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Caroline kept her own counsel regarding the major, for his mercurial attitude was quite confusing. Tension fairly snapped between them, and every time he spoke, she couldn’t help staring at his mouth.

Pull yourself together, Caro. You’re not looking to attract a man, remember.

Yet not two seconds after she chastised herself, she caressed her gaze over his taut backside as she followed him outside to the terrace, where her mother had planned a basket weaving activity that morning for ladies who didn’t wish to join one of the walking parties.

According to the list she’d copied from Mrs. Flinders, the lady they needed to speak with had signed up to be a part of that group.

She might not want a husband, but she wouldn’t mind having another kiss by this man.

Far too distracted with woolgathering about him, she wasn’t aware that he’d come to a stop on the terrace until she ran right into his back. “Oomph!” Of course, for stability, she clutched at his shoulders and enjoyed the solid hardness of his form beneath her fingertips for a few glorious moments.

“My apologies,” she whispered as she released him. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Clearly,” he whispered back with an inscrutable glance at her over his shoulder.

Was it her imagination, or did he brush a hand along her hip ever so briefly?

Not able to discern that, she followed him over to a table where their quarry sat as she wove thin strips of raffia through other strips in the formation of a medium-sized basket.

At present, no one else sat at the small round table that could seat three.

Felix cleared his throat. “Miss Lockhart, would you mind if we asked you a few questions regarding your brother?”

She looked up at him with surprise in her hazel eyes. Beneath the straw bonnet she wore, her sandy blonde hair—very much like her brother’s—looked ready to escape its pins. “I suppose, but Devon should be around soon. He promised that he would do this activity with me.”

Caroline slipped into one of the wooden chairs at the table. “I assume you’ve heard about the death of Mr. Blythe?”

“Yes, of course.” She focused her gaze downward at her handiwork but not before Caroline spied a bit of relief therein. “So tragic.”

“It was.” Since Felix was apparently content to let her take the lead while he scribbled notes, Caroline continued. “How is your relationship with your brother?”

“Oh, I’d like to hope it’s a good one. We may not see eye-to-eye on all decisions, but we’re close.”

“Were you aware that Mr. Blythe and your brother had switched places during luncheon yesterday?”

Miss Lockhart’s fingers stilled on the reeds. She raised her gaze to Caroline’s. Sadness mixed with annoyance in her eyes. “I did not. However, every time those two men are together, they pull something stupid like that.”

“Oh? Why would you say that?”

The other woman shook her head. “They’d always done such ever since their school days and while it was mostly harmless, the older they grew, it became obnoxious.” She frowned at her handiwork. “Then Devon received notice that he would soon be a duke.”

“And that changed everything,” Caroline said with a glance at Felix, who shrugged.

“Yes.” Miss Lockhart nodded. A miserable expression came over her face.

“I’m your sister’s best friend.” She looked at Caroline as if that should have obviously explained everything.

When it, of course, didn’t, a sigh escaped her.

“I wanted Devon to court Debra, and hopefully marry her so that we could be sisters-in-law, but then he started talking about wanting to turn down the title, said that perhaps it should go to our cousin instead because he didn’t want the responsibilities… ”

“And that angered you,” Felix finished the sentence for her.

“Yes, a bit.” She shook her head. “I sound ungrateful, I know, but I can’t help it. I thought him being a duke might turn our lives around. How could he be so selfish?”

Caroline made soothing sounds when a few other women glanced in their direction. “It’s understandable. Such a decision needs more than emotions behind it. Is he going to go through with the claim?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to Devon since the accident yesterday.”

At that point, Felix cleared his throat. “Did the men often indulge in dares from their contemporaries?”

“They used to, er, at least Devon used to, but in recent years, he’s stopped doing immature things of that nature.”

The major nodded. “Is it possible that Mr. Blythe was pretending to be your brother when he took on the dares to walk rooftops yesterday?”

“I suppose, but like I said, Devon hadn’t indulged in those things recently.” A frown took possession of her lips. “I rather think he’s secretly courting a woman and that is what has changed his behavior.”

Caroline glanced again at Felix as she asked, “Do you know who said woman is?”

“I do not, and he is being quite tight-lipped about it. Perhaps she is the one who is influencing his decision not to be a duke.” Miss Lockhart set down her basket.

“Before you ask another question, let me speak freely. I didn’t like Mr. Blythe very much.

