Chapter 12
The mansion sat in the midst of lush vegetation and green lawn that sloped gently down to a river just deep and wide enough to allow for light boat traffic.
There wasn’t much movement this time of night, but torches spaced evenly along the bank gave an air of civilization to the otherwise untamed, colorful land.
Anthony strolled with Dylan, Rachael Scarsdale, and Sophia, her hand resting in the crook of his arm.
His frustration knew no bounds. Apparently Sophia was now fully resigned, even comfortable, with the notion that he wanted nothing from her beyond friendship. She had asked him to help her find a blasted husband!
Another man. A man who was not him. For the love of heaven.
His only hope was that he would be able to find fault with all potential suitors, of which there were legion in British India, and that she would assume his excessive criticism was due to his protective nature as a surrogate brother. It was laughable.
He cursed Braxton again, as had become his habit of late, and made an effort to rein in his thoughts when Dylan stopped and glanced around.
The four of them had wandered to a secluded spot by the river; likely the bulk of the other guests and visitors had opted to remain closer to the house.
Even in the cooler season, snakes and a host of crawling creatures ventured toward human habitation, and Anthony kept one eye on the ground as they stopped.
“Now then,” Dylan said, “once more—what exactly did Charlie and Amala say when you went to the nursery?”
The women told of a young boy who had most assuredly witnessed a violent altercation but was too traumatized to speak of it.
Indeed, he was now saying nothing at all to anyone, not even to his beloved ayah.
Clearly, the victim had been the sea captain, after he and his attacker had fought over something removed from the safe.
The attacker had dragged the captain to the window, thrown him out, and then disappeared.
Anthony turned their revelations over again in his mind and wondered how on earth to proceed. The only witness to the captain’s likely demise was a young child too terrified to speak. How to remedy that? Anthony was well versed in manipulating adults, but children?
Anthony sighed. “Very well. We are agreed that this information stays amongst us, yes? The fewer people with knowledge of the finer details, the better. I spoke with the Pilkingtons, and they both agreed, readily, to keep quiet while we continue investigating.”
Sophia briefly looked at him, eyes narrowed, but she nodded. If she wondered why he sounded as though he were the point man for the investigation, she kept it to herself.
“Suppose we return to the house,” Anthony suggested. “The torches are not bright enough to illuminate everything that might wish to crawl up and say hello.”
Rachael’s eyes widened. “I should hate to find bugs or worse in my skirts.”
“Long gone are the days when we searched for frogs then, cousin.” Dylan smiled at Rachael, and she laughed.
They made their way slowly back up to the mansion, Rachael and Dylan walking just ahead and reminiscing. Anthony felt Sophia’s attention and glanced at her. “What is it?”
Sophia narrowed her eyes. “You’re hiding something. And so is that one.” She motioned toward Dylan.
Anthony frowned. “I have no idea why you would suggest such a thing. What on earth would we have to hide? Well,” he amended, “other than the fact that we are investigating a murder in secret.”
Sophia studied him still. “Yes. You are investigating.”
He laughed. “I see no issue with seeking to aid a friend.”
She raised a single brow, but remained silent, and for one brief moment, he wondered if she would see straight through his attempted subterfuge.
He wasn’t prepared to explain everything to her, not yet.
If he were to tell her exactly what they faced, she might behave differently, say something to the wrong person entirely in innocence .
. . It simply wasn’t worth the risk. Before long, he hoped, the matter would be solved and settled.
Perhaps then he might stand a chance of winning Sophia’s heart.
If she hadn’t coerced him into finding her a different man to adore by then.