Page 9

Why the hell did I kiss her?

Felix mentally berated himself as he walked beside Caroline through the corridors.

There had never been a woman who’d both frustrated him and made him randy with desire as quickly as Miss Ives.

What was it about her that he found fascinating as well as objectionable?

And damn if he couldn’t stop thinking about how soft her lips had been and how her curves had nearly caused him to lose his mind.

I can’t compromise this case.

It was only after he’d trailed behind her through room after room that he became aware they still had not managed to immediately locate the duke’s heir.

Annoyance coiled through his cut. “Where the devil would he have gone to earth?” he finally asked as they paused in the orangery which rested at the rear of the old section of the manor.

Glass comprised the ceiling and walls, and the long room ran along half the length of the house.

Citrus trees grew in huge pots. Palm trees had been cultivated within strips of dirt so that they would receive the most of the odd days of sunlight in England.

Between battered and scarred wooden worktables were countless pots of plants in various stages of growth.

Flowers and ornamental trees filled the space.

Interspersed throughout were small groupings of chairs and sofas, some made from wrought iron, some of wood.

None featured upholstery or cushions, for with the steamy, misty, and sometimes watery aspect of the greenhouse, the fabric would have been ruined.

Everywhere he went within the space, the scent of dirt and growing things infiltrated his nose.

“I wouldn’t know. This is the most out-of-the-way room in the manor I can think of.” She pointed to the wall. “There’s an old parlor of sorts there, as well as a room my grandfather kept as a smoking room, but they are both under disrepair and have been closed off from use for years.”

“Are they locked?”

“As far as I know. Mama has a set of keys, but I think so does the housekeeper.”

Felix made the mistake of meeting her gaze, and that bewitching blue called out to him, would probably drown him if he’d let it.

Something that she’d said after he’d kissed her circled about his brain like ponies on a loop: …

scandal isn’t uppermost in my mind just now…

Did that mean she’d be open to mischief later, once they’d managed to sort out some of the tangles from the case?

Would he? No, of course not. The last thing he needed in his life was a woman, in whatever capacity. With a barely tamped growl, he shoved the thoughts away. “Then the prospect of him slipping into those rooms is slim.”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I’m surprised the orangery is unlocked. Usually, this is Papa’s domain. He doesn’t like for people to trespass through here and muss the plants, but it’s one of my favorite places on the estate. So quiet and peaceful. I can think here.”

“And hide from a mother bent on matchmaking?” he asked in a low voice.

“There is that.” She shrugged. “More to the point, why is Mr. Lockhart running? And if he is, why land here?”

“I don’t know. To fit in? Perhaps no one would question his presence at a house party.” That remained to be seen. “Instead of this fool’s errand, let us find his valet. If Lockhart’s luggage is still here, then he will be too.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, if what the young ladies say is right, if he and the dead man often switched places, I’ll wager one invited the other here, no doubt for the purposes of flirting or trysting. That means he’ ll be a bit vain.”

Respect reflected in her eyes. “Interesting theory. Let’s hope it rings true.” She made her way through the orangery. “I’ll take you to the servants’ hall.”

Unfortunately, Lockhart’s valet was absent from there.

“What the devil is this, then?” Felix asked of no one in particular as he shoved a hand through his hair. “It’s as if we’re chasing ghosts.”

“Nonsense. There is no such thing. They must be somewhere.”

With his patience thinning, he nodded. “Perhaps they are back in his room.”

“That’s easily enough checked.” As she hummed a popular waltzing tune, Caroline went into the housekeeper’s office.

Soft talking within indicated she questioned that austere woman as to the room Lockhart had been assigned.

Seconds later, she joined him in the corridor with a grin.

“He’s been put into a smaller room in the new section of the manor.

Because of that, he isn’t sharing with anyone. ”

“Good work, Miss Ives.” As they left the servants’ hall, he gave her his notebook and pencil nub. “Feel free to take whatever notes you’d like. It will be a refreshing change to read someone else’s words.”

“Thank you, Major.”

One would think she’d been given carte blanche for whatever she wanted, when in reality, it was merely a notebook, and a used one at that.

Putting that also out of his mind, Felix followed her through the manor to the newer section.

