Page 30

Later that night

Caroline stood, conflicted, in the middle of her room, still clad in the gown she’d changed into for dinner.

That had already passed. Not that she minded. The navy taffeta was pretty and understated with simple lines, but the feature she liked best about it was the sprinkling of tiny clear glass beads over the skirt and bodice that made the garment twinkle and sparkle with each movement.

However, it would have been lost on dull dinner companions.

In fact, she couldn’t bring herself to manage the arduous ordeal of dinner, especially after her mother had heard the story of what had happened and ordered her to bed, so she’d taken the meal on a tray, and all the while, something niggled through her brain.

The groom who’d rescued her and Felix from the vault had told them he’d seen someone driving a gig away from the carriage house in the direction of the family cemetery.

When the major had questioned him further, he said he hadn’t gotten a look at a face or head, for the driver’s back was to him and wearing a dark cloak.

The two large burlap sacks inside the vehicle made him curious enough to investigate.

A gig wasn’t that large. Oftentimes, women enjoyed driving them because they were small and only required one horse.

If the passenger was slight, they could ride as well, so were the sacks—containing her and Felix—thrown haphazardly onto the bench with the driver?

If so, that would necessitate the presence of another, stronger person, presumably a man.

And if a female had driven the gig to the cemetery and vault, did the theoretical man go down by way of the fields and lawn instead of the roads and meet her there?

Did he unload their bodies and haul them into the vault while the female drove the gig back to the carriage house?

Or had a man taken care of the job from start to finish?

And who was the cloaked person driving? The same one she and Felix chased who’d locked them in the storage room? And for that matter, how had they managed to slip away once in the carriage house?

Unless someone else was waiting there, eager to spirit them away or smooth their reentry to the house as a matter of protection.

The chaotic thoughts joined her unsettled soul.

After being left to die in the vault, her outlook had shifted.

Felix had shown himself as vulnerable while they were stuck inside.

He’d trusted her with the secret of his false leg, something that made him feel less than or not whole, and that whole experience had sent her closer to him, gave her a new host of emotions that resulted in another wave of confusion.

Now she wanted fresh air and to stretch her legs. Perhaps a walk would clear her head and help organize her thoughts. Why couldn’t she puzzle out the truth? What sort of skill did Felix possess that she didn’t? Although, he hadn’t solved the mystery yet either.

There were charades in the drawing room and billiards on tap for the men while still other groups of guests populated various other rooms of the manor, so Caroline utilized the servants’ stairs to slip through the house unseen.

It was only once she moved off the terrace and onto the lawn that she gave in to a shiver and resented the fact she’d forgotten to bring a wrap with her.

No matter, she wasn’t going back for fear she’d be seen and stopped.

In her mother’s eyes, going about on the estate alone too close to nightfall was begging scandal to find her.

Oh, but it was glorious away from the stifling expectations of her family and friends.

Well, not really friends, more like acquaintances.

And for once, it wasn’t overcast. The rain clouds had moved out leaving the pastel-painted skies of twilight clear.

How many stars would be visible tonight?

At the last second, though, she remembered she didn’t have her telescope, and the major hadn’t returned it.

No matter.

The gardens were a delightful diversion, and though she encountered a few couples strolling the paths and exclaiming over the many blooms, she hurried past while giving them what she hoped were encouraging smiles.

Budding romances during the springtime smacked of storybook loves and tales of knights vying for a kiss of a heroine’s hand.

Was she envious of walking through twilight with a man’s hand tightly held in hers?

Yes, a bit, but that was her fault, not anyone else’s.

A consequence of being choosy and wishing to pursue other things instead of flirting was the very real fact she might be alone.

Unless one spoke to her mother.

Lost in thought, she wasn’t aware that her steps had taken her into the hedge maze until she ran bodily into one of the hedges within.

Oh, dear!

After untangling her skirting and hair from the evergreen branches, Caroline scrubbed at her face when it felt as if a cobweb clung to it, then she navigated the maze with the ease of directions learned from young adulthood where she’d conquered her first fears of being on the property after dark and of being alone.

Prior to that, she’d always been in the company of her siblings or her governess.

