Chapter Seven
When Mary arrived in the morning room for breakfast, she was surprised to find Henry already at the table.
Last evening’s dinner had been quite lovely, especially following Bright’s father-daughter tea, which she’d spied upon for a few moments from the corridor.
Dinner had seen the family all together, and there were merry jokes between her husband and Henry as well as Charlie.
Once the children had gone to bed, Henry had slipped out to his club for a few hours, while she and Bright had been afforded time for much-needed intimacy that had ramped after the teasing from earlier that afternoon.
It had been wonderful, and quite refreshing for mind, body, and soul. All things considered, and regardless of whatever else her husband was, he was a most satisfying lover.
“Good morning, Henry. I thought you would have already left for your office.”
He glanced up, and in that moment, she was reminded of Gabriel, for their looks were very similar.
So much so that easily she could imagine her husband as a young man.
“At the moment, I don’t have work due for any clients, but I thought to utilize Papa’s office to go over some paperwork I’ll need for later in the week. ”
“You aren’t going into your office?” As soon as she sat across from him, the footman brought over her customary tea as well as a plate full of her breakfast favorites.
“Not just yet. Or at least not until you and Papa can figure out who killed Anthony.” He drained the remainder of his teacup. “I don’t wish to risk putting myself in danger. Priscilla doesn’t deserve to be a widow so soon into our union.”
“That is understandable, but surely the killer won’t come after you again.” But it was never a guarantee. “They haven’t tried since you’ve been here.”
He shrugged then accepted a refresh of his teacup from the footman. “Because I’ve hidden myself here like a coward.”
“Oh, Henry, you are not a coward.” She hoped her smile was encouraging. “You went out to your club last night without incident, correct?”
“That’s different. I was with a large group of other men, so outside of poison, the likelihood of being murdered was slim.
” He shoved a hand through his hair, upending the work Bright’s valet put into the arrangement.
“Of course, seemingly every conversation buzzed about Anthony’s death, which makes it even more difficult for me to navigate my grief. ”
“Ah, because to those men, his passing is merely fodder for gossip and speculation while you are truly grieving.” Poor man. This was the first test of his mettle through society since he’d been out of university.
“Yes.” He nodded, and when his gaze found hers, sadness shadowed his eyes. “Also, I miss Priscilla. This is the first time we’ve been separated since we were wed.”
And therein lay the real issue. “That is difficult, I’ll agree. I don’t know what I’d do being apart from your father due to an attempt on my life.” Since she’d married Bright, they’d lived and worked together. That didn’t mean there was never danger, but they were usually in that together as well.
As Henry struggled with his emotions, she concentrated on eating her breakfast in order to give him privacy.
It must, indeed, be hard for the young man.
Not only had he lost a friend, but there had been a disruption in his work and in his marriage.
His whole existence had been turned upside down, and no one knew why at this point.
“Mary?”
“Hmm?” As she lifted her teacup, she glanced at Henry.
“Does Papa have any idea who might have done this to Anthony?” Concern and sadness mixed in his eyes.
Of course she’d been privy to Bright’s notes and he’d told her about the interviews he’d done when she’d not accompanied him.
She took a sip of tea before she answered.
“There is no conclusive evidence. Yet.” Reaching across the table, Mary laid her free hand over his.
“We’ll find the evidence, Henry. You know that your father and I will make certain Anthony has the justice he deserves, that his wife and child deserves. ”
“Thank you.” He nodded. “I simply want the truth.” Grasping her fingers, he once more fought against his emotions as his chin trembled. “Anthony didn’t deserve to die in the street like a mongrel, but if I must have faith, I’m glad to believe in you Papa and you.”
“I appreciate that, and I hope we’ll find a break in the case soon.
In the meanwhile, write Priscilla letters.
Let her know you’re thinking about her. Sometimes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, as the saying goes.
Once you are back in her company, your union will prove even stronger.
” She released his hand and returned to eating her breakfast, but much of her appetite had fled.
How exactly they’d find a clue in a family bent on keeping secrets she didn’t know.
Something had to give.
Edgington House
Hanover Square
Mayfair, London
“Being out in society makes me so nervous,” Mary whispered to her husband as they entered the drawing room belonging to the Earl of Edgington, or rather the Duke of Boddingford’s son and heir.
