Chapter Seventeen
Later that night
“Are you certain you’re quite well?” Caroline walked beside Felix as they exited one of the townhouses on the Crescent.
They had dinner with a highflyer in Brighton society.
The man had been with the Home Office for years.
He and Felix had got on well, which had led to hours of talking about all things military related and how the English government had gotten out of hand.
She, on the other hand, had talked with the gentleman’s wife.
The couple were a good ten or fifteen years older, but it was lovely to speak with someone who had experience in life.
Caroline had let slip her condition, and for the remainder of their time together, she and the older lady had discussed motherhood, with all the joys and heartaches included.
It had set her mind at ease regarding a few worries she had. What was more, they’d all made plans to meet again the next time the couple was in London.
“I am.” He squeezed her fingers then brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “A bit tired and sore from earlier, but otherwise fine. It will take more than a scare to stop me from continuing the investigation.”
Knots of worry formed in her belly. “Is it worth almost losing your life, though?”
“You know every case is potentially dangerous.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I have to like such an aspect.
” A shiver went down her spine from the peril that Felix was in this afternoon.
And with their baby on the way. “Do you suspect one person over another? I’ll admit, I wouldn’t put it past either of my parents to have done this, and Andrew’s explanation is rather weak.
I’m not certain he was where he said when Danforth was killed. ”
“Why do you say that?”
“I overheard two of the maids talking when I was last at the townhouse. According to them, Andrew is calling on a young woman who lives a bit further down the Crescent.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows rose. “Courting her or merely bedding her?”
“Knowing Andrew, it could go either way, but clearly, he doesn’t want Mama to get wind of it.” She shrugged. “If he stayed the night with her…”
“Then that put him in the immediate vicinity of the crime. It would give him the opportunity as well as the motive.”
“Right, and he also had easy access to the letter opener in Mama’s morning room.
” Did she truly believe that her own brother was capable of murder?
Stranger things had happened, and for less in other cases.
“If he is courting this woman, he’d want to look properly enticing, and giving over coin to a bad investment that lowered his worth? Again, motive.”
“Let me think upon it, but we’ll need to talk with him a third time.”
Good heavens, her poor family. “Since we’re near my parents’ townhouse, do you mind if I visit with them quickly? Once they go to London, we’ll remain here in Brighton for a while, and I do wish to tell them about the baby.”
“Of course.” He scratched the fingers of his free hand along his cheek where he still had the bruise from the first attack. “If you don’t mind, though, I’ll go along to the cottage and have a lie down. That near-drowning affected me more than I want to admit. Will you be all right alone?”
“Yes, but I won’t be alone. My parents will be with me.
It’s a five-minute walk, if that. I think Debra is with friends tonight, but Andrew might drop by.
” When she pulled a face, a rare chuckle came from her husband.
“I’ll ask Papa to drive me to the cottage.
I’m not keen on walking down in the dark. ”
“That’s all I can ask.” Again, he pressed his lips to the top of her gloved hand. “You’re certain you’re comfortable walking to the townhouse alone? After what we discussed earlier about the possible killer, I hesitate to leave you alone.”
“Yes, of course. I have my pistol with me.” As she spoke, she held up her reticule. “Frankly, I welcome an opportunity to use it.”
“Well, Mrs. Kourier, you never fail to astound me.”
“I learned that courage from you.” When she rested a hand on his chest, a small sigh escaped him.
“To be honest, you are one of the strongest people I know. I admire that about you.”
“Pish posh. I am merely maturing as a person.”
“We both are.”
That was how life was supposed to go. She nodded. “And you? Promise me that you’ll be safe as well. I’ve only just acquired a husband; I don’t wish to add widow to my list of titles this quickly.”
“I promise. Straight home and to bed. Wake me when you get in, but more than likely, I’ll remain awake until I’m certain you’re beside me.”
“You have no idea how much I understand the sentiment.” They parted, then, and she walked along the pavement toward her parents’ rented townhouse.
Not long after, Caroline was ensconced in the drawing room, listening to her mother go on and on about some sort of bounder Debra had befriended at the wedding breakfast. Of course, this particular fellow didn’t have a title, so therefore he wasn’t considered good enough, but in the meantime, the girl had been infatuated with him.
