Page 7

Caroline didn’t know what to think about the major. He was quite strait-laced and blunt, while that might be good in certain situations, she couldn’t help but think during an investigation, it might harm the gathering of information.

“What should we do about Mr. Blythe? We can’t leave him out here on the lawn for everyone to gawk at. There should at least be some respect in life, even if it’s in death.”

“True.” He rubbed a hand along the side of his face.

Every time he moved, wafts of his cologne or shaving soap reached her nose, and she rather liked those citrus, cedar, and hints of leather notes.

“I’ll have a couple of footmen move him into the icehouse.

The cold will help to preserve him for a bit until we can make arrangements to have him sent home. ”

“I assume we will give the body a once over later as part of the investigation?” She glanced at him while she spoke. “There might be other clues that will help. ”

For the space of a few heartbeats, he stared back before nodding. “You are oddly persistent as well as persistently odd, Miss Ives. I appreciate that.”

What an odd compliment, but it was better than his grouchiness. “Shall we go seek out my father, then? Best have it over with don’t you think?”

“Indeed. That man was murdered; he deserves justice, and we need to know why he’s dead.”

On their way to find Caroline’s father, the major tasked two footmen to move the dead body into the icehouse, and then one of them needed to guard the door.

Since the luncheon had finished and most of the guests had moved out across the lawn in various activities such as walking parties, croquet, or strolling through the gardens, it was easy enough to find her father and talk to him alone.

“My mother is heading up a crafting hour inside the manor, so she’ll be out of the way just now. Debra is undoubtedly with one of the walking parties, and I’ll wager Andrew is either playing billiards with his friends or he’s gone off to the village tavern.”

“You are quite different than your sister.”

She nodded. “Debra is vapid and shallow. She lives for new gowns and fans and the notice of equally shallow people.” With a shrug, Caroline spared him a glance. “I hope she grows out of it.”

“Were you like her when you were her age?”

“I suppose to a point, but not nearly as bad as she is.” She adjusted her stride to match his with the slight limp.

“Eventually I found more personal rewards in not caring what the ton thinks or following society’s rules.

” It was odd, telling this stranger anything about her life, yet there was a connection between them, and she couldn’t stop thinking of him, nude in the pond last night.

Too bad she hadn’t been able to see his whole form.

“Ah, such as… star gazing?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“I found a brass telescope near the bush where you hid. I assumed you dropped it.”

“I’d wondered where that had gotten off to.” Drat . She slid another glance to him. “Might I have it back?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll try to remember to retrieve it at some point today, and after meeting your family, I know why you escaped the manor last night.”

There was no time to say anything else, for they’d reached her father’s location.

“Um, Papa, there is a matter of some import we need to discuss with you.” When her father frowned at her, she raced to fill the silence. “This is Major Kourier.”

“I know who he is.” Her father rose to his feet. “Pleasure to meet you, Major. I’ve heard stories of your time in Spain. You are a true hero.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I was only doing what any other man would have done.” A hint of a dark flush crept over his collar.

“Plenty of men didn’t go to war. Hell, my own son rejected my buying him a commission.” Her father shook his head. It had been a source of contention between him and Andrew over the years. “What can I do for you, Major?”

“It seems your house party hasn’t started on a high note. I have only just stumbled upon the dead body of Mr. Samuel Blythe, son of Viscount Hartsford. And what is more, there is evidence he has been murdered.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Her father flicked his gaze between them. “What has that to do with me?”

Caroline cleared her throat. “Since the magistrate is not in residence, you will need to step in and lend a hand and oversee the case.”

“And risk angering your mother if I don’t participate in her activities? Or listen to Debra whine that I’m ruining her party?” He shook his head. “No, thank you.”

She glanced at the major, who nodded. “Well, then, what would you say to Major Kourier taking care of the investigation? He has already volunteered, and I would serve as his partner. ”

“What are your credentials, Major? Serving in the military doesn’t carry the same skill set, I would imagine.”

“It does not, my lord.” The major renewed his grip on the head of his cane. “I was a principal officer with Bow Street for six years. I solved crimes all over London; this case will prove no exception.”

