Page 48 of An Affair at Stonecliffe

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, why are you so reluctant to tell me where you were when Gil was nearly shot?” Carlisle countered.

“Because I bloody well don’t have to answer to you. I owe nothing to that family.”

“It’s your family, too.”

“Sadly, I cannot change the fact that I am related. But it doesn’t mean I have to have anything to do with them. Much less you. I want you out of my house. Now.” He strode out of the room and to the front door, holding it open.

Noelle and Carlisle glanced at each other and followed him. At the door, Noelle stopped and faced Sloane. “Mr. Rutherford. I have no liking for Adam’s father. He cut Adam off because he married me.”

“He was fond of that sort of thing.”

“I am no aristocrat. I don’t care about the title or the Rutherford name or the money or any of that. All I care about is keeping my son safe. That is why I am asking for your help. Not as a Rutherford, but as one human being to another.”

Sloane sighed and glanced away. Folding his arms, he said, “I’ve been in Scotland for the past fortnight. I have a fishing lodge there, near Dalguise. I’m sure anyone there can confirm that I was in residence.” He turned to Carlisle. “There. You have your information. Now go.”

Carlisle nodded brusquely and headed out the door.

“Thank you,” Noelle said and followed Carlisle outside.

“My lady...” Sloane emerged from the house after her. When both Noelle and Carlisle turned to him, he went on, “I’d advise you to keep a good eye on your son. I didn’t try to harm him, but there are others who would benefit from his death. You might want to look closer to home.” His gaze slid to Carlisle. “Why don’t you ask Carlisle about the tontine the earl and his friends set up? And what he will gain if he is the last man standing?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

AS NOELLE AND Carlisle stared at Sloane blankly, he whipped around and started back into the house.

“Wait!” Carlisle broke from his momentary paralysis and leaped forward. “What the devil are you talking about?”

Sloane turned a contemptuous gaze on him. “Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”

“Tell me,” Carlisle growled. “What tontine?”

“The one your father and the earl and the others set up. Dunbridge’s father. That whole set. I don’t know the exact terms; my father, you see, wasn’t allowed in the group.”

“I don’t know about any tontine.”

“If you’re telling the truth, then I suggest you find out.” Sloane cast a glance at Noelle. “Trust me, my lady, you have more to fear from Thorne than you do from me.” He turned away.

“Damn it, Sloane.” Carlisle grabbed the other man’s arm. “If you know something that would help keep Gilbert safe, tell me!”

Sloane stiffened, his eyes hard as marbles. “I’ve told you everything I know about it.” He jerked his arm from Carlisle’s grasp and stalked inside, closing the door behind him with a thud.

Swearing, Carlisle pounded the door knocker against the plate several times. No one responded.

“Carlisle.” Noelle moved over to him. “Carlisle.” The third time she said it, he finally turned to her. “Enough. He won’t open the door.”

“That man has always been the most obstinate, arrogant, self-righteous—” Carlisle caught a glance at Noelle’s expression and cut off his words. “And don’t tell me it’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said dryly. “But this is pointless. He already said he’d told you all he knew.”

“Yes, isn’t that handy? Information that tells me nothing.” He whisked her into the carriage.

“You think it’s not true?” Noelle asked as Carlisle settled into the seat beside her. “Why would he make that up?”

“To distract me. To lead my investigation astray.”

“But why something so odd? I don’t even know what a tontine is. What’s he talking about?”

“It’s a sort of insurance. A number of people each pay an amount of money on the life of someone, usually a child, who is the beneficiary. The money is pooled together. It’s invested. And finally, when the next to last beneficiary dies, the person remaining alive gets all the funds.”