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said, “How could they have hauled it out to sea? There are no fishing boats or private boats there, just the ships that haul coal. And if they threw the body in the estuary, it would have been found. Bransom may have been killed there, but what was done with the body?”
    She was not only keen to help, she was not easily conned. “That is what I hope to discover,” he said, turning toward the door.
    Before he could escape, she said, “We have not discussed who Alphonse’s partner might be, milord. That matter is of the utmost importance.”
    “Thank you for telling me my business, Miss Bratty. If you have any ideas, I would be happy to hear them.”
    This unhelpful reply sent a spurt of anger shooting through her. He was happy enough to pick her brains, but he had no intention of sharing his findings with her. He thought a woman incapable of thinking. Very well, then, she would use her feminine weapons to try to win by guile what common sense had failed to win.
    She tilted her head archly and gave him a saucy, teasing smile. “I would also appreciate hearing your ideas, milord. I am sure any agent of Sir FitzHugh’s must be very clever. I hope you don’t plan to leave me out of it.”
    Ravencroft reached out and chucked her chin. “Minx,” he said, and left, laughing. Miss Bratty was becoming more interesting by the hour. Last evening the prim spinster had turned into a lady of fashion. This morning she had revealed a sharp intelligence, and now she was playing the flirt. He had best watch out or he would be tumbling into infatuation with her.
    Amy was in no danger of succumbing to an infatuation with Lord Ravencroft. She had looked forward to his coming, and had been impressed by his dashing appearance. He had seemed attractive and exciting, but the more she talked to him, the more she realized his incompetence. He actually thought Felix was the Cougar! He could not even conceive that she, a lady, might have usurped the title. He misconstrued all the clues she fed him.
    She sat pondering these clues. Bransom might very well have met his end at the coal yard. Lure him to a game of cards at the Spanish Lady, use a shaved deck to cause a fight. They would leave the house for that. Two or three men against him, he wouldn’t have a chance. They wouldn’t take his body to town to dispose of it. It was probably right there, hidden somewhere in that jumble of old sheds and coal mountains.
    If Ravencroft didn’t know enough to look there for it, then she would have to do it herself. She couldn’t go alone. Felix she considered only to reject him. George, the head footman, was the cleverest and strongest of the servants and loyal to a fault. His family had served the Ashworths for generations. It was a foregone conclusion that George would become butler when Bailey retired. They would take Papa’s duelling pistols, one each. George was an excellent shot. Of course they would have to wait until after dark, which left a long day to get in first.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Amy spent the morning reading to her papa and tending to household duties. Felix returned for luncheon boasting of his morning’s shooting, A visit to Cook revealed that he had indeed brought home a brace of scrawny rabbits that would be tough eating.
    “Did you happen to see Ravencroft?” Amy asked him. “He called this morning.”
    “Yes, I ran into him. Did I mention I shall be dining with him in Easton this evening, Amy?”
    “Why do you not invite him here?” she suggested at once, hoping to discover what Ravencroft was about.
    Felix’s head rose, his eyes narrowed to slits. He stared with noble mien across the room at the sideboard as if it were the flag and the crown and the Houses of Parliament rolled into one and announced, “It is not a social occasion, Cuz. I am not at liberty to divulge the nature of our business. Suffice it to say, it is of national importance.”
    “But how interesting!” she cried, hoping to entice him into