“Very well. As long as your investigation doesn’t interfere with the schedule of events of the house party, I don’t mind what you do.” Then he slid his gaze to Caroline. “I shouldn’t let you involve yourself in something like this.”

“Why not? It’s looking into the murder of a guest at your house party.”

“Your mother will squawk about the scandal.”

“What scandal? The major and I will be far too busy chasing down clues to get up to such things, and you already know where I stand on marrying anyone without love.”

From beside her, Major Kourier snorted. “As if there is such a thing. Love is naught but something found in fairytales.”

Well, that was interesting. What had happened in his life to make him so bitter?

“Fine.” Her father waved her away. “Keep out of the way of your mother, and don’t antagonize your sister, but if anything grows out of hand, I’ll hold you responsible, Major. At the end of the day, Caro is still my daughter, and I won’t have gossip clawing at our family name.”

“Understood, my lord.” The major nodded. “Is there a room within the manor that we can use temporarily to conduct interviews?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll set aside the library for you, and will let it be known that everyone else should avoid it until after dinner hours.”

“I would appreciate that.” He glanced at Caroline. “We should probably start. With the number of guests here, it might prove a long process, unless we’re fortunate enough to find the killer straight off.”

“How many of your cases with Bow Street were that easy?”

He offered a half grin. “None.”

“Well then. Come with me. I’ll show you around the manor.

” As they went into the house through the open ballroom doors.

“The library is on the ground floor in the old section of the manor. Papa has amassed a rather lovely collection of books and journals covering a wide variety of subjects, so if you are ever bored, there is always something to read.”

“That is good to know.”

She frowned. “You aren’t the talkative type, are you?”

“I only speak when I need to.”

When they arrived at the library, she sighed. “How should we organize this? ”

“Bring the five people who were with the dead man earlier today. We’ll question them as a group unless something stands out. If their stories don’t ring of truth, I’ll do individual interviews later.”

“ We will do the interviews later.”

He only grunted in response.

“You have clearly worked too long alone.” To punctuate the statement, Caroline yanked on the velvet bell pull. “Or else you are always grouchy.”

“I find being pleasant doesn’t get the results that I need.”

“Neither will being abrupt.” When a footman answered the bell, she looked at the major. “Tell him who you need.”

“Right.” He nodded and consulted his leatherbound notebook. “Please summon the following people for me and bring them here for questioning.” Then he read out the five names of the witnesses.

“I’ll do my best, Major Kourier.”

Once they were alone again, Caroline sat in one of the comfortable leather, winged-back chairs. “Do you believe one of them killed Mr. Blythe?”

“I would have no idea, but if you want my honest opinion? Murder investigations aren’t that simple. And from my experience, the killer is rarely the first person interviewed.”

Finally, the five young people came into the room in two waves. They sat scattered about the library with various expressions of boredom and fear.

Major Kourier wasted no time in beginning the investigation. “You five were with Mr. Blythe when he expired. Who dared him to walk the rooftop of the icehouse?”

One of the young men shrugged. “There wasn’t any one person who dared. We all did it. A few of the other boys had already moved on to the gardening shed by the time Blythe went up on the roof.”

“What was the purpose in walking the rooftops?”

Another of the boys stared at the major.

“Bragging rights, of course. Blythe kept going on and on about how he was better than all of us, and not just because his father was a viscount. Said he was more athletic, smarter, better looking. We were tired of his talk so dared him that one of the others could walk all the roofs before he could.”

The first boy nodded. “At least that shut him up for a while.”

While Caroline observed, Major Kourier addressed one of the young ladies. “This doesn’t sound like something a decent young woman should take part in. Why did you go along with it? ”

Her response was to give him a blank expression, but then stare at the clasped hands in her lap.

“Major? A word, please?” Caroline stood. She wandered to the opposite side of the library, putting space between them and the witnesses.

“I don’t appreciate the interruption, Miss Ives.” His tone was as sour as his expression.

“While I understand that, I don’t appreciate you being so abrupt and to the point. None of your questions will ever be answered if you come at those poor young people in an accusatory tone.”