Free Deadly Affair: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) by Lucinda Brant Page A

threats?”
    “It seems fantastical,” admitted Sir Charles, “and I’d not have given it a second thought myself except—except…” He hesitated, seemed to weigh matters up in his mind, an eye on Alec, then said matter-of-factly, “To be honest, Cleveley’s resignation won’t come at the hands of a defeated bill. The Bristol bill will be passed. It’s Stanton. Lord George. Cleveley’s stepson. He’ll be the Duke’s downfall unless I, with your help, act before it’s too late.”
    “Stanton is blackmailing his stepfather?”
    “Stanton isn’t blackmailing the Duke. It’s Stanton who is being blackmailed.”
    “By whom?”
    “Stanton thought it was Blackwell. That is, until the vicar up and died. Then yesterday Stanton received another threatening letter, and in the same hand, so it couldn’t have been Blackwell, could it?”
    “What on earth would prompt Stanton to think he was being blackmailed by a poor old cleric?”
    Sir Charles sighed. “It’s all rather complicated. Stanton was receiving threatening letters before Blackwell came to stay with the Duke. Then they stopped. It was something Blackwell said to Stanton in an off-hand way that had him wondering if the blackmailer was the vicar, and that by threatening the Duke with Stanton’s secret he had managed to weasel his way into the Duke’s pocket.”
    “Blackwell is the last person I’d suspect a blackmailer; and the Duke is the last person who would be party to blackmail. Are you certain this business isn’t something conjured up in one of Stanton’s befuddled drunken states?”
    “It does sound rather far-fetched, doesn’t it? Except, I was shown one of the threatening letters and…” Sir Charles sighed again. “Stanton did perpetrate the crime for which he is being blackmailed.”
    “Let me understand you,” Alec enunciated. “It is because of this crime committed by his step-son that Cleveley will take the dramatic step of resigning?”
    “If it should become public: Yes.”
    Alec was astonished. “And if the crime remains secret?”
    “Then there is no reason for the Duke to step down from his posts. We can all remain as we are.”
    “Has it not occurred to you that if Stanton did commit the crime for which he is being blackmailed then he is answerable for that crime, whatever the consequences to the Duke and others?”
    Sir Charles pulled a face. “It is infinitely more important for the good of the country that the Duke remain as Foreign Secretary. Those who owe him their livelihoods may then keep their places on the Government benches. One man’s youthful indiscretion should not cause a government’s downfall.”
    Alec was revolted. “And justice…?”
    Sir Charles rolled his eyes. “My dear Alec, what a romantic you are! Another fault instilled by your eccentric uncle, no doubt. Justice ? Do you call it justice when a man of Cleveley’s abilities is forced out of office for a crime he didn’t commit? Where is the justice in that?”
    “Can’t Cleveley ride out the storm; distance himself from his stepson’s youthful indiscretion?”
    “Easier said than done.”
    “You’re not going to tell me Cleveley will do all in his power to avert a family scandal, to the point of risking reputation and position, just to save face? Are—you—Charles?” When this was met with silence Alec threw up a hand impatiently and stared out the window. “I thought Cleveley a cold-blooded, calculating manipulator but I never expected his judgment would be clouded by hubris!”
    “My dear fellow, if it was that simple. His Grace cannot distance himself even if he desired it.”
    “Ah,” Alec said with dawning realization. “He’s known about Stanton’s transgression from the beginning and sought to cover it up. He hoped to get away with it, but now his stepson is being blackmailed. Cleveley, too, could be blackmailed. After all, he has aided and abetted, hasn’t he?”
    Sir Charles reluctantly agreed and came to stand