Many of the male guests were housed on the second floor on this side of the house, and Lockhart’s room was located at the end of the corridor.

When he rapped a knuckle on the wooden panel, there was immediately movement within. Eventually, the door was opened by a man of indeterminate age. “May I help you?”

“I am Major Kourier, and this is Miss Ives. We are investigating the death of Mr. Blythe. One of the witnesses said that he was close friends with Mr. Lockhart, and we would like to speak with him.”

“You may come in, but Mr. Lockhart isn’t here.” The valet stood back so they could come into the room. “I am Mr. Whitmore, by the way. I have been with Lockhart for the past five years.”

Piles of folded clothing rested on the narrow bed. Even more were resting in a couple of trunks, along with other personal effects.

“Where is Lockhart?” Clearly, one or both were preparing to leave.

“I couldn’t say, Major.”

“Then why are you packing his belongings?”

The valet didn’t provide an answer.

Caroline softly cleared her throat. “What sort of cologne does Mr. Lockhart favor? What notes?”

Both Mr. Whitmore and Felix stared at her, but it was the valet who answered.

“I believe it carries notes of citrus and bay.”

“Ah. Thank you.” With a speaking glance at Felix, she moved across the small space to a wardrobe. Then, she raised a hand and rapped on one of the doors. “Mr. Lockhart? You can come out now. We know you are in there.”

Seconds later, the wardrobe doors opened and a young man jumped out of the cramped piece of furniture, and yes, his looks were almost identical to Mr. Blythe’s. “How did you know I was in here?”

She tapped the side of her nose. “Your scent.” Then she waved a hand toward one of the chairs as Mr. Whitmore stood off to one side. “Please sit down. The major and I have some questions.”

The valet coughed discreetly. “If I could object?”

Mr. Lockhart held up a hand, the side of which was wrapped with a length of cotton. “It’s quite all right, Whitmore. Hiding was a cowardly thing to do on my part.”

Felix raised his eyebrows as the young man slumped into one of the chairs.

He met Caroline’s gaze and then gave her a nod of thanks.

“Mr. Whitmore, if you could please step out into the corridor while we question your employer?” After the other man followed instructions, he closed the door behind the valet.

“Why the devil were you hiding, Mr. Lockhart? ”

“It’s complicated.”

“I’ve got nothing but time.” He looked at Caroline, who sat in the matching chair near the other man’s. “Does it have something to do with the fact that you’re the missing heir to the Duke of Kingston?”

The younger man’s face blanched. “You read the article in the paper.” It wasn’t a question.

“I did.”

Lockhart nodded. “I didn’t know I was distantly related to Kingston, had no idea.

I have a male cousin who’s my junior by four months.

He could have the title, but I’m older, so they’d tapped me as heir.

” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Truth to tell, I’m frightened, don’t want the responsibility, wouldn’t even have the first clue of how to be a duke let alone anyone of high rank in the beau monde . ”

“That’s understandable.” Caroline nodded. How she managed to give their suspects such soulful looks, Felix would never know, but if the theatrics worked, he wouldn’t interrupt. “So you fled to this house party. It would be easy to blend in, correct?”

“Yes.” Lockhart nodded and rested the whole of his attention on her. “Blythe and I met in Eton and since we could pass as twins, we often switched places with each other for various reasons.”

Felix frowned. “Did you switch places earlier today?”

“Yes.” The other man nodded. “Despite what is happening to me as an heir apparent, there are a couple of lady friends I wanted to talk with before the gossip becomes full blown fact. To tell them I was no longer available.”

Surprise reflected on Caroline’s face. “So he pretended to be you and walked the rooftops on those dares while you trysted with young ladies at the house party?” Annoyance rose in her voice. “And dear old Mr. Blythe, while in your guise, was doing the same, hmm?”

It was Felix’s first taste of her emotional nature, and it took him by surprise. “Answer the question, please.”

Lockhart nodded. “Yes, but it was an act on my part. And truthfully, I didn’t even know he was doing it.

I didn’t want to be at this house party, but when I came, saw what Blythe was doing in my name?

” He shook his head as a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

“Enough was enough, and I was going to put a stop to it.”