Page 33

An hour later saw him sitting in a porcelain bathtub in his room, and he hoped to God that his roommates were well and truly occupied with their day that they wouldn’t return to disturb his thinking. It was teatime, so he rather doubted anyone would want anything except the afternoon treat.

Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the side of the tub as he thought over the long list of suspects he and Caroline had interviewed.

Seemingly every one of them had a motive to kill Mr. Blythe or conversely Mr. Lockhart if they’d mistaken Blythe for the soon-to-be duke. But which one of them had done it? Or did they do it together?

It was maddening.

For a moment, his mind shifted to focus on Caroline. As an investigative partner, she was second to none, and she was a most engaging lover, but what would happen between them once this case was solved? More to the point, where did he wish their relationship to go?

Aside from the fact he’d been completely devastated by a woman in his past, Caroline had proved herself different in a myriad of different ways.

Yet he wasn’t nearly ready to ask for her hand—if that was where they were headed eventually—and before he committed to her in such a way, he wanted the opportunity to court her, come to know her far better.

Was that something he was interested in? Above everything, he didn’t want to lose touch with her, and he absolutely didn’t wish to give her up for some other man to scoop up—or her mother to marry her off to, but it was slightly terrifying to offer himself up for a large commitment like that.

The more he thought about her, the more interest shivered through his shaft and tightened it.

Though he thought about taking himself in hand to relieve the tension that had been building since that night at the pond with her, he refrained, for now was not the time, especially if someone might come into the room at any time.

Taking great care to ignore his physical needs, Felix centered once more on Caroline and her attributes.

He adored how her mind worked, how her attitude about life was so much different than his, how she poked and prodded him until he came out from hiding behind his various crutches.

Beyond that, she had managed to inflame his blood merely by being herself.

Just one glance from her blue eyes made him want to throw himself onto his knees and do whatever she asked.

…I would do anything for her…

Those words from Mr. Lockhart that he’d said during their first interview chased through Felix’s mind.

Beyond the sneaking suspicion that he might harbor soft feelings for Caroline that might possibly blossom into something else if given proper care, he’d not paid enough attention to the actual words his interviewees had spoken.

…he merely needs to understand that I have his best interests at heart…

That admission from Miss Perkins as he’d listened to her talking to Caroline last night sent chill bumps over his skin as he paused in soaping his body with a sponge. Did that include killing for the man, or rather encouraging him to do so?

…I’d rather not argue with her. She’s got a bit of a temper…

How far would a rather meek, charming, courteous young man go for his fiancée who had a temper as well as social climbing in mind?

And what the devil had Miss Perkins meant when she said Mr. Lockhart would have reach and influence should he accept the title of duke?

Why did she care so much? What did she want out of the deal?

…I heard the scream… then walked away…

Ice went down his spine, for Miss Perkins had uttered those words so calmly yet clearly and without apparent regret for the loss of life.

Where other women would have been tearful or horrified, Lockhart’s fiancée had discussed it as if it—Blythe—hadn’t mattered.

Was that because she’d already known Blythe would meet his end?

Had she ordered it to be done, and Lockhart, who was besotted with the woman, had carried out her wishes by shooting his friend? It certainly would put a halt to the pretending and besmirching of Lockhart’s name.

…everything will soon be right as rain…

Had she driven the gig yesterday with Lockhart hauling him and Caroline to vault?

Was Miss Perkins right now plotting a way to finally remove him and Caroline from the case so the house party could continue to its inevitable end where they could announce their engagement to the beau monde as well as confirm that Lockhart would accept his role as the next Duke of Kingston?

Whether he wanted it or not?

It would be quite the feather in Miss Perkins’ cap to go from a merchant’s daughter to a duchess in little more than a year.

As the saying went, power corrupted.

Then another chill went down his spine and he sat up ramrod straight.

Shit, shit, shit. There was a good possibility Caroline was in danger, especially if she talked about the case while away.

Would Miss Perkins invent an excuse to lure her away from her family as soon as they returned to Cartwell Manor?

I have to prevent that if I can.

But he also needed to find Lockhart. There was a good possibility that the soon-to-be duke was in danger as well, and the dimwitted fool probably didn’t even know it.

Once Lockhart was installed as the new duke and he married Miss Perkins, would she find a way to arrange for an “accident” to befall her husband?

Such a tragedy would leave her a rich widow, with a title and plenty of funding, and if she played everything correctly, pregnant with a duke’s heir to continue in that same vein.

A murdering duchess, all because she couldn’t stand to have her fiancé’s name dragged through the mud. His friend was using him and that was a sin to her, but apparently it wasn’t the same as her using him in the same way.

Damn, but some women were cold blooded.

And deadly. What would he do about Lockhart’s involvement, coerced or not? That was a problem for tomorrow. Right now, he hadn’t much time.