Page 20 of Miss Morton and the Missing Heir (A Miss Morton Mystery #4)

“I’m making a right mess of this, aren’t I?” he muttered. “Typical!”

Caroline kept walking. “I thought we were supposed to be friends. I thought you, at least, wouldn’t attempt to control my actions.”

“Caroline …” He caught hold of her elbow, and she had to stop. “Is that how you think of me? As just a friend?”

She refused to look up at him, and after a moment he sighed and released her. “I suppose I have my answer.” He stepped back and bowed. “Please give Mrs. Frogerton my best wishes and tell her I will come and visit when I know my new employment is secured.”

She watched him walk away. The desire to call him back and ask him to explain himself warred with her fear that he wanted what she was unwilling or unable to offer him.

Why couldn’t they just stay friends? He was the only person she could truly be herself with, and now it appeared that his friendship came with conditions and would not be available to her if she strayed from the path he had decided on.

“Men,” Caroline muttered to the dogs as she picked up her pace. “Let’s get back to Half Moon Street so you can tell Pug all about your walk in the park.”

She released the dogs when she came into the entrance hall, and they immediately started up the stairs. Caroline took off her bonnet and gloves as the butler came toward her.

“Inspector Ross has called, Miss Morton. He is with Mrs. Frogerton in the drawing room.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jenkins.”

Caroline found the dogs scratching at the closed door and opened it to let them in, where Mrs. Frogerton welcomed them with great enthusiasm. While her employer was busy cooing at her dogs, Inspector Ross came over to greet Caroline.

“Lady Caroline.” He paused to scan her face. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, thank you.” She smiled brightly. “Has Mrs. Frogerton offered you some tea, or have you just arrived?”

“Tea is on its way,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “But Inspector Ross has yet to tell me why he is here.” She gestured for both of them to sit down. “Have you news of the Brigham brothers?”

“Actually, I came to tell you about an interesting development in an earlier case involving the Scutton family,” Inspector Ross said.

“The driver of the coach who ran over Jude Smith and was injured in the melee himself came to see me. He was thrown off the box, broke his arm, and has been recovering at home.”

“Has he been charged for his part in this matter?” Mrs. Frogerton asked.

“No, because all the witnesses say he had no ability to prevent what happened. He was maneuvering a large vehicle and four horses through a narrow arch into a small, cobbled yard and couldn’t bring the coach to a halt at such short notice.”

“Then why did he come to see you?”

“He wanted me to know that after having time to reflect on what happened, he was certain that someone deliberately pushed Jude in front of the horses.”

“I suppose that even if he couldn’t prevent the accident, he was in an excellent position to see what happened from his elevated position on the box,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “And was he able to describe who pushed Jude?”

Inspector Ross grimaced. “All he could tell me was that the person wore a cloak with the hood pulled up over their head, obscuring their face.”

“I suppose if I intended to deliberately murder someone, I wouldn’t want my face to be seen either.” Mrs. Frogerton sighed. “Could he tell if it was a man or a woman?”

“He thought it was a man.” Inspector Ross hesitated. “I did wonder if there was any connection with the Brighams. They are known to frequent the Blue Boar.”

“That would tie things up rather neatly, wouldn’t it?” Mrs. Frogerton glanced at Caroline. “What do you think, my dear?”

“I think this information is better shared with the Scuttons, ma’am.” Caroline looked at Inspector Ross. “I’m not sure how it became our concern.”

There was a slight pause before Inspector Ross turned toward her, his expression very professional. “I decided to share the news with Mrs. Frogerton to see if she thought Mrs. Scutton was in a fit state to hear it herself. I am aware that she is still mourning her daughter.”

Caroline felt heat rise in her cheeks as they both looked at her. The door opened to admit the parlor maid with the tea tray, giving Caroline the opportunity to jump to her feet and fuss over its placement in front of Mrs. Frogerton.

“Thank you for your consideration, Inspector. I’ll tell Mr. Scutton about this matter,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “He knows the state of his mother’s mind better than anyone.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Inspector Ross sipped the tea Mrs. Frogerton handed him. “I’m hoping the notices in the newspapers will garner some response from those associated with the Brighams.”

“If the death announcement doesn’t generate any interest, I might be willing to offer a reward,” Mrs. Frogerton said.

“I’ll bear that in mind, Mrs. Frogerton.” Inspector Ross finished his tea, set his cup back on the saucer, and stood up. “I apologize for the brevity of this visit, but I have to be in court at two and must be getting back.”

