Lordship, for I believe you are missing one.”
As he spoke, Denbeigh drew himself up and fixed his cold gaze upon Holmes.
“How dare you imply—”
“I recognize that voice!” cried Carolus, pointing at Denbeigh. “It is he!”
“The villain lies to save himself,” Denbeigh said, turning to the door. “I will not stand here and—”
“No,” Her Grace whispered, sagging against me.
“Grandmama!” Sheppington rushed up and supported her other arm, but she had already mastered her momentary weakness.
“Maurice.” Her steely tones cut him off abruptly. “Show us the contents of your pockets.”
Complexion the colour of parchment, Denbeigh turned from face to stern face. A constable approached.
“Do not lay hands upon me!” He gazed imploringly at the dowager duchess. “Mother, you cannot—”
“Show us, Maurice.”
“There is no escape, Your Lordship,” Holmes said and held out his hand.
With a sigh, Denbeigh reached into his coat pocket, then deposited a small parcel wrapped in a handkerchief into Holmes’s waiting hand. Holmes quickly untied the knots and opened the linen. The gems inside glittered with cold fire.
Jones shook himself as if roused from a deep slumber and took charge of the situation. A phalanx of constables removed Denbeigh and Carolus from the chamber, while Her Grace sent instructions to the family solicitor.
“I shall also ensure Carolus is represented well,” she said, Sheppington standing at her side. “For I feel a certain amount of responsibility for this situation.” She dismissed my protestations with a sad shake of her head.
“Your Grace, I am certain you have many questions,” Holmes began.
“Thank you, Mr Holmes, but I am a trifle fatigued.” She gave him a weary smile. “Hilary and I shall call upon you and Dr Watson on the morrow. You may answer my questions then. For now, I would like Hilary to take me home.”
* * * *
The following morning, Holmes and I perused the newspapers over breakfast, and I was relieved there was no mention of the incident.
“It will do nothing to prevent rumours from flying about,” said Holmes in response to my observation. “Fortunately, this sort of occurrence is handled with discretion and seldom goes to trial.”
True to her word, Her Grace, accompanied by Sheppington, called upon us a little later. As she entered our chamber, I was pleased to see that her step was as firm, her carriage as elegant as usual. When she lifted her heavy veil, however, traces of the emotional and physical toll of the previous evening were writ clearly upon her features, for she had apparently eschewed the use of cosmetics and artifice to hide her injuries.
“You are well?” I asked.
“Thanks to your assistance and care,” she replied. Settling upon the sofa, her grandson beside her, she declined our offer of refreshment with a weary air.
“There is still much to be arranged,” she confessed in quiet, dignified tones. “My son’s perfidy extends further than I had suspected.”
“Yet you did suspect something amiss,” said Holmes. He leaned against the hearth, regarding her gravely. “You instructed Viscount Sheppington to monitor His Lordship’s activities. He was unable, or possibly unwilling, to disguise himself as effectively as Lord Maurice, and thereby gained a reputation as a connoisseur of certain unsavoury practices.”
The young man’s countenance darkened. “When I began, I did not realise I would be haunting venues where a disguise would be essential, Mr Holmes. That fact was quickly brought home to me, but by that point, I was already tarred by vice’s brush.” He shrugged. “I can only hope that the rumour-mongers will soon discover another object of interest and I can endeavour to restore my character.”
Her Grace took his hand and pressed it gently. “I never meant for you to suffer so, dear boy.”
“Do not vex yourself, Your Lordship,” said Holmes. “The most cursory glance at the newspapers will supply a variety of individuals with reputations far more scandalous than yours. Besides, isn’t it often considered desirable for a young scion of the nobility to have a faintly dubious past, above which he can rise?”
“I say!” cried Sheppington.
Her Grace assayed a faint smile, yet her lips trembled. “We can only hope that is indeed the case, Mr Holmes.”
I rose from my chair. “But why? Why did His Lordship court exposure and disgrace?”
“For the money,” said Sheppington. “Although his vices were few, they were costly. Gambling at cards and on the horses, and his mistress alone…” He glanced at his grandmother, his cheeks colouring.
Holmes nodded. “When His Lordship encountered Carolus smoking opium in a den of depravity, he conceived of the plan to steal the emeralds. He was familiar with the count’s house and its hidden doorway, for it had been in your family for many years, had it not?”
“We resided there for several years while he was a child,” she said. “Even then, Maurice was always poking into corners and winkling out everyone’s secrets.”
“Through his unsavoury associates,” continued Holmes, “His Lordship knew he could dispose of the gems, or alternatively, he could hold them for ransom. Either way, he would benefit.”
“Unfortunately for Carolus, he became my son’s dupe,” said Her Grace. “And yet I cannot help but be grateful to him, for he defended me from the count’s advances at some considerable risk to himself.”
“Addicts are not necessarily criminals or depraved individuals,” I said, not looking at Holmes. “Indeed, there are several private clinics that have successfully weaned these unfortunate individuals from the sources of their addiction. If Your Grace would consider arranging for his treatment at one such facility, it would certainly repay his actions on your behalf.”
“An excellent suggestion, Doctor.” She nodded. “If I may, I shall ask for a few recommendations.”
“Of course.” I bowed.
“Now I must broach a more delicate matter, one I wish to conduct without intermediaries.” She stood, opened her reticule, and withdrew an envelope. “Mr Holmes, your assistance in this matter has been invaluable to me and to all of my family, even the one exposed by your investigations. I hope you will accept the enclosed as a token of my gratitude for your efforts.”
“I was honoured to be of service.” Holmes accepted the envelope, setting it to one side.
“And you, Doctor,” she said, turning to me with a smile. “How can I ever find the words to thank you?”
Momentarily speechless at the warmth of her regard, I bowed again. “It was entirely my pleasure.”
“I know you would
