Chapter Three
Gabriel arrived in the morning room for breakfast ahead of Mary, for she’d stopped to wish a good morning to the children and to tell them that Henry was in residence.
As he tucked into his plate loaded with his favorites, he settled in to read his copy of The Morning Post that had arrived earlier in the morning, one of the largest headlines caught his attention.
Duke of Boddingford’s son-in-law murdered! Bow Street called in!
“Well, damn.”
Quickly, he scanned the brief article. It seemed that the man Henry told them about last night had met with an untimely end.
There wasn’t much of note within the article, but it did say that the man was married to the duke’s youngest daughter, and they were expecting a child sometime after the first of the year.
Of course, the journalist didn’t mention a name, but because Henry had given Gabriel enough information, it was easy to assume who the victim was.
“’…the family is devastated, and they want the person or persons responsible for this heinous crime brought to justice…’”
“Cursing so early in the day, Inspector?” Mary asked as she came into the morning room.
The subtle violet scent of her perfume preceded her, and he smiled. “I can’t help it. Take a look for yourself.” He slid the paper toward her as his wife sat on the chair next to his.
“Oh, no.” How she managed to convey such dismay in those two small words, he would never know, but he agreed with her. “Does Henry know?”
“I rather doubt it. I have only just unfolded today’s paper.”
She frowned at the paper as she finished reading the article. “He was found on Brook Street.”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t Henry’s office in a cul-de-sac off Brook Street?”
“It is. On Waning Lane.” Knots of dread pulled in his gut.
“I suppose we now know why the man never kept the appointment with Henry yesterday morning.” Shit.
Did that mean his son was a suspect in this murder?
Had he not told them the whole truth last night?
All signs were pointing in that direction.
“I wonder who Bow Street has assigned to the case.” He’d been retired from that establishment for just over two years, for there had been a contretemps involving a case he’d worked with Mary during their engagement period in which his Bow Street superior hadn’t been pleased with his performance.
So after that particular case had been solved, Gabriel had resigned.
Since that time, he’d worked privately and consulted on unsolvable cases for Bow Street, because they apparently couldn’t do so by themselves.
“Whoever it is, I hope they’re competent,” Mary said as she shoved the paper back at him. “I have an odd feeling about this, Gabriel.”
“As do I.” He took one last sip of coffee, but it tasted far too bitter on his tongue now. “Has Henry roused?”
“He has. After he greeted the children, he dashed out of the townhouse.”
Not good at all. “Why?”
She shrugged. “He said he needed to pop by his office.”
“Dear God.” A new thought occurred to him. “If he’s alone there, the killer or the attacker—or both—can find him there. Also, whatever paperwork he did for Mr. Corbett needs to either be in his exclusive custody or hidden away here in my safe.”
“Wouldn’t they be considered evidence at this point?”
He narrowed his gaze. “Perhaps, but we don’t know what truly happened between Henry and Mr. Corbett.” The gnawing feeling that something was wrong grew. Abruptly, he shoved to his feet. “I should go to Henry’s office and make certain he is all right.”
“Ha.” Mary snorted as she accepted a cup of tea from the footman. “You simply wish to escort him here along with his paperwork.”
“Perhaps.” The grin tugging at the corners of his mouth felt far too grudging, for she knew him well. Before he could say anything else, the clearing of a masculine throat at the open doorway interrupted him.
“Pardon the interruption, Inspector, Mrs. Bright,” the man of indeterminate years said as he came into the room with a silver salver.
Gabriel turned to acknowledge the butler.
“Quite all right, Collins. What is it?” He’d hired the man for the position after he and Mary had married, not for his skills but for his ability to blend in and be forgotten.
If the butler were a color, he’d be gray—noticeable but easily forgotten once he left the room.
It might have been vain of him, but Gabriel wanted to make certain his wife wouldn’t have her head turned by an attractive butler, and he didn’t wish to have a male in the house who might make unwanted advances on her.
Also, Collins had trained in the ancient art of jujitsu and could hold his own in defending the house.
One of Collins’ dark eyebrows rose. “A missive arrived for you from Whitehall.”
Mary hid a smile with her teacup.
“Thank you.” He moved forward and then snatched it off the silvery tray. “I would imagine they expect an immediate answer?”
