Late For The Wedding

Twelve

Tobias went up the steps of Number 7 with a sense of anticipation that he had been savoring since breakfast. The prospect of an afternoon tryst with Lavinia was the only bright spot in what had proven to be an extremely frustrating and unproductive day. He wanted nothing more than to sink down onto the bed in the bed chamber upstairs and lose himself in his lover’s arms for a stolen hour or two.

His hopes crumbled when Mrs. Chilton opened the door.

“Mrs. Chilton, this is a surprise. I could have sworn that at breakfast this morning you mentioned that you would be going out to shop for currants this afternoon and that Mrs. Lake would be here alone for a time.”

“There’s no need to look at me like that, sir.” Mrs. Chilton drew herself up, glowering. “Plans changed. Not my fault. First, out of the blue, Mrs. Lake announces she’s off to pay a visit to Mrs. Dove. Says she’ll return by three.”

“It is just now three, Mrs. Chilton.”

“Well, she isn’t back yet and that’s all there is to it. Wouldn’t make much difference to your plans if she were here, and that’s a fact.”

“And why is that?”

Mrs. Chilton glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the closed parlor door and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Because not ten minutes past a lady called. When I informed her that Mrs. Lake was out, she demanded to know when she was expected. I told her around three o’clock, and the next thing I know the lady declares that she’ll wait.”

“Damnation. She’s still here?”

“Aye. I put her in the parlor and gave her some tea. Wasn’t anything else I could do.” Mrs. Chilton wiped her large, rough hands on her apron. “Claims she’s a client. Thought perhaps she’d come in response to the notice Mrs. Lake put into the newspaper a while back. You know how enthusiastic Mrs. Lake is about advertising her services in the papers. Says it’s the modern way to go about running a successful business enterprise.”

“Kindly do not remind me of that bloody advertisement.” Tobias stalked into the hall and sent his hat sailing toward the small end table. You know my feelings on that subject.”

“Aye, sir. You’ve made em clear.” Mrs. Chilton closed the door. “But as there haven’t been any serious clients until now, it didn’t seem to be doing any harm. To tell you the truth, I think Mrs. Lake was getting a bit depressed about the entire project.”

“Unfortunately, she was not sufficiently cast down to call off the scheme.”

Thus far his fears that Lavinia’s attempt to advertise her private inquiry services in the newspapers would draw an unsavory crowd of potential clients to her door had gone unrealized. To date, only three people had responded to the notice concerning an expert available for the purpose of conducting inquiries of a personal and private nature. To his secret relief, all three potential clients had immediately changed their minds when they discovered that the expert in question was a female.

“It’s not my fault the lady in the parlor chose to call upon Mrs. Lake this afternoon,” Mrs. Chilton muttered.

“I do not suppose there is anything you could have done.” Tobias started toward the parlor door. “But I believe I shall just have a word with this new client before Mrs. Lake returns.”

“Hold on there, sir.” Mrs. Chilton hurried after him, alarmed. “I’m not sure Mrs. Lake would want you to be speaking to her client without her being present.”

“What objection can she possibly make?” Tobias smiled his most innocent smile. “We are partners, after all.”

“Only on some cases. And you know very well that if she finds out you’ve cost her a paying client, she’ll be furious.”

“I just want to assure myself that this client is respectable and can afford Mrs. Lake’s fees.”

He opened the door before Mrs. Chilton could do it for him and walked into the parlor.

The lady seated on the sofa turned to look at him.

Bloody hell, Tobias thought. She was a client. So much for his plan to get rid of her before Lavinia returned.

“What are you doing here, Aspasia?” he asked.

“Tobias.” She gave him her cool, knowing smile. What a coincidence. I came here to talk to Mrs. Lake because I assumed you would be busy with your inquiries. I wanted to find out how the investigition was proceeding.”

If this was any other client, he would lie through his teeth and tell her that he had made substantial progress. He always said that sort of thing to whoever was paying the fee for his services. But this was Aspasia, and she was not a typical client.

