The Heart of the Rose

19

When they arrived back Olivia was thrilled that Ethan decided to open his eyes and his heart. She knew Rose was the one for him she hoped he knew it and now that he had realized it. She knew Rose would be safe. Ethan would never let anything happen to anyone he loved. Evan and Ethan locked themselves into the study and went over who they thought was trying to take shots at her. Evan filled him in on what had happened while he was away.

"They had Charming interrogated Lady Chamberlin. She told him she had never seen the hired assassin. He sent a middle man. A second son of Lord MacGranger the second son of a Scottish Marquis. Charming brought in the young lord but he too had never seen the man who pays him 100 pounds a job.

He sends messages by way of leaving them at Whites. Someone picks them up and no one knows where they are taken. They can not identify the man who picks up the letters. Because they were all different people. None of which were notable enough for the bartenders to remember who picked the letters up. The trail went cold with that bit of news."

Ethan sipped his drink Evan knew he was in deep thought he would let him think this out. After all he was the thinker of the two. Evan was bright and a charmer, but of the two of them Ethan was brilliant so when he put his glass down on the desk Evan knew his brother had a solution.

"I think it is time to go and talk with Hughes. We can bring Wayne with us. Is he really going to lie to our faces and think he is going to get away with it. I know Wayne and he are aquainted so he knows just what kind of man Wayne can be. What do you think?"

"I think it is worth a try. Send a message off to Wayne and lets see what we find out.

The three men met at Whites. Wayne was always in the mood to interrogate. It was one of his favorite thing's to do and he was excelent at it.

"I think we go right there and question him. We are pretty sure he is the one who put the hit on her. If he did it god help him I will get the truth out of him even if it kills him.:

Neither of them laughed they were both sure he was not kidding. The three of them left and went to Lord Hughes home. It was fortuitous for them he was home. When they entered he had a look of surprise on his face. None of these gentlemen ran in the same circles he did. They were Earls and a Duke he was a Viscount and not one with the respect the three of them had.

"What can I do for you gentleman?"

Wayne sat down without being invited and the other two followed suit. This was not going to be pleasant. Ethan was the one who opened the subject.

"We have information you put a hit out on Rose Hillary."

He waited a moment letting Hughes soak in what they had told him. The blood draining from his face was a good indication they had been right and he had been caught. Wayne did the questioning from there.

" Right now we are talking as peers. If you do not answer my questions the gloves will come off so tell me who did you hire to silence the young lady?"

"I do not know what you are talking about. I only met Lady Hillary once months ago."

Wayne leaned forward and slapped the desk.

"Do not lie to me. We know it was you I asked who you hired not if you knew the lady."

"Why do you think it was me?"

"I do not have to tell you what evidence I have. You are the one answering questions. Now tell me who you hired?"

This kind of questioning carried on for fifteen more minutes before Wayne became more physical. It took ten more minutes to find he sent a message through Lady Chamberlin. There was no way to trace who was hired. Ethan walked out of the Viscounts satisfied he would be calling off the hit one way or another. Their next stop was to Lady Chamberlin home. It was time to see what the Earl knew about his wives outside activities. They were hoping that he could make his wife tell them what they needed to know. The Earl was home alone the Lady in question was not home. This would be the best time to see what her husband knew. He was a man who was proud he was an Earl his title was everything to him and his family reputation. Maybe they could get him to help them.

They were shown into the garden where the Earl was sitting watching the setting of the sun sipping tea. Evan noticed like a man who suddenly lost everything was the blank look on the Earls face. He did not acknowledge them they all sat without a word. Then suddenly the Earl began to talk.

"You know when you pick a wife you expect them to honor the vows of the church that you exchange. I picked Florence because she came from a respectable family. When the Minister asked us to wilt thou have this woman to be thy wife, and wilt thou pledge thy faith to her in all love and honor. Have honor in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness. To live with her, and cherish her according to the ordinance of God, in the holy bond of marriage? You would expect those vows to be honored, not decimated. I honored them but Florence has told me that she has not. She also told me there is a chance she might be arrested by the crown for indecent activity and aiding in the assassination of peers of the crown.

I thought I did my best by supporting and being a loving family man. I had no idea that she made more money than I could make in one lifetime."

The Earl began to laugh hysterically.

"I have even paid for services at her establishment how is that for irony? I have told Florence to cooperate with the autorities. I warned her if not everything she has done as the Countess of Henley will not help her. Nothing will help any of us if it gets out that when it is told she is a Courtesan. If that is not bad enough she is using her status to blackmail and deceive the peerage. She will answer all your questions as for where she went she could be either at her mothers or her establishment. But those are the only places I can imagine she would go. Who is she going to talk to this about that will not shun her? "

The three of them left not sure which place to go Wayne was the one who took take charge.

"I am not sure if she would go to her business right now. I am not sure we should go to her parents. I am not sure how well that would go.over. I know her father and he is one of those who will not let her talk with us. We will have to deal with his solicitor."

Ethan laughed he had to deal in the house of lords with Lord Muster and he was very hard to deal with.

"I would rather keep her father out of this if possible. We do not want that headache if we can avoid it if possible.

Wayne laughed.

"Let me handle this and you two young men go of and have a good evening and I will handle this situation with Jen. I think we can get better results if we get a woman's touch."