Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning, Jack entered the breakfast room after a very restless sleep spent dreaming of a certain annoyingly attractive inspector—again.
She sighed. At least her dreams hadn’t been of death or fire or magic.
That was something, she supposed, even if these new dreams of hers were causing her to blush slightly.
“Good morning,” she said, forcing a smile as she greeted Sera and Cordy, who were already seated at the table eating breakfast.
“Are you all right, Jack? You look rather flushed?” Cordy asked as she glanced up from her perusal of the paper, while Jack took a seat at the head of the table to her left.
“You do look a bit peaked,” Sera added, placing down her cup of tea and reaching over to check Jack’s forehead temperature.
“I’m fine,” Jack replied, batting Sera’s hand away before reaching for the pot of coffee and pouring herself a large cup of the liquid gold.
She added some cream and then took a sip, savoring the flavor and the warmth as it ran down her throat.
Slowly, she started to feel a bit more human again. “I just had a terrible night’s sleep.”
“Bad dreams?” Cordy asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
“Yes, bad dreams,” Jack replied in haste, taking another sip of her coffee to hide her even more flushed face.
Her dreams of the man hadn’t been bad, by any means.
Disturbing, given she’d spent the night dreaming he’d been kissing her…
Goodness, what was going on with her? She’d vowed to have nothing to do with men again after Caleb, but here she was dreaming of a very upper-crust, stuffy inspector.
Well, he wasn’t really stuffy… proper and gentlemanly were more apt terms for him, and Tobias Flint was about as different to Caleb Dodd as night was from day.
Where Caleb was vain and self-absorbed, happy to lie and cheat, the inspector was solid, and brutally honest, and decent, it seemed. Everything Caleb hadn’t been.
And he was also an earl’s son and a police officer, she reminded herself harshly.
Two things that were absolutely against her principles and meant that no matter how attractive and compelling she found the man, that was as far as it would ever go. It would be the height of stupidity to have an affair with him. Even if the dream inspector’s lips had scorched her own…
“I’ve found something in this paper that might be related,” Cordy said, passing the paper over to Jack.
After she’d arrived home last night and said goodbye to Tobias, him having insisted he’d accompany her home, Cordy and Sera had been waiting in the foyer, demanding answers about what was going on and why there were police across the street watching their residence.
Jack had quickly filled them in on everything: Jeremiah’s death and all the details of the investigation.
They’d both been horrified about how clearly the killer wanted Jack involved in it all and were determined to assist. She’d then retrieved the paper that Bethany Cartwright had been reading, and they’d all had a quick look in the jobs section but had found nothing.
Cordy had obviously decided to look through it again this morning.
Jack glanced down at the page Cordy had handed her. It wasn’t the jobs section, but rather the theater section. And at the bottom of the page was an advertisement for the Great Dondaric’s Magical Illusion show. “Caleb’s show? What of it? He always advertises in the paper.”
“Look at the small print at the bottom of the ad.”
Jack did as instructed and read, A lady assistant wanted.
The pay is excellent—and for those selected to be interviewed, you will receive five shillings for your attendance.
Visit 5 Landers Lane, Little Whitting at 4 P.M. today for more information.
She swung her gaze up to Cordy. “You think Miss Cartwright saw this, and that’s where she went? ”
“It’s right near the docks, isn’t it?” Cordy shrugged. “And if you’re looking for a job and this says excellent pay and that you’ll get five shillings if interviewed, wouldn’t you visit it?”
“Cordy, you’re brilliant!” Jack jumped up and ran around and hugged her friend, at which Cordy laughed.
“You must be exhausted,” Sera commented, nibbling on her toast. “It’s not like you to show so much emotion.”
It was true, Jack rarely displayed her emotions. It was far easier to keep them bottled up than release them, but this felt like it could be a clue, and if it could lead them to the killer, then this whole nightmare might be over before anyone else got hurt.
“I am exhausted,” Jack was happy to agree. “Did you have any luck speaking to the delivery boy about the envelope?”
Sera shook her head. “I spoke to him, but it was another young delivery boy who’d been paid to deliver it to him, with instructions to then deliver it to you.
And no,” Sera forestalled Jack, “our delivery boy had never seen the other delivery boy before, so that’s a dead end, for now, anyhow.
If the boy shows up again with another delivery, we’ll know about it. ”
“This Conjurer is clever,” Cordy remarked, buttering a piece of toast before taking a bite.
“Too clever,” Sera added. “I’m concerned about this whole situation, Jack. Do you think it has anything to do with the baron?”
Jack didn’t like to think about the man who’d taken her mother from her, but he often crept into her thoughts and as uncharitable as it was, she hoped he was suffering in that place, far more than he’d made her mother suffer.
“I don’t know how it could have anything to do with him,” Jack replied.
“He’s been locked up in Broadmoor for the past twenty years. ”
“Could he have escaped?” Cordy asked.
“Apparently, there have been escapes over the years.” She told them of what Tobias had said.
“But he assured me that the man who had escaped and is still at large was only twenty-seven at the time. And the baron was in his late forties when he was sent to Broadmoor, which would make him in his late sixties now. So even if he had escaped, it’s doubtful he’d have the strength to do what was done to both victims. But the inspector and I shall visit Broadmoor to make certain he’s still there. ”
“Do you think it wise to go see him?” Sera asked. “The man was obsessed with your mother, and aren’t you the spitting image of her?”
It’s why she didn’t like looking in a mirror for too long.
“I am. But I’ll be fine.” And she would be; Tobias would be there if they went.
Not that she needed a man to protect her, but there was a sense of comfort knowing he was there, just in case.
