But it was time to put an end to this nonsense once and for all.
Hugo strode over to the viscount and prodded him in the chest. “Get her dressed and get her out of here. At first light, I want you and your lying minx of a sister out of my house. Is that clear? Say yes, else I shall punch you so hard you won’t get up. After which I shall write to every lord in the land and tell them to avoid your new shipping venture unless they’re happy to lose their coffers.”
The viscount blanched.
Hugo turned his attention to a pale-faced Miss Bennett lingering in the doorway. “Miss Bennett, I assure you this is not how it looks. As you know, based on time constraints alone, there is no feasible way I could have done this.”
Pity formed the basis of her smile. “My lord, even if you had the time, anyone who knows your character knows you couldn’t have done this.” Miss Bennett’s belief in him warmed his heart. “Any one of the guests can vouch for Miss Harper’s spiteful manner.”
“You’re only saying that because you want to be the next countess,” Miss Harper sniped.
The viscount gathered his sister’s clothes, threw them at her and barked, “Get your damn clothes on, Frances, before Denham sees you in Bedlam and me in debtors’ prison.”
While Miss Harper made herself presentable and whined like Miss Pardue about women’s mistreatment at the hands of powerful men, Hugo waited out in the hall with Miss Bennett.
Neither spoke. He was incapable of holding a conversation while keeping his temper. Miss Venables lowered her gaze as she left the room. Miss Harper’s lies continued to fall on deaf ears, and her brother was forced to grab the chit’s arm and drag her out into the corridor.
“I don’t give a damn about the weather,” Hugo said through gritted teeth as he locked gazes with the viscount. “The vicar has rooms. You can stay there until it’s safe to travel again.”
“Look, Denham, I knew nothing of my sister’s scheme.” Northcott’s green eyes swam with remorse. “You have my word I shall deal with the matter firmly.”
Miss Harper snatched her arm from the viscount’s grip. “You’re pathetic. This is all your doing. What, are we to live like paupers just because your brain is in your breeches? Someone had to do something to save this family.” And with that, she stormed back to her room.
Lord Northcott shuffled uncomfortably on the spot.
“Keep your sister away from me.” Hugo’s blood boiled. “And if I discover you had anything to do with Bertie’s death, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Bellham?” Northcott frowned. “Why in the devil’s name would you think I had anything to do with that?”
“You were the last person to see him alive.”
“That doesn’t mean I killed him.”
“Still, how convenient that you timed your arrival minutes before he met his demise.”
“That’s nothing more than a coincidence.” Northcott paused. Guilt flashed briefly in his eyes. He turned sideways, away from Miss Bennett and whispered, “In truth, I don’t know what time Bellham left the Swan. I was engaged upstairs at the time.” He raised a brow to indicate he’d been tupping a serving wench. “When I returned to the taproom, Bertie had gone.”
/> “Then why the devil didn’t you say so?”
“Because Miss Venables was sitting at the table.”
Hugo didn’t know what to believe anymore. When would this blasted nightmare end? Were it not for Miss Bennett’s company, he’d be fit for Bedlam. And now he’d ordered the only suspects out of the house. To retract the order now would only imply a measure of guilt on his part. And he’d done nothing to encourage Miss Harper’s attentions.
“Meet me in my study at ten in the morning, so we can discuss your travel plans.” And it would afford him an opportunity to question Northcott about certain voyages from France.
Northcott inclined his head and then turned on his heel and returned to his bedchamber.
Left alone with Miss Bennett in the dimly lit corridor, Hugo rubbed his neck to ease the tension. “I’m beginning to fear we will never discover what happened to Bertie.”
“While the viscount is a scoundrel when it comes to women, a fool when it comes to business by all accounts, he doesn’t seem the sort capable of murder. A man like that shoots people with a pistol. He doesn’t stab them with a table knife.”
Hugo sighed. “No, that’s a woman’s crime.”
“Which narrows the suspects down to two.”
Both women had behaved oddly since their arrival. Miss Venables had crept into the bothy at night, and she’d been seen at the gate. Miss Harper was more dangerous than any footpad. One of them killed Bertie. Or perhaps they both did.
He glanced at Miss Bennett and wished they were somewhere private, somewhere alone. “I cannot stay here, not with these people, not a moment longer.” Just knowing of their secrets, their lies and deceit, made him want to tear into their rooms, shake them by the shoulders and verbally rip them apart. “I’ll have to barricade my bedchamber door. I doubt I’ll get a wink of sleep knowing Miss Harper’s on the prowl.”