Free The Cornish Heiress by Roberta Gellis Page B

before
leaving. There were no lands to reclaim.
    “No trouble,” Roger replied civilly but without enthusiasm.
“What can I do for you?”
    “Is Philip—is Philip in trouble?” Jean asked hesitantly. “We
had an engagement for dinner last night, and he did not come. His servant told
me he had gone off the day before in a violent rage, not saying where.”
    Roger set his jaw with distaste, but he knew this was the
opportunity for which he had been waiting. “I have refused to pay his debts
again,” he said coldly. “I do not know whether you consider that trouble. And I
have told him to stay out of Town.” To Roger, as to all Englishmen, “Town”
without the article meant London.
    “He is gone then?” Jean asked anxiously.
    “I have no idea,” Roger replied, “but I think not. If he is
not back in his rooms, try Dymchurch House or Leicestershire. I warned him to
stay away from those country houses where the play is high. Whether he will
take my advice or not, I cannot say.”
    “I see. Thank you.” Jean bowed himself out, on a wave of
slightly incoherent apologies.
    Outside, he walked swiftly around the corner. “He is gone,”
he said to another young man.
    “Are you sure?” Henri d’Onival asked. “The note said he was
supposed to leave for Leicestershire tomorrow.”
    “He is gone, I tell you. His father acted as if he had not
seen him since Tuesday, but we know they were together this morning. St. Eyre
told me to try Dymchurch if Philip was not in his rooms here. Thus Philip must
be already gone and not toward Leicestershire, which his father also
suggested to me—most innocently.”
    “You mean we are suspected?” Henri asked nervously.
    “No, I am sure not. Old St. Eyre is a sly beast, even if the
son is a fool. He will say no more to anyone. I think he wants the story of his
refusal to pay spread about. It would explain Philip’s absence from his usual
haunts. Naturally, he does not want questions asked.”
    “But if he is not going to Leicestershire, where is he
going? And how can we find him if he has left already? No, I do not like this.
It is one thing to go with him as friends and find a way to search his things
to remove these lists and passes, but to follow him elsewhere… No. Even, if we
could find him, he will be suspicious.”
    “Yes, getting the papers will be more difficult, but you
know we were also supposed to discover who it is that he plans to meet. And we do know where he is going. St. Eyre let that slip before he thought his son would
be involved. Hawkesbury told Jacques that whoever it is has his base in
Cornwall. Now, I do not think Philip will skulk along back lanes. There is no
reason for him to do so, and he would not wish to put up with the accommodation
in country inns. There are only two toll roads to the west; one runs to Bath
and the other to Exeter.”
    “You mean we should each take one? I don’t think that’s
wise. We had better report that the plans were changed—”
    “No,” Jean contradicted sharply. “Do you wish to return the
money we were paid?” A significant silence answered him, and he went on. “I
don’t think we should separate. I’m almost certain he won’t take the road to
Bath. There’s too much likelihood of meeting people he knows—his family and
friends—returning from there. Let’s at least try the Exeter road.”
    “Very well,” Henri said.
    He was beginning to regret having mixed himself into this
business. It was one thing to spend his time in the company of young army and
navy officers and pick up a piece of information here and there. The money was
useful. Unfortunately, the costs of mixing were high and his parents’ income
was limited. Now there was almost nothing left. Insensibly, as his allowance
dropped Henri continued to spend until it was more than he had—only a little at
a time, he was no reckless debauchee—but now he was deep in debt.
    Regret or no regret, he had to go through with it, Henri
decided. He