Chapter Six
Later that afternoon
Good God, what a coil.
“You are aware that you told Cassandra you would spend teatime with her today,” Mary reminded him as she came into the study that served as his office.
“I am.” He grinned at her, looked forward to the interruption, at least from his thoughts. “I have an hour until then.”
“So you thought to ruminate in here?” With a glance she took in his open notebook, several sheets of paper spread out on the top of his desk, as well as a diagram he’d started with how members of Boddingford’s family connected with others within London. “About the case, I’ll wager?”
“Yes. It’s both frustrating and annoying.” When he gestured her over, Mary perched on the edge of his desk with her legs dangling near his chair. “Every person I’ve interviewed thus far is holding onto secrets they refuse to share. Even Henry was guilty of it.”
“Is it a matter of protecting a family name or protecting themselves?”
“At this point, I couldn’t say.” He rested a hand on her thigh. Too damned bad there was no time for a quick session that would see her hot and bothered. “However, I did find out something earlier while interviewing Viscount Tifton that you should know.”
“Oh? Such as?”
“Adelaide is being courted by Boddingford’s second son. Apparently, their fathers are contemporaries, yet the pair met at a rout or some such function in society weeks ago.”
Shock reflected on Mary’s face. “Why didn’t she tell us?”
“It is possible she doesn’t know the case we’ve begun involves that family.” He hated to tell her bad news. “Unfortunately, that means we’ll need to interview her now.”
Mary leaned over and rested a palm against his cheek as she peered into his eyes. “Perhaps it’s best to have it over with. I don’t like the thought of things unsaid brewing in the background of our family. Already it’s affected Henry and his friendship with the unfortunate Mr. Corbett.”
“Indeed.” After he stood, he couldn’t help but hold her head between his hands as he brought his lips crashing down on hers.
Gently, he moved over her mouth with the intent to relearn the secrets she kept, and as she returned the kisses, carnal interest shivered along his shaft.
Never could he have believed he’d find himself so happy and content within a marriage, but Mary had certainly changed his mind.
And quite frankly, he couldn’t have enough of her, but when she planted a palm against his chest, he pulled slightly back.
“Damn, I wish we had time, for I want to feast on you in a myriad of ways,” he said in a whisper.
A trace of a blush went through Mary’s cheeks as she patted his chest. “Perhaps tonight if we can manage it.” She slipped off his desk. “We should talk with Adelaide.”
“Right.” Was it scandalous how much he adored his wife? Perhaps if measured by society’s standards, but he didn’t care. When Mary had come into his life, everything changed for the better. “She’s also mentioned to me that she wishes to learn how to fight.”
“Why? That sounds out of character for her.”
“I don’t know, but there must be a reason.” He led the way through the office to the door that adjoined the reception area, formerly the back parlor. “Adelaide, do you have a few moments? We need to talk.”
The young woman sat behind a modest desk but glanced over when Gabriel and Mary entered the room.
From her vantage point and how the desk was arranged, she could keep an eye on the corridor door where potential clients entered as well as the door leading into his office.
Two delicate chairs with spindly legs faced her desk.
That is where clients would sit while she heard the preliminaries of their stories before she would allow—or not—them into his office.
“Inspector. Aunt Mary. I was so immersed in transcribing notes I wasn’t aware you were in the office.” Fondness shown in her blue eyes that were so much like Mary’s. “Is all well?”
“I hope that it is.” He sat in one of the chairs that faced her desk while Mary did the same. “Did you know that the current case we are working revolves around the death of the Duke of Boddingford’s son-in-law?”
Some of the color faded from her face as she bounced her gaze between them. “I had heard snippets when you’ve discussed it with Aunt Mary, but I couldn’t be certain…”
Mary nodded. “I’m afraid the duke’s youngest daughter lost her husband a few days ago. He was shot in the chest.” Then she paused. Was she giving her niece the opportunity to admit that she was being courted by one of the duke’s sons?
“Oh.” A few seconds later, a flush stained her cheeks and chest. “I suppose I must admit something to both of you. I’d hoped it wasn’t related, but since this case is a murder, I fear it might be.”