He went to stand with his back to the window, automatically putting the light behind him, and looked at Aspasia.

“I cannot speak for Mrs. Lake,” he said, “because I have not yet had a chance to compare notes with her this afternoon. But as for myself, I have made damned little progress. I sent our assistants out to make inquiries regarding the rings and the blond wig, however, and I have hopes that they will come back with some useful information.” He glimpsed Lavinia out of the corner of his eye. She was on the front step. “I see my associate has returned. Perhaps she will have news.”

Lavinia was a vision in deep violet. He found himself smiling a little even though his plans for the afternoon appeared to be in ruins. Something inside him always responded to the sight of her, he thought. He was aware of a sense of bone-deep satisfaction whenever he was in her presence.

He heard the muffled sound of the front door opening and closing.

A moment later Lavinia breezed into the parlor. She had removed her bonnet in the front hall. Her face was warm and flushed from her recent exercise. The feminine vitality that she radiated made his ins ides tighten with a familiar hunger. Visions of the bed upstairs tormented him.

“Mrs. Gray.” Lavinia inclined her head a bare half inch. “Forgive me. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Her smile was so polished and professional that only someone who knew her well would notice the acute lack of warmth, Tobias thought.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Lake,” Aspasia said. “But I simply could not rest. I returned to London yesterday afternoon. I came here today because I had to find out if you and Tobias had discovered anything useful yet.”

“Yes, indeed.” Lavinia sat down on a chair near the tea tray and arranged her skirts with a flourish. Her smile never dimmed. If anything it actually brightened. “We have made substantial progress.”

Unlike himself, Tobias thought, she had no compunction about lying to this particular client.

“Indeed?” Aspasia raised her brows. Tobias was just telling me that he had not been terribly successful. Isn’t that right, Tobias?”

He clasped his hands behind his back. “I certainly do not have much to offer yet.”

Lavinia gave him a repressive glare. “How fortunate, then, that I do have some useful information.”

She was certainly determined to follow his rules for dealing with a client, even if he was not bothering to do so, he thought.

“Your professional abilities never cease to astound me, madam,”

“he said dryly. What did you learn from your private informant?”

He saw at once that she had caught the slight inflection he had given the last two words. He doubted that Lavinia had had any intention of dragging Mrs. Dove’s name into this affair, but it was best to be cautious.

She turned to Aspasia with a businesslike air. “I have discovered that there may have been at least two other recent deaths in Society that are highly suspicious. Lady Rowland and a certain Mr. Newbold. Both departed this earth quite unexpectedly.”

That got his attention. “I heard the rumor concerning Lady Rowland. An overdose of the medicine she took to help her sleep. No one mentioned Newbold.”

Aspasia’s brows puckered in a delicate frown. “Newbold died in a drunken fall down his own staircase a month and a half ago, I believe. I heard something about it shortly after I returned to Town.

“I did not pay much attention.”

“Most people ignored his death.” Lavinia’s mouth tightened in a manner that emphasized her disgust. “Evidently Newbold was quite dreadful. He was known to patronize the brothels that cater to those creatures who enjoy debauching children. In my opinion the young lady to whom he had recently got engaged had a very close call. Only imagine the horror of being wed to such a man.”

“Indeed.” Aspasia drank tea and made no further comment.

“The thing is,” Lavinia continued, turning toward Tobias, I find the coincidence extremely intriguing, don’t you, sir?”

“Three unanticipated deaths? Yes, I do.”

“Not the deaths,” she said impatiently, “the cancellation of the wedding plans that followed in each instance.”

She was serious, he thought. He could not believe it. Neither could Aspasia, to judge by her expression.

“Lavinia,” he said carefully, “are you implying that the motive behind each of these three murders was a desire to stop a wedding from taking place?”

Lavinia set down the pot. “Have you got a better motive?”

“I’m working on one.” Her certainty irritated him. “All three deaths resulted in the transfer of fortunes. That makes for a lot of suspects among the family members.”