“That was the expectation from the courier, Inspector.”
“Right.” With a nod, Gabriel cracked open the seal, unfolded the paper, and rapidly scanned the scant words. “Collins, have my closed carriage brought ‘round. I need to go out posthaste.”
“Of course, Inspector.”
Once the butler left, a sigh left Gabriel’s throat. “Damn.”
Mary glanced at him. “You’ve been called on to consult?”
“Yes. Let me read what is written here.” Once more, he unfolded the paper.
“’Your presence is immediately requested to consult on an important case that requires the utmost discretion.
We are asking for you, for your skills will mean an expedited result that we won’t have with junior agents here.
A member of a duke’s family is involved, and we need to solve this with haste.
’ Then there is an address in Mayfair, just off Brook Street. ”
“Do you wish for me to accompany you?”
“Not just yet. I need to discuss rates and a contract with the agent in charge, but once the investigation begins, I absolutely want you by my side.” He couldn’t imagine doing detective work without his wife.
“However, tomorrow is Sunday. Miss Alexander as well as Adelaide will enjoy a day off, so there will be no one to watch the children.” Also, he’d hoped to take Cassandra and Charlie on an outing to Hyde Park before the autumn weather turned rainy and cold and dreary.
“Don’t worry about that. Concentrate on what is before you. We will work around the rest.” As she spoke, Mary calmly spread marmalade on triangles of toast. “I’ll remain here to watch over the children.”
He huffed. “I was going to take them to Hyde Park.”
“You can do so afterward. Perhaps the case won’t be too involved.”
If only that were so. When anything involved a duke, there would prove complications.
And he didn’t like how Henry was tied up in things, however peripherally.
“Very well.” He folded the note then leaned down and dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
“I shall return as soon as I can. In the meanwhile, have Collins engage a tradesman to fix the window in the library door.”
“I will. This household runs quite efficiently every other day without you, Bright. Today is no different.”
He offered a light grin. “What would I do without you?”
Off Brook Street
Near Waning Lane
Mayfair, London
Gabriel arrived at the crime scene with mixed feelings.
Six men stood around a body that was crumpled on the pavement, but at least someone had the wherewithal to cover it with a sheet.
They were learning since his tenure at Bow Street.
A ring of onlookers clustered beneath a stand of oak trees, and as they whispered behind hands, he ignored them and strode to a tall man with a barrel chest and bushy sand-colored eyebrows.
“Ah, Inspector Bright,” the man said upon seeing him. “Thank you for joining us.”
“Chief Inspector Morritson.” He’d been the one to summon Gabriel to the scene. “What do you know thus far?”
The other man clasped his hands behind his back as he stared at Gabriel. “The victim is a young male between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five.”
“How was he killed?”
“Single pistol shot to the heart. Most likely perished instantly.”
How interesting. “I assume he was killed here?”
“Yes.” The other man nodded. “It doesn’t appear the body was dragged, and there is quite a large pool of blood beneath it.
” An odd mix of concern and anticipation lit the chief inspector’s eyes.
“As you read in my summons, Mr. Corbett was married to the Duke of Boddingford’s youngest daughter, and since the duke is a prominent member of the beau monde, this case needs to be solved with the utmost care and discretion. ”
“So I have surmised.” Which meant that the duke no doubt provided a source of funding to the inner workings of Whitehall…
or at least had tried to buy them off a time or two.
Gabriel glanced at the covered body while trying to tamp the urge to think more jaded thoughts.
The edge of the dun-colored sheet was now stained with blood.
“Do you have any leads on why anyone would wish to kill Mr. Corbett?”
“Of course, we are still investigating, but we have called you in to consult because you have a certain set of skills that will prove invaluable to a case of this magnitude.”
Gabriel nodded. “Speaking of that, what are the terms for this consultation?”
“I have been authorized to double the fee you charge for usual cases. Also, we will give you an office within the building should you need something more formal than having clients come to your townhouse. Along with the ability to be informed about cases before we assign agents to them. That way, you can consult wherever and whenever you chose instead of waiting on us to summon you.”
“Ah.” His eyebrows soared. “That is quite a generous offer.”
“Well, you are a valuable asset in our arsenal at Whitehall, and since you as well as Bow Street are working at the same side of the law, we’d like to keep in your good graces.”