“I would appreciate that.” Gabriel drew his notebook and pencil from an interior pocket of his jacket. “Earlier today, I spoke with Viscount Tifton, and he mentioned that he was lightly courting you.” One of his eyebrows rose. “Is that true?”
“It is.” Adelaide clenched her hands on top of the journal that lay open on the desk. “Um, we met at a society event several weeks ago. There was an immediate connection there, but I’m not so sure it wasn’t me being swept away by his title and his lineage.”
Mary frowned. “That isn’t conducive to a solid relationship, though.”
“Oh, I am well aware of that, and there is no need to worry, Aunt Marry. I still don’t wish to marry any time soon, for I’m perfectly content with my life as it is, keeping the inspector organized and on schedule.” She flashed a grin at him. “However, there is no harm in letting a man court me.”
“Are you not leading him on?” Gabriel’s hackles went up. That was what his first wife had done to him in every aspect of life, and it made his miserable.
“Absolutely not. I suspect his loyalties aren’t exclusively to me.”
“Meaning?”
She shrugged. “I have the feeling Tifton is seeing someone else besides me. His attention is always scattered when we’re together, and though he doesn’t have a roving eye, I just suspect there is someone else.”
Mary huffed. “Then why do you keep him around? You could let someone better court you.”
“While that is true, I’m not looking for a husband right now. Of course, I was delighted when he sought me out, and aside from a few kisses I’ve allowed, I refuse to fall beneath his attempts at seduction.”
His respect for the young woman rose. “I’m glad to hear that. However, Viscount Tifton is on my suspect list for Mr. Corbett’s murder. Has he mentioned anything to you about the death?”
Slowly, Adelaide shook her head. “The only thing he said to me the last time I saw him—which I suppose was just before that unfortunate man met his demise—was that there were some problems within the family, and that his father was a prude stuck in the old ways.”
He jotted a few notes. “Meaning what?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t elaborate. We were at Vauxhall Garden and in his father’s box at the opera, so we weren’t afforded much time for conversation.
” Concern filled her eyes as she looked at him.
“Do you think Tifton killed his own brother-in-law? From how I’ve understood the dynamic, he was one of Mr. Corbett’s only allies in the family. ”
“It is too early in the investigation to, but I can say that there are far too many secrets in that family, and if the people I’ve already interviewed have told me the truth, I suspect that is only half the case.
” With a sigh, he closed his notebook. “I have only been working this investigation for a few days and already it is quite vexing.”
Adelaide nodded. “I have that feeling too, just in other ways.”
Mary shifted her weight on the chair. “Have you befriended any of the other family members?”
“I have only had cause to meet a couple, but none of them was the dead man.” The delicate tendons of Adelaide’s throat worked with a hard swallow.
“I met his older brother’s wife. She is quite a lovely person, but I have the feeling she doesn’t get on with the duke.
In fact, the day I met her, she’d been crying.
So I asked her if all was well. She said her husband and the duke had just concluded a horrible row in which her husband threatened to move away from England, regardless if he was the duke’s heir. ”
Gabriel’s eyebrows soared. “Now that is interesting. Did she say anything else?”
“Not that I remember.” Adelaide shook her head. “But I have the feeling tensions are running quite high between the duke and his sons.” She pressed her lips together. “I also met Tifton’s youngest brother in passing and not in the viscount’s company.”
“Meaning what?” Confusion filled Mary’s voice.
“I’ve heard gossip that he’s estranged from the whole family for some reason, but I met him and his fiancée at an art auction of all things. Both are friendly and lovely, but there was a sort of pain or shame I guess in the fiancée’s eyes I couldn’t puzzle out.”
He glanced at Mary. “We’ll need to talk with them as well.”
His wife nodded. “The list is growing, but the clues aren’t.”
“Give it time.” Then he regarded Adelaide once more. “Do you still wish to learn how to fight?”
“I do.” Excitement danced in her eyes. “It has been weighing on my mind since before I met the viscount. But I think it will prove helpful, especially the longer I’m associated with your detective business.”
“I agree. Pencil in a date on my schedule, and I will teach you some basics of self-defense.”
“You have no idea how much I appreciate that, Inspector.” Gratitude shone in her expression.
He nodded. “The viscount hasn’t threatened you or done anything else questionable to you, has he?” By God, he would give the man a thrashing if so.