tell him?” she mumbled into her hands.
“The truth, that you can’t read French. I’m still not certain if he was more relieved or disappointed. Is there anything else?”
“You might want to explain the butler to her,” Alex advised.
“James, right. After Lord Loudor’s removal from your home, I thought it best to put a man in place until I worked out exactly what your cousin was about. Penny was most instrumental in seeing him placed—”