Maybe not a family member, then. Or not a family member of Hunt’s. “Perhaps he’s related to the victim, a son or nephew or something. Could be he’s upset that Hunt didn’t get a harsher sentence,” Barnabus suggested.

“Or related to the murderer and is frustrated that he alone paid the ultimate price for the crime they were all part of,” Martin added.

Both were entirely possible. “If the Mastiff is trying to discredit Chelmsford’s legacy out of revenge for a family member, we have to assume he hasn’t given up the plot yet. Family ties are complicated and not easily severed,” Barnabus said.

Elizabeth looked to him. “Speaking of which, Stone has filled us in on Gemma’s uncle.”

“If it weren’t so dangerous,” Fletcher said, “and it weren’t your Gemma in that danger, I’d give some thought to the possibility she might be able to learn from her family what the Mastiff’s about and what he means to do, seeing as they’re working with the cur.”

Barnabus opened his mouth to object, but Fletcher continued before he could.

“We ain’t actually going to run that line, so don’t panic. It might not do any good anyway. The Mastiff’s hold on the criminal element is so strong I suspect most of ’em do what he says without knowing anything of the whys.”

That was likely true.

Fletcher turned to Martin. “The Dread Master managed to get you a position at Chelmsford’s place,” he said. “Have you learned anything there?”

Martin shrugged. “Chelmsford’s jumpy. The staff’s noticed, but no one seems to know why.”

“Have you any inkling why?” Fletcher pressed.

“He’s been thumbing through papers, whispering to himself about how he did the best he could, how he ought to have been appreciated by someone who, apparently, don’t appreciate him.” Martin shrugged. “And I heard him say, ‘Who could still be angry about this?’ So he’s trying to sort who is angry about something or other.”

“Sounds like Lord Chelmsford is thinking along the same lines we are,” Barnabus said. “He’s being blackmailed over the Radlett case because someone is still angry about how it played out.”

“But who?” Elizabeth asked. “And why are they so upset with him that they’d go to these lengths?”

“I’ve crossed paths with Lord Chelmsford a couple of times,” Martin said. “I’ll see if I can’t manage to talk a bit with him. Protocol among the staff makes that sort of thing difficult, but maybe not impossible. Another one of the footmen had a quick exchange with him: offering a good morning and asking if there were anything he could do for Chelmsford. I may be able to build on that approach.”