Lady Vengeance by Melinda Hammond Page A

Poyntz died?’
     ‘It occurred on my doorstep, you might say. Charles Charrière held a masked ball, and one of my fellow house-guests went up to his room to find Poyntz stretched out upon the floor. It was assumed he was involved in some amorous intrigue, and upon his collapse the lady was thrown into a panic and fled the scene.’
     ‘And do you share that view of the situation, Jonathan?’
     ‘It seems the most probable explanation. There was one odd thing – Poyntz had blood upon his neck-cloth and when I looked closer, I found two small cuts upon his throat. Nothing but scratches, in truth.’
     ‘But there is the possibility that someone killed Poyntz to prevent him talking to you.’
     ‘It cannot be discounted, yet …’
     ‘Who knows what kind of amusements our friend was enjoying with his lady before the excitement became too much for him?’ murmured Lord Hartworth, finishing the line of thought for him.
     ‘Aye, damn him!’
     The earl once more turned his head to study his son’s grim countenance, but he chose not to pursue the matter. They walked on in silence until the viscount was ready to speak.
     ‘I suppose Thurleigh is still in favour at court?’
     ‘Even more than that. He is now a regular visitor at Leicester House. He has the princess’s favour and the trust of her son, and at the same time the King will hear nothing against him. He sees him as some sort of mediator – believes he is trying to bring about a closer understanding between the monarch and his heir. Pelham is furious, for he sees his own position as first minister in jeopardy if Thurleigh continues to gain influence in both courts.’
     ‘Do you believe he is trying to reconcile the Princess of Wales with the King?’ asked the viscount.
     The earl did not answer immediately.
     ‘I have studied Guy Morellon for a long time,’ he said at last, ‘and I have no doubt that he is up to some mischief. It’s my belief that he still hopes to bring down the House of Hanover. Doubtless, rather than reconciling the King and his daughter-in-law, he is nurturing her feelings of ill-usage, in order to assist his own plans. You will recall that at the beginning of this year the Privy Council met to investigate allegations that the young Prince’s sub-governor, Andrew Stone, was a Jacobite. It was nothing more than a malicious scandal spread about to discredit the man – perhaps there would have been some truth in it if the finger had pointed at my Lord Thurleigh. In any event, the Princess of Wales does not trust Stone, or for that matter the boy’s governor, Waldegrave, and I understand that she has more than once requested that Thurleigh be given the post.’
     ‘He is treading a very delicate line,’ mused Davenham frowning. ‘Can it be that he has abandoned hopes of a Stuart revival, and is securing his position with the young Prince?’
     Lord Hartworth shrugged.
     ‘It is undoubtedly true that he gains favour with the boy through his mother: the prince is very young and impressionable, certainly. However, that does not tell us why Thurleigh sent Poyntz to see the Stuart in Rome.’
     Davenham shook his head.
     ‘There’s some deep game afoot, I’ve no doubt of it, sir, but I would be happier had I spoken at length to Poyntz.’
     ‘Since that is no longer possible, what will be your next move?’
     The viscount laughed harshly.
     ‘At the present time to forget all about this damned affair!’ Realizing the earl was regarding him with raised brows, he continued: ‘Your pardon, sir, but gathering evidence to accuse a man of treason is not a task I enjoy. I agreed to talk to Poyntz for you, since I chanced to be going to Paris at a time when you knew him to be there, but I was not aware that you required me to carry on with the investigations.’
     ‘My dear boy, you can hardly leave the matter as it stands. There is sufficient evidence against Thurleigh to make one suspicious, you will agree,