Chapter Six #2
Mr. Mason took a few notes before raising his gaze to Felix’s again. “Except you were injured that very evening by your quarry, correct?”
“It is.” Felix nodded. “Shot, which put an end to my ever returning to Bow Street or doing anything for quite a long time.”
Caroline cleared her throat. “Did Lord Withington manage to solve that case?”
A huff left the major’s throat. “He did not.”
“If you don’t mind, Miss Ives, I’m the one who should ask the questions,” Mr. Mason said with a low-grade warning in his tone. When she nodded, he continued. “Had you ever seen or talked with Lord Withington since you left Bow Street?”
“I saw him occasionally in society but no, I never initiated conversation.”
“Did he?”
“No.” Felix shook his head. “The mutual dislike and annoyance between us prevented that, I’d imagine. Also, he had probably lost face over that last case. It remains unsolved to this day.”
And no doubt haunted him constantly. It was another missing piece of the puzzle that made up the major.
The sound of the pencil lead scratching across the paper filled the silence. Then Mr. Mason looked at Felix again. “Did you hate him so much that you would be driven to kill him?”
“Almost four years later?” Outrage echoed in the major’s voice. “I rather doubt that.” Annoyance flitted over his face. “I have moved on with my life and my interests. Was forced to after being in hospital for so long following being shot.”
As much as she wanted to lay a supportive hand on his leg, Caroline kept them firmly in her lap. She sat beside him with a rising temper. Why was he being treated like a murderer? But she held her tongue, not wishing to embarrass him or make things worse.
Perhaps he sensed her simmering anger, for the major glanced at her and she shrugged.
Then he turned his attention back to the other man.
“Listen, Mason, you and I both know that Lord Withington was a prick. Everyone in Whitehall despised him for one reason or another. Did he have a recent dispute with one of your agents?”
“When did he not?” The man snorted. “None of us had the courage to stand up to him or defy him since you were essentially sacked. If anyone needs to be tossed into prison, it was Lord Withington for domestic battery and general carousing. But you know how the government works.”
“Yes, it favors horrible men who should have been dealt with long ago.”
“Exactly that.” The principal officer shrugged. “We will investigate Withington’s suspicious death, of course.”
Felix shifted in his chair. He wrapped his hand about the silver head of his cane. “I would like to consult if I can.”
For long moments, the agent frowned. Eventually, he nodded. “Only if you can remain unbiased. We will pay you the usual rate once you send over an invoice.”
“I can be unbiased. After all, I am a professional.”
Sometimes. Caroline huffed. “And if he can’t, I’ll remind him.”
Mr. Mason’s lips twitched. “Very well. I’ll have a couple of agents canvas the area around St. Paul’s and talk to people on the streets, though progress on the case might be slow since Christmastide is nearly upon us. The number of available agents I have is rather slim at the moment.”
Felix frowned. “That is unfortunate, since crime doesn’t stop for a holiday.”
Mr. Mason shook his head. “You certainly haven’t lost your determination, Major.”
“I have not. In fact, I’ve learned that keeping busy and seeing a project through is essential to making it through the day and maintaining sanity.”
The other man nodded. “You should enjoy life while you can, though. Look at Lord Withington. Dead from unnatural causes, and unexpectedly.” He closed his notebook. “And him with a child on the way.”
“Oh!” Caroline’s eyebrows rose. That was interesting, for Lord Withington had been in his late fifties at the time of his death.
“I shall bear that in mind, Mason.” Then Felix struggled into a standing position. “Tomorrow morning, as soon as we can politely visit, Miss Ives and I shall call on Lord Withington’s wife.”
“Very well.” Mr. Mason nodded. “Have a report delivered to me at the end of each day regarding your progress. I want to remain knowledgeable at what you discover.”
“And you’ll share your man’s notes as well?
“Of course.”
Felix gave a curt nod. “I’ll have someone courier it over in the evenings. Are we done here?”
“For the moment. Don’t leave London.”
“Damn it all.” Felix huffed. “I know how an investigation works.” Then he assisted Caroline to her feet. “I’ll escort you home now.”
Mr. Mason came around the desk and then crossed to the door. “It was lovely to meet you, Miss Ives.”
She nodded and gave the agent a tight smile. “You as well.” When she paused slightly by the principal officer, she added, “The major didn’t do the crime.”
“The investigation is only beginning. We’ll discover if that’s true.”
“Good God.” Felix pointed his gaze at the ceiling before hustling her out of the office then back through the corridors. “I’m hoping we can have a look at the body soon.”
“They won’t let you inside the morgue since you are a suspect, but they might admit me,” she said with a wink. “Mr. Mason will do a favor for me.”
“Why is that?”
“He fancies me. Kept staring at my mouth whenever I talked.” At least it was the truth.
“Fucking Mason.” With a growl, the major escorted her from the building and back out into the rain. “Come before you are drowned.” In the carriage, he gave the driver her address. “Thank you, Daniel. That should be our final destination today.”
As the carriage drew forward, Caroline sighed as she settled on the bench across from him. “This was quite the afternoon.” When he didn’t respond, she briefly held her bottom lip between her teeth. “Tell me the truth.”
He frowned. “Don’t I always?”
“That’s debatable.” She narrowed her gaze when he eyed her askance. “Did you kill Lord Withington?”
“I did not.” As he stared at her, there was no dissembling in his eyes.
“Did you ever want to?”
Silence roiled between them. Finally, he nodded. “Yes. I did.”
Surprise slammed into her chest while chill bumps raced over her skin, for he was a man of deep emotions, and she’d yet to witness them in their relationship. “How did you stop yourself from acting on the impulse?”
“At the time, I used all my concentration to remain in this world while I wallowed in self-pity when in the hospital from losing my leg.” Felix shrugged.
Shadows flickered over his face, but in the dim light, she couldn’t read them.
“Truth to tell, I lost touch with Lord Withington. Can’t say I was sorry about that.
Sooner or later, he’d do something horrid to the wrong person and gain his comeuppance.
” He frowned. “We all knew it. Now it appears that he has.” For the space of a few heartbeats, he held her gaze with his. “But I didn’t kill him.”
“I know.” She nodded, but her chest remained tight. “However, I needed to make certain before we move forward with this case. Assuming you and I are working it together and you weren’t giving Mr. Mason lip service.”
For another few moments, they stared at each other. Then Felix released a breath.
“We are working this case.” He offered a half-grin. “You’re a good investigator, Caroline. I appreciate that.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Is that all you appreciate, Major?”
“No.” But he said nothing else.
As per usual.
“Right.” She stifled a sigh and turned her regard once more to the window.
It took much willpower to prevent tears from welling.
How long did a woman wait on a man who had no intentions of doing the right thing regarding their relationship?
Who had zero interest, apparently, in building a future with her?
Damn your eyes, Felix. I thought better of you than this.