Aspasia’s expression altered from one of stunned disbelief to thoughtful consideration.

“I heard the rumors about Lady Rowland’s obsessive desire to see her eldest granddaughter wed to her old lover’s grandson,” she said slowly. “The woman had a reputation for using her money to manipulate everyone in her family. But what would be the point of murdering her? She was going to endow the girl.”

“Only if she consented to wed Ferring,” Lavinia reminded her. “But now her papa has taken control of the Rowland fortune, and evidently young Ferring’s offer was not accepted. The granddaughter is free to marry someone else. In one way or another, the other two young ladies have also been delivered from the prospect of extremely unhappy marriages.”

“Surely you are not suggesting that these innocent young girls could have concocted a diabolical scheme to hire a professional killer?” Tobias growled. “That defies credibility.”

Aspasia’s mouth tightened. “He’s right, Mrs. Lake. It is an interesting theory, but it is impossible to imagine that three extremely sheltered young ladies with no experience of the world could possibly reason out how to hire, let alone pay, a professional murderer.”

Lavinia set her shoulders in a manner that Tobias had learned to recognize. She was preparing to defend her position.

“I would remind you both,” she said, “that when it comes to alliances at that level of Society, there are many people besides the young ladies involved who might have a strong interest in the marriage contracts.”

“Do you believe that others in the families resorted to murder in order to halt the weddings?” Tobias folded his arms. “That is a crazed conclusion. We are talking about a killer who is attempting to imitate

“the Memento-Mori Man. It is impossible to imagine a professional murderer hiring himself out to some matchmaking mama.”

To his surprise, Aspasia spoke before Lavinia could respond.

“Marriage is a very serious matter, and young girls have very little say in the arrangements that are made for them.” Her mouth curved coldly. “I can personally testify to that. My papa certainly did not worry overmuch about my happiness when he accepted the offer for my hand.”

The sharp, icy edge on that last statement caught Tobias by surprise. It occurred to him that he had never heard Aspasia discuss her brief marriage.

Lavinia watched her quietly, not speaking. Tobias sensed that she was suddenly keenly interested in what Aspasia had to say.

“Nevertheless,” Aspasia continued, “when it comes to alliances in the polite world, there is nothing unusual about such arrangements.

“I have certainly never heard of anyone committing murder to halt a wedding.”

“As professional private-inquiry agents,” Lavinia said in her most authoritative manner, I can assure you that Mr. March and I have seen cases where murder has been done for far less reason.” She beetled her brows at Tobias. “Is that not true, sir?”

The last thing he wanted to do was get caught in the middle of this little skirmish, he decided. He sought a diplomatic way out.

“There are any number of motives for murder,” he said, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

Neither woman looked satisfied.

Aspasia frowned at him. “I trust you will not waste time pursuing false leads.”

He inclined his head. “I try to avoid that sort of thing.”

“So do I,” Lavinia said shortly.

Aspasia rose and walked toward the door. “I must be off. Please keep me informed.”

“Of course.” Tobias crossed the parlor to open the door for her.

“Good day, Aspasia.”

She hesitated before moving out into the hall. “I fear we do not have any time to waste, Tobias. You must find this new Memento

“Mori Man, and you must do it quickly. Who knows what he is planning next?”

He gripped the doorknob so tightly it was a wonder it did not come off in his hand. “I am well aware of the urgency involved here.”

Mrs. Chilton was hovering in the hall. She opened the front door for Aspasia, who went swiftly down the steps.

Tobias waited until she was gone. Then he took out his pocket watch and smiled pointedly at Mrs. Chilton. “I believe that you still have time to go out for currants.”

Mrs. Chilton rolled her eyes. “Very well, sir.” She darted a glance into the parlor behind him and lowered her voice. “But you had best be quick about it. Miss Emeline is due back around five. It would not do for her to walk in at an awkward moment.”

