The Importance of Being Wicked. Victoria Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ to share it. And in truth, as secrets went, this one was relatively minor. At least when compared with the pursuit of a divorce. Not that it mattered really. This particular secret’s days were already numbered. “It’s no more than mildly interesting.”

      “Oh.” Lady Fairborough’s face fell. “Well, I daresay I can keep that. Please, go on.”

      “My mother, and the rest of my family, have no idea of the extent of my involvement with Garret and Tempest. That I am here representing the firm.”

      “I see.” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “And you’re afraid they will disapprove?”

      “To my knowledge, there has never been a woman in my family engaged in business. I am unique in that regard. To be honest, I have no idea what my family’s reaction might be.” Without thinking, she squared her shoulders. “Not that it matters, really. Of course, now that I have taken Mr. Clarke’s place on this project they will, no doubt, learn of this eventually, but I would prefer to tell them myself.”

      “Very courageous of you, my dear.” Lady Fairborough nodded approvingly. “It’s not easy to stand up to one’s family. But, of course, you haven’t done that yet, have you?”

      The woman’s pleasant smile took the bite out of her words.

      Miranda smiled. “Apparently I’m not as courageous as you thought.”

      “Or you let your head lead your heart. It’s very sensible of you.” Her gaze locked with Miranda’s. “Or very foolish.”

      “Excellent timing, Chapman.” Win closed the library door behind him and waved his visitor to the chair positioned in front of the desk in the library. “Lady Garret left a good half an hour ago.” He took his seat behind the desk and drew a deep breath. “Have you found out anything?”

      “I have,” Phineas Chapman said in a mild manner that seemed at odds with the man’s reputation as a tenacious investigator. But then Win wasn’t sure what he had expected. “However, it seems there are more questions than answers at this point.”

      Chapman was the stepbrother of Viscount Billingsworth. He had been raised alongside the large Billingsworth brood and was the youngest of the lot. Chapman was considered quite brilliant and had started out in scholarly endeavors. Apparently that life did not prove especially interesting and Chapman had turned his inquisitive mind to the ferreting out of secrets and locating that which had gone missing, be it an object of value or a person. He was both successful and discreet, which made him highly sought after by those in society who needed his services. Services which were, as well, not inexpensive. Win had learned all this before their first meeting from Camille, whose information as always came from Beryl. Win did like to know exactly who he was dealing with. Camille had also informed him that Chapman was quite dashing with dark hair and piercing green eyes, which was neither here nor there to Win but probably did come in handy in Chapman’s line of work.

      “Go on.”

      “Much of what I have found out is common knowledge and you probably already know it.”

      “Let’s pretend I don’t.”

      “Very well.” Chapman pulled out a small notebook from an inner pocket of his coat and glanced at it. “Garret and Tempest was founded by Lady Garret’s late husband. His brother, then Viscount Garret, was either unable or unwilling to provide the funding necessary for his younger brother’s endeavor. A private investor, one Mr. Tempest, came forward with a sizable investment, thus funding the business.”

      Win stared. “Mr. Tempest is a financier then and not the architect?”

      “My lord.” Chapman met Win’s gaze firmly. “I prefer to reveal my findings in a chronological manner, much as I prefer to consider them in progression. I find it much more conducive to reaching a logical conclusion. Therefore, may I continue?”

      “Yes, well, I suppose. Go on then.”

      “Thank you. As I was saying, Mr. Tempest funded the company some nine years ago with the provision that the firm carry his name and, naturally, that he be repaid over time.”

      “Has the debt been repaid?”

      Chapman raised a chastising brow.

      “Yes, of course, you’ll get to that.”

      “Now, as they say, the plot thickens. According to the original agreement between Mr. Tempest and Lord Garret—Mr. Garret at the time—repayment was to be made out of the firm’s profits. According to what I have been able to discover, there were years when, after expenses and debts and salaries were met, there were no particular profits to speak of and no payments made to Mr. Tempest. In addition, it appears Lord Garret continued to borrow from Mr. Tempest and while the debt is no greater than the original sum, at the time of his lordship’s death it was not considerably smaller. As far as I can determine, Lady Garret has no knowledge of this financial discrepancy.”

      Win started to ask why Mr. Tempest didn’t demand payment but thought better of it and kept his mouth shut.

      “It wasn’t until a year after Lord Garret’s death, when Lady Garret began to take an active role in the company, that regular monthly payments were made.” He paused. “Even in those months when there were no profits to be had, she took money from her private funds, an inheritance from her family, some sort of trust, I believe, to make good on the debt. When there are profits, she not only makes that payment but she pays into an account she has set aside for her employees in the event the business fails and they lose their livelihood. Aside from Lady Garret, the firm has seven full-time employees, including a very attractive young woman, a Miss Clara West, who oversees the office and manages the accounts. She is the sister of the man who was killed with Lord Garret.”

      “And Mr. Tempest?”

      “He is not an employee.”

      “I see,” Win said slowly, then frowned. “No, I don’t. Who is this Mr. Tempest?”

      “At this point”—Chapman shrugged—“I have no idea.”

      “But he’s the architect.” Win got to his feet, strode across the library to the table, where the plans for Fairborough Hall were still spread out. “Right here.” He tapped the drawing. “This is his signature. Admittedly, he has done an excellent job even if he is an advocate of electricity, for God’s sakes. Surely there must be some record of him?”

      “Not insofar as I have been able to determine. The man has covered his tracks exceptionally well. If his purpose is to remain anonymous, he has done a brilliant job of it. Payments from Lady Garret go through a series of solicitors and bank accounts.” Chapman shook his head in an admiring manner. “I have not yet been able to get to the truth of it.”

      “But Lady Garret said he is the architect. At least I think she did.” Win returned to his chair and sank into it. “It could be she simply implied it.” He thought back over their conversations. “Nonetheless she did lead me to believe that. And I distinctly remember her saying that Mr. Tempest never meets with clients because it hinders his artistic creativity or something equally ridiculous.”

      “Regardless of what she might have said, I can find no evidence to support that. And, as far as I have been able to determine, no one at Garret and Tempest has ever met the man, including Lady Garret. Lord Stillwell.” Chapman leaned forward and met Win’s gaze СКАЧАТЬ