Mrs. Frogerton smiled at him. “Thank you for taking the time to come see me. I appreciate your consideration.”

Inspector Ross bowed and left the room without further acknowledging Caroline. She continued to drink her tea and studiously avoid her employer’s gaze.

“I think that’s the first time Inspector Ross has left this house out of sorts with you, my dear,” Mrs. Frogerton commented.

“Hardly the first time, ma’am. He was very cross with me for traveling around London without a chaperone. Like most men, he seems to think I’m incapable of looking after myself.”

Mrs. Frogerton carefully broke a biscuit in four pieces and fed one to each of her dogs before she looked back at Caroline. “Did something happen to upset you this morning?”

“I will admit that I am having a rather trying day, but I don’t expect you to listen to my problems, ma’am. They are hardly worthy of your concern.”

“But your state of mind is my concern when you behave in such an uncharacteristic way,” Mrs. Frogerton said.

“I apologize if I was rude. I will try to do better.” Caroline summoned a smile. “May I pour you another cup of tea?”

“There’s no need to poker up, lass. I’d rather hear what’s on your mind than deal with you sulking all day.”

“I am not sulking.”

Mrs. Frogerton regarded her for a long moment. “No, you’re angry, aren’t you?” She set her cup down on the side table. “You might as well tell me what’s wrong, Caroline, or else I’ll be bothering you about it all day.”

Knowing her employer’s relentless tenacity, Caroline gave into the inevitable. “I met Dr. Harris in the park.”

“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “He does have a tendency to bring out your stubborn side. What did he want?”

“It was a chance encounter. He was on his way back from an interview at the Royal Free Hospital in Camden where he is seeking a new position.”

“It’s an excellent hospital.” Mrs. Frogerton nodded. “I can imagine him doing well there.”

“He was fairly certain he’d be offered the job. I suggested he should walk back to Half Moon Street with me to share his good news in person. He implied that Mr. Scutton had told him not to call on us, and I told him that Mr. Scutton had no jurisdiction in your house.”

“What did Dr. Harris say to that?”

“He said I was too cozy with Inspector Ross, which had nothing to do with what Dr. Harris and I were discussing.”

“Perhaps he felt that, between Mr. Scutton and Inspector Ross, he was no longer welcome in this house,” Mrs. Frogerton suggested.

“His welcome is due to you, ma’am. It’s your house, and you decide who gains access to it,” Caroline said. “Dr. Harris was insinuating that I was somehow at fault for considering Inspector Ross a friend.”

“Ah.” Mrs. Frogerton nodded. “Now I understand what went on.”

“He has no right to comment on my friendships or lack of them,” Caroline said fiercely. “And to attempt to tell me who I can associate with is beyond the pale.”

“And what did he say when you told him that?”

“He … wasn’t best pleased with me,” Caroline admitted. “He attempted to justify his reasoning but just made things worse.”

“Of course he did.” Mrs. Frogerton sighed “I’ve never met a man more likely to shoot himself in the foot than Dr. Harris.” She paused. “I think he cares for you a great deal and has some difficulty knowing how to express himself.”

“I don’t want him to … care about me,” Caroline said.

“Now, that’s a different matter entirely, lass. You can decide only your own feelings, not his,” Mrs. Frogerton said gently.

“I thought he was my friend.” Caroline studied her hands, which were twisted together on her lap. “The first real friend I made after I lost my entire world.”

Mrs. Frogerton didn’t say anything, and after a while Caroline had to look up at her.

“May I be frank, my dear?”

“You usually are, ma’am.”

“Dr. Harris is in no position to take a wife.”

“I am aware of that.”

“I suspect he is struggling between his desire to make his feelings known to you with the knowledge that he can’t do what is necessary to provide for you at this time.” Mrs. Frogerton paused. “Or in simpler terms—despite knowing he can’t court you himself, he considers Inspector Ross a threat.”

Caroline considered her employer’s words. “In truth, he’s acting like a dog in a manger.”

“Exactly.”

“And with no cause. I have never encouraged him to think of me in a romantic way, nor has he ever behaved in such a manner toward me. In fact, he’s the opposite of romantic.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Frogerton paused. “As I mentioned earlier, he obviously has no idea how to deal with you.”

“Which is hardly my fault.” Caroline sighed. “And now he probably won’t talk to me for weeks, and even if he does, things will be awkward between us.”

Mrs. Frogerton poured herself another cup of tea as Caroline contemplated Dr. Harris’s anticipated absence.