With each turn, she moved closer to the heart and remembered how much she used to adore coming out to the maze whenever her family came back to Cartwell Manor.

By the time she reached the heart, a slight smile curved her lips from memories. Then she came up short, for a young woman sat on one of the wrought iron benches that rested at the four directional points around a water fountain.

Ah, the last person of interest on Felix’s list of suspects.

“Miss Perkins, I presume?” Caroline frowned. “Pardon me. Are you waiting for someone?” She certainly didn’t wish to interrupt an assignation between the lady and Mr. Lockhart.

“Oh!” The blonde-haired woman glanced at her and shook her head. She wore a gown obviously more suited to dinner than walking the acreage, and in the fading light, the yellow hue put her in mind of a wayward spring flower. “No. I just came here to reflect on a few things.”

It seemed that Miss Perkins had the same idea she had.

“Fair enough.” Caroline shrugged. She glanced about at the rose bushes which would start blooming soon then paused to appreciate the sprays of daffodils, hyacinths, and spring tulips in multiple colors scattered throughout the beds inside the heart of the maze.

Clearly, the gardeners had outdone themselves this season.

Each pop of color soothed her soul. Perhaps growing things was what she should turn her attention on.

Eventually, after she’d done everything else that interested her.

“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Might as well interview her, since she didn’t know if she would have another chance.

“Not at all.” The dulcet tones of the woman’s voice encouraged calm, and the way she sat with her ankles crossed and her hands folded delicately in her lap spoke of breeding and elegance.

“I expected it, you know. This conversation, since you and Major Kourier have made the rounds through the guest list.”

Upon closer inspection, Caroline spied a smudge on the yellow skirting that, when Miss Perkins saw her glance, hid within a fold of the fabric. “You seem to have brushed up against something dirty.”

“It’s a shame, isn’t it? Keeping one’s clothing clean when one needs to do other things.” Miss Perkins shrugged. “But dinner is over, so no harm done.”

“Mmm.” She remained noncommittal while her mind tumbled. Where would Miss Perkins have been recently and around dinner to have marred her gown? “Is it true that you and Mr. Lockhart are engaged?”

“It is.” A soft grin curved her lips. “He asked me last Christmastide, and I was only too happy to say yes. Devon is a splendid man.”

“So then you will marry for love, since he didn’t know he was a duke’s heir until very recently.”

Miss Perkins nodded. “Indeed. I think he first became aware of the possibility in late March, when a letter from Kingston’s solicitor arrived. We were both shocked, of course, but things like that don’t truly matter.”

Until they did. Caroline frowned. “Tell me about your relationship with Mr. Blythe. How well did you know him?”

The other woman waved a hand. “He was one of Devon’s closest and longest friends. However, I didn’t care for the fact that he wouldn’t accept our engagement and continued to play those nasty tricks where he switched places with him.” She shook her head. “It was uncalled for.”

“His doing so must have angered you.”

“It did.” She nodded. “Mr. Blythe argued with Devon on the morning of the house party. He said unless Devon announced the engagement, everything was fair game and that he would continue to pretend that he was Devon.” A huff escaped her.

“But that meant he would continue to damage Devon’s reputation. ”

“What did Mr. Lockhart do?”

Miss Perkins shrugged. “He refused to be threatened, told Mr. Blythe he would do things on his own timeline, and that if Mr. Blythe didn’t like it, he could leave.”

Caroline nodded. “Were the two of you going to announce your engagement?”

“Oh, yes.” The other woman’s grin widened. “We planned to do it the night of the May Day ball. It would prove the most romantic backdrop, you see, especially since many of our friends are already here.”

Interesting that the couple would usurp Debra’s Come Out ball for their own shot at social connections and attention. “Has Mr. Lockhart decided whether he will take up the title of duke? His valet and cousin seem to think he is still divided, and it’s causing quite the stir.”

The delicate skin beneath the woman’s right eye ticced. “He says he hasn’t made the decision, but I think, deep down in his heart, he will; it is the best thing for many of the people around him.”

“Oh? Does your family need the coin he’ll inherit?” How disappointing.