“How does he make his living, Mama?” Of course, her father hadn’t said much on the subject, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have opinions.
“In some sort of shipping outfit, she says.”
“Well, that can be quite lucrative in the right circumstances,” Caroline said in a rare defense of her sister. “Perhaps let Debra have her head for a while and see what happens.”
“Of course you’d say that. Look who you married.” A healthy amount of bitterness threaded through her mother’s voice.
Hot annoyance rose in Caroline’s chest. “Felix is an honorable man. He is talented at being a detective. Every month he gains more clients and makes a tidy income.”
“All of that can be gone in an instant.” Her mother never looked up from her embroidery work. “And now there’s scandalous talk that he was involved in fisticuffs the other evening. Never thought he’d have a temper.”
“He doesn’t, or only when provoked.” It took all her self-control not to lash out at her own mother, but her dismissal of the major rankled.
“I have known Felix for a year. You and Papa have had six months during our engagement period to come ‘round to the idea that he is the one I’ve chosen to spend my life with.” She included her father in her gaze.
“To that end, there is something I wish to share with you both before Debra comes in.”
Finally, her mother set her embroidery in her lap. “Is all well, Caro?”
Her father leaned forward in his chair, concern on his face. “Has that man hurt you?”
Why did interacting with her parents these days require an extraordinary amount of patience? Tamping on the urge to dress them both down, she smoothed her hands over her skirting instead. “I am increasing.”
“What?” Shock replaced the consternation in her father’s eyes.
“Is that true?” The same shock went through her mother’s face, but then the beginnings of a smile curved her lips. “You are expecting?”
“Yes.” From her spot on the sofa across from her mother’s, Caroline nodded. “Due in late December. You will have a grandchild, so please stop maligning my husband, for he will be a father at that same time. The two of us are building a family; this marriage is solid.”
“Well, I… That is to say…” Then her mother stood and took a seat next to her, the embroidery fell to the floor unheeded. “That’s wonderful, Caro.” The moment her mother slipped her arms about her, a man came into the drawing room.
“A pity I need to interrupt such a tender moment with your family, but I’m afraid I’ll have to borrow Mrs. Kourier. Her husband has become somewhat of a thorn in my side, you see.”
Oh, dear heavens.
Caroline glanced at the man who’d she’d never seen before with narrowed eyes.
There was something oddly familiar about him she couldn’t put her finger on.
Dark brown hair with a bit of curl gleamed in the candlelight while a longish nose and pointy chin almost gave him a comical moon-shaped face.
A top hat had been rakishly set over his right eye.
“Where is the butler?” Using the man’s distraction and the fact that her mother sat beside her, she worked her fingers into her reticule that was pressed against her hip.
“Let us just say he is otherwise engaged. As is the housekeeper. No doubt they’ll wake with pounding heads.” When he pulled a pistol from the waist of his breeches, she gasped. “Lord Beckham, if you please, on the sofa with your wife.”
“What is the meaning of this?” her father demanded but the color had leeched from his face. He remained sitting. “Who the devil are you?”
While the man came deeper into the room with his focus on her father, Caroline slipped her pistol from her bag.
Though her hand shook, she relocated the weapon into a pocket of her skirting, for it often came in handy while she worked cases with Felix.
It was now a requisite for all her clothing when she ordered them from modistes.
When her mother glanced at her, she shook her head, hoping her eyes pleaded for quiet.
“I don’t believe I asked you to order me about, Lord Beckham.” The man gestured with the nose of his pistol. “Sit by the viscountess, please, and no one will be hurt.”
“Papa, do as he says,” Caroline warned in a low voice.
She then rested her gaze on the man with the pistol.
“You are Mr. Knapp, the investor. Aren’t you?
” Yet there was something else niggling in the corners of her brain.
It wouldn’t come forward at the moment, but she hoped if she thought long enough it would.
Her father reared up. “Damn you! You are the one Danforth mentioned. You stole from me!”
“Calm yourself, Lord Beckham. I’d hate to wound you.” He flicked his gaze to Caroline. “You are only partially correct, Mrs. Kourier, but we’ll address that in a moment.” The man cocked his pistol and leveled the nose at her father. “Move, Lord Beckham. I won’t ask again.”