He was reckless and a rogue. That behavior bled into my brother’s life, and oftentimes, Mr. Blythe’s antics damaged my brother’s reputation. ”

Ah, so then that could be motivation. She nodded. “Were there times when Mr. Blythe pretended he was your brother without consent?”

“I wouldn’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s a viscount’s son, but rumor has it he’s being pressured by his creditors to pay his outstanding bills.”

The major nodded. “Where were you during luncheon yesterday, Miss Lockhart?”

Fear jumped into the other woman’s eyes. “The drawing room.”

Caroline’s spirits plummeted. That was nowhere near the icehouse.

“Why?” Felix asked. “Did you not wish to eat and mingle since it was the first event of the house party?”

“I didn’t feel like socializing. ”

“Seems many people feel that way at this party.” Felix caught Caroline’s gaze and gestured slightly with his head. “Is there anything else you can add to our investigation that might help clear it up?”

“It’s not much…”

One of the major’s eyebrows rose. “It could be everything.”

Miss Lockhart nodded. “Yesterday morning, just after breakfast, I saw Miss Ives arguing with Mr. Blythe near the entrance to the hedge maze.”

Felix scribbled a note. “Was that man Blythe or Lockhart?”

“I couldn’t say. They were too far away, but I saw them from an upstairs window.”

“Ah.” Felix frowned at Caroline. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Oh, no, Major, it was the younger Miss Ives—Debra. I was excited because I thought that perhaps they might meet for an assignation, which would put us all one step closer to a wedding.”

Except Mr. Lockhart was sweet on another…

“Fair enough. Thank you for your time, Miss Lockhart. If we think of any more questions, we’ll seek you out.”

With a nod, Caroline left her chair to join Felix as he retreated across the terrace in the direction of the rear gardens. “You’ ve thought of something you didn’t want to say in front of her, didn’t you?”

“Perhaps.” He lowered his voice as they went into the gardens. “How possible would it be for Mr. Blythe to want to pretend being Lockhart indefinitely?”

“Meaning?”

“Well, if he is truly in debt, and Mr. Lockhart doesn’t wish to be a duke, Blythe could easily step in, say he was Lockhart, and then be handed a duchy and a title. He’d be able to square with his creditors and have a fortune besides.”

A gasp escaped her. “Which gives Lockhart himself a huge motive to eliminate his friend, especially if he did, indeed want the title after all.”

“Indeed. We’ll need to interview him again, along with his valet. If anyone knows secrets no one’s telling, it will be him.”

She nudged his elbow. “As luck would have it, there is Debra.” Gesturing with her chin, she indicated a path not far from their location lined with ornamental fruit trees. “Why is she gathering leaves?”

“One would assume it’s for yet another crafting session your mother has planned.” Humor wove through his voice. “You’re missing out on all the fun while partnering with me.”

A snort escaped her. “I rather think I’m not.” What in the world would she do with a paper that had leaves and pebbles glued to it? “Let’s have this over with. Chances are high Debra will prove surly.”

“Ah, then an opportunity to see the Ives sisters interact.” Tucking his cane beneath one arm, he rubbed his hands together and peered at her with glee. “I can hardly wait.”

Caroline blew out a breath. “You are insufferable.” Then why did the unaccountable urge to fling herself into his arms keep rearing its head?

“That may be true, but I’m not a bounder.” With a wink, he put a hand to the small of her back as he’d done before, and heat emanated from that point of contact. “I have a feeling it will rain soon. We can’t be so fortunate as to have three days of sunshine.”

“And that will mean all the guests will be stuck inside with each other.”

He nodded. “Good time to observe how they interact together though. Might help our case.”

By then, they’d reached Debra’s location where she chatted within a knot of other young women.

“Hullo, Debra.” Caroline offered what she hoped was a cheerful smile. “Are you doing one of Mama’s crafting sessions?”

“Yes. We are decorating boxes with leaves and flowers then will seal it all later with decoupage so we can use them as trinket holders.”

The major cleared his throat. “If you ladies could excuse us? We need to speak with the younger Miss Ives alone.”

“You’re no fun, Major Kourier,” one of the young women said with a blatant look at him. “Why don’t you come with us? We’ll make certain you have more fun than going around with a spinster.”

The annoyance in his expression was priceless. “I am working a case, so no thank you.”