Neville shook his head. “He’s not the sort of fellow to be easily intimidated, even by a duke. So until I find the young ‘lady’…”
“You speak as if she is not a lady at all.”
Neville studied his far too perceptive cousin.In for a penny…“The girl also matches the description of someone who attended a disreputable party of powerful men in the vicinity of Brighton just before the incident at the inn.”
“A prostitute, you mean?”
“Ithink so, but John believes that, if she is aworking girl, a fallen woman, she has taken up the position unwillingly. Either way, unless she recants her tale, I have no way of proving John isn’t guilty.” Neville paused again to collect his thoughts. “Although, if she is in trouble, that explains why she has been so hard to find.”
“I wish you had come to me sooner.”
Neville closed his eyes. “Believe me, I was reluctant to tell you now.”
“I see,” Harbury said thoughtfully.
“I know asking you to permit my uncle to hide John at the rectory is beyond the pale. But I cannot hide him at my estate, nor can he stay with our mother in Brighton. Those are the first places anyone searching for him would look.”
Again, Harbury templed his fingers. “And your mother’s parlorisalways full.”
Exactly. “I’m sorry. I never meant to involve you in this way.”
“We’re cousins. What involves you, involves me. And I’ll thank you to trust me better than to make negative assumptions about you. The best thing you can do is find the girl. Should we hire a Runner?”
Thewemade Neville smile, if reluctantly. “I have found a woman who says she has information. If I can get her to identify”—he cleared his throat to cover for almost naming Willard—“the man I suspect, I’ll be standing on more substantial ground.”
“If this man is so influential, how do you intend to bring him and the witness face to face?”
“At one of the few places high and low are welcome beneath the same roof,” he explained. “I’ve received word he is to attend the theater tonight. She has agreed to meet me in the pit.”
“Sounds like you have things well in hand,” Harbury replied. “But at least allow me to grant your uncle permission for John to accompany him to the rectory.”
Neville inclined his head. “Thank you.”
“But when the young lady is found, if there is an ounce of truth to her story—not that I believe there is, mind you—but, if Johnhascompromised her, he will have to face justice.”
Neville nodded bleakly. “I know.”
Harbury’s expression softened. “You’re not alone in this, cousin. You have family.”
“I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your support.”
Family he could rely on.How novel. Since his father had died, his mother had been mostly absent. And his brother was too young to be someone whom he could turn to for advice.
“I trust you will keep me informed of your progress in the search?”
“As much as I am able.”
Harbury studied Neville in silence for a time. “And about Millie—”
“No! Really—” Neville interrupted.
“Let me finish,” Harbury interrupted back, using his ducal tone.
Neville shut his mouth.
“I think you should know that the Wainwright ladies all have good reason to distrust marriage. Without Millie’s permission, however, that is all I feel at liberty to share.”
Allthe Wainwright ladies?