There was something so soothing about the man, that oddly, she thought she would be able to trust him, and Jack didn’t give her trust to anyone, at least not until they’d earned it.
Which few people ever did. “What are you two up to today, in any event? How’s the Warlow case going? ”
Sera sighed. “It looks like I’m going to have to attend the Countess of Arlington’s ball on Saturday as an uninvited guest.”
“The Countess of Arlington? That’s Tobias’s mother.”
“‘Tobias’?” Cordy gasped. “Since when are you on a first-name basis with the inspector? And what do you mean, his mother? How can a police officer have a countess as a mother?”
Quickly, Jack told them of Tobias’s family history. “He’s considered the black sheep in the family for disobeying his father and joining the police.”
“How intriguing!” Sera murmured. “Who’d have ever thought a Scotland Yard detective inspector would actually be a lord? He’s a bit of a rebel, then, isn’t he?”
“He’s an honorary lord, on account of his father,” Jack clarified. “I wouldn’t call him a ‘rebel.’ In fact, he’s far more of a stickler for the rules.”
“Is your inspector as arrogant as his brother, the Viscount Foxmoore?” Sera asked.
“He’s not my inspector, but yes, I’d say he’s arrogant,” Jack confirmed. “You’ve met his brother, have you?”
“I’ve had the unfortunate pleasure, at Lady Chifley’s ball last month. Do you remember the gentleman I mentioned who questioned me about being there?”
Jack nodded, recalling the annoying gentleman Sera had mentioned at the time.
“Well, that was Foxmoore,” Sera confirmed. “The man had the nerve to suspect me as an uninvited guest. Which I was, but I also looked the part of a lady, so he shouldn’t have suspected anything.”
“He sounds as suspicious as his brother,” Jack replied.
Sera nodded. “Do you think your inspector could get me an invitation to his mother’s ball? Then at least if the viscount recognizes me, he won’t be able to have me thrown out.”
“You didn’t mention being thrown out before?”
“I left before he could have me evicted, which is what I think he would have done. The man is far too suspicious. I can see the likeness now between your inspector and his brother.”
“Please stop calling him ‘my’ inspector. He’s not mine. But honestly, I don’t know if he’d be able to get you an invitation. I can ask him, but remember my sources tell me he is the black sheep in his family.”
“A handsome black sheep, at that,” Sera murmured.
“Not you too?” Jack accused, glancing between Cordy and Sera in disapproval. “He’s a police officer, might I remind you both. We all dislike the police immensely, if you’ll remember.”
“You’re the one associating with them.” Sera smiled slowly.
“Besides, we can still appreciate if they’re handsome, even if we do dislike them.
And don’t sound so high and mighty, Jaqueline Maguire.
I very well saw how you were looking at the man last night when he dropped you off, almost as if he were an oasis of water on a desert island. ”
“I was not looking at him like that!” Jack exclaimed.
God, she hadn’t been, had she? A flush of mortification flooded her cheeks as she realized that perhaps she had been staring at him just so…
Oh, God, had he seen her do so? If he had, she’d never live down the mortification.
Not that it was really her fault—she’d been tired after a very long day, and he’d looked so very masculine standing in her entry hall, his big, broad shoulders almost filling the doorway as he towered above her.
She felt like sighing just thinking of him… Oh, Lord, this was not a good start to the day, especially not when she’d arranged to spend the day investigating the case with him.
“Oh, my goodness, you actually like him, don’t you?” Sera was not known for her tact and often called a spade a spade. It was why she and Jack got on so well. Both far preferred direct and unambiguous dialogue.
“No. I don’t. Well, not really… Oh, I don’t know.
I suppose he’s not so bad for a police officer…
” She’d never sounded so indecisive in her life.
Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and when she opened her eyes again, it was to find Sera staring at her as if she’d lost her mind, while Cordy was smiling at her with delight.
“I don’t actually like him, at least not like that.
I mean, obviously, he’s attractive, I can’t deny that.
Which both of you have also commented on too. ”
“Noticing and acting on an attraction are two very different things,” Sera pointed out.
“I haven’t acted on anything,” Jack said.
“Nor will I.” At least she was determined not to.
She would not succumb to the handsome inspector as she’d done with Caleb.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she were that same naive nineteen-year-old, desperate for a home.
She had a home, and one she’d built through hard work and dedication, she would not give that up for anyone.
“Miss Hart?” Mrs. Thompson popped her head in through the doorway. “Inspector Flint is here to collect you.”
“Is it eight already?” Jack jumped to her feet, quickly gulping down the last of her coffee while grabbing a piece of bacon from the dish on the table. “Stay safe, the both of you. I don’t know what time I’ll be back.”
“You’re the one who needs to stay safe, Jack,” Sera said as Jack rushed to the door. “And remember to ask your inspector if he can get me an invitation for tonight.”
Jack paused at the doorway and took in a calming breath.
“He’s not my inspector, Sera. He’s not my anything.
” And that was how he would stay. Jack’s life was perfectly well ordered as it was, well, apart from a deranged killer on the loose and after her, but apart from that, her world was finally good. That was how it would stay.
No police officer was going to come in and disrupt that, no matter how handsome he was, or how much her breath was catching in her throat from seeing him standing ahead in the entry hall, his dark-blue suit fitting him to perfection and the morning sunlight streaming in through the window, highlighting the stubble across his jaw and the rich, stormy gray of his eyes.
Strength, Jack. Strength. That would be her mantra for the day. Her mantra for the rest of her time dealing with the man in front of her, a temptation she did not want or need. But a temptation she would have to face nonetheless.