“Thank you for the warning, Mrs. Chilton. I assure you it is unnecesssary.”

“Humph.”

He went back into the parlor. Lavinia had risen and gone to stand at the window. She stood with her back to him, her attention on the street.

He crossed the room and came to a halt behind her. Resting his hands on her shoulders, he followed her gaze. Together they watched Aspasia vanish around the corner. Lavinia did not turn around.

“You must make allowances for Aspasia,” he said quietly. “She is frightened and very anxious.”

“Mmm.”

“She has every reason to be worried. Zachary Elland was a coldblooded killer, and whoever seeks to take his place is obviously of the same temperament. And you must admit that she’s right: This notion that there is a connection between three possible murders and three changes of marital plans is not a particularly substantial theory at the moment.”

“Mmm.”

“Lavinia, I can see that you are disturbed. Did you and Mrs. Dove discuss some other matter that you have not yet mentioned?”

“Joan asked me if I thought that she was betraying her husband’s memory by forming a liaison with Lord Vale. Evidently her daughter is quite distraught about the relationship.”

“I see.” Whatever it was he had been expecting to hear, this was not it. What did you tell her?”

“I reminded her that her husband had loved her very deeply. I told her that I was certain he would have wanted her to be happy again, just as she would have wanted him to find happiness if she had been taken first.”

“Indeed,” he said, for lack of anything more inspired. What the devil was this about? Well, I’m certain that you reassured her. Now, then, Mrs. Chilton mentioned that she is going out to shop for some items that she needs for dinner. What do you say we”

“Tobias?”

“What is it?” he asked, deeply cautious now.

“If anything were to happen to me and you were left alone, I would want you to find happiness.”

Of their own accord, his hands clamped fiercely around her elegantly curved shoulders. He felt himself turn to stone at the thought of her being snatched from him by death. A crimson haze filled his head. It occurred to him that he would likely go mad if he ever lost her.

“I would want you to find happiness,” she reiterated softly, apparently unaware of the impact her words were having on him. “But not withAspasia Gray.”

For some reason those last words freed him from the terrible spell. He discovered that he could breathe again. He used his hands to turn her around to face him.

“I cannot imagine wanting any other woman the way I want you,”

he said. His voice sounded raw and harsh, even to his own ears.

“Oh, Tobias.” She put her arms around him and pressed her head against his shoulder. “I do love you so.”

“I am delighted to hear that.” He kissed her hair. Her scent filled his head, driving out the last remnants of the red haze. “But, please, if you have any regard for me at all, never, ever talk about being taken from me. I cannot bear the thought.”

Her arms tightened around him. “Just as I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”

He folded her close, letting the sunlight warm them both. After a while, he drew her out of the parlor and up the stairs.

Later he raised himself up on his elbow and glanced at his watch on the bedside table. A quarter past four. Time to get dressed. It was becoming harder and harder to leave her bed, he thought.

Reluctantly, he sat up and swung his feet to the floor.

“Tobias?”

He turned to look at her. She was lying back against the pillows, her eyes very green in the afternoon light.

“I must go, my love. Emeline will be home in less than forty-five minutes. I am to meet with Anthony at five. With luck he will have some news of the rings.”

“I know.” She folded her arms behind her head. The movement caused one neatly shaped breast to escape the sheet. “Tobias, I gave Joan the right advice, did I not? Don’t you think that Dove would have wanted her to find happiness with someone else after he was gone?”

He did not reply. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her bare breast. Her skin was soft and warm from his lovemaking. He caught a trace of his own scent on her and knew a rush of fierce, unbridled possessiveness. His woman.

She frowned. “You do agree with me, don’t you? About how Fielding Dove would have felt in this situation?”

He looked at her for a long time and then very deliberately he leaned over her, caging her between his arms. He bent his head and brushed his mouth across hers.

“I cannot speak for Fielding Dove,” he said. “But I can promise you this, Lavinia. If you should ever find with another man what we have found together, I would come back from the grave to haunt you.”