Once she’d told Bright what Henry had said, and coupled with what Adelaide had shared, they’d both determined that they should interview the duke’s firstborn son.
And because Collins, their butler, was well-connected and rather loose of tongue with his gossip, when they’d discovered the earl was hosting a rout tonight, there was no other option but to crash the party.
“Tell the butler, Cravitts, that I sent you. He owes me a favor,” Collins had said as they’d left the house when their closed carriage stopped at the curb. “He should let you in without incident.”
And he hadn’t been wrong. She and Bright were admitted, and Cravitts had barely batted an eyelash. He’d even escorted them upstairs to the drawing room himself.
Bright patted her hand, that rested on his arm. “But you are quite ravishing tonight in that deep plum gown, and that is more than worth coming out within the shallow ton.”
Pleasure warmed her chest. “I’ll admit, when I ordered the gown, I didn’t know if there would be an occasion to don it, but you never fail to surprise me.”
He put his lips to the shell of her ear and whispered, “Once we’re through with the interviews, perhaps we can enjoy part of the evening here. It’s been quite some time since we danced together.”
“You’re such a romantic.” When she turned her head and caught his gaze, she smiled. “I would enjoy that.”
Then he winked. “Or we can slip away, find an unoccupied room, and you can let me do wicked, unspeakable things to you.”
“So incorrigible.” A shiver of need twisted down her spine. “We can try, unless our hosts evict us following the questions. No doubt they’ll have secrets of their own, or they will refuse to answer our questions.”
“Let us find out, hmm?” With a faint grin curving his sensuous lips, Bright led her through the crush of people in the room.
Once in front of a man who very strongly resembled Boddingford as well as a woman who held a mysterious, exotic look, he cleared his throat.
“Your Lordship, if I might have a private word with you and the countess?”
The man frowned, while the woman’s dark eyes widened with curiosity then realization. The light caramel hue of her skin was beautiful against the turquoise silk gown she wore. “Who the devil are you?”
Ah, another brash member of the duke’s family. This wouldn’t bode well. Before Mary could speak, Bright rushed in.
“I am Inspector Bright, working as a consultant with Bow Street,” he said in a low voice even though the din of conversation and laughter in the room would drown out his words.
“This is my wife and deductive partner, Mary, and we would like to ask you some questions regarding the murder of Mr. Corbett, your brother-in-law.”
Shock skated across the earl’s and his wife’s faces.
The countess latched onto her husband’s arm. “Charles, this is the man I told you about, from the papers,” she whispered. “Investigating Anthony’s death.”
Color leeched from Edgington’s face. “Come with me.” Quickly, he led them through the crowd, opened a door at the side of the room, then rushed everyone into the space beyond, which was a small parlor.
Three of the four walls were lined with portraits and paintings set in gilt frames of all sizes and shapes. Louis XIV furniture featured light blue crushed velvet upholstery. Everywhere the eye fell saw opulence and wealth. No doubt it was fitting for the heir of a large dukedom.
No matter, it made Mary uncomfortable, as if she didn’t belong anywhere near such finery, even if she was married to the second son of a viscount.
It was the countess who remembered her breeding and manners. “Please, Inspector, Mrs. Bright, sit down with us. We would be happy to answer your questions.” The slightest hint of an Indian accent threaded through the words, not quite buried beneath proper British inflections and speech patterns.
“Thank you,” Bright said. He guided Mary to a low sofa, and once they were both settled, the countess then sat on a chair nearby while the earl stood next to her chair. “I appreciate your time, and this shouldn’t take long.”
Edgington grunted. “You shouldn’t have come here to begin with.”
“Be that as it may, had we called during visiting hours, would you have invited us into your home?” One of Bright’s eyebrows rose in question. Mary recognized that tone. It meant he was rapidly running out of patience.
“Perhaps not,” the earl admitted with a grudging grin. “As you can imagine, this has been a terribly trying time for my family.”
“We are sorry for your loss,” Mary said in a low voice. “Were the two of you close with Mr. Corbett?”
The countess darted a glance at her husband before focusing on Mary once more. “I wouldn’t say we were close, but he and I shared an empathy of sorts.”
She tugged her notebook from her reticule then took up her pencil. “How so?”