Page 1 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Inspector Gabriel Bright groaned as he stretched his arms above his head.

The springs in the leather chair he sat in sounded in protest, for he’d been working in his study for the better part of two hours, looking through some paperwork regarding the case he’d been called in to consult upon with Bow Street.

Though he’d made a long career with that organization for the better part of his adult life, he’d retired from actively working cases for them a couple of years ago.

After that, with the encouragement of his wife, he’d become a private investigator, which meant he took cases from citizens in London who had no other options.

It was a decent way to make a living, but there were also times when Bow Street found themselves stymied regarding a case, and that was when they called him in to consult.

The money taken in on those cases allowed him to provide little extras and niceties for his family that he wouldn’t have been able to before.

And at times during those cases, his sweet Mary partnered with him to puzzle out the clues and solve the cases.

Those were his favorite times, and he couldn’t wait to do that again.

With another glance at the papers he’d removed from a leather folio, he frowned at the bold handwriting on some of the pages.

The principal agent at Bow Street he’d gotten it from was a large, loud, strong, forceful type who handled things with all the finesse of a bull in the proverbial china shop.

Gabriel had a different approach, though at times his directness didn’t gain the answers he sought as well as Mary’s more gentle and understanding approach.

Another reason why working cases with his wife had changed his life.

This case, though, was perplexing enough, but it was also terrifying in its possibilities.

Apparently, four young women between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-eight had gone missing from around London.

Two were from Mayfair, and two were from neighborhoods outside of that area.

They’d all gone missing within the past two weeks.

Vanished without a trace and seemingly without clues.

Most maddening.

On top of that, over the past two months, Mary’s niece Adelaide had been staying with them because her father William, the English ambassador to Austria wasn’t in England at the moment.

With that position, he was only in London a few months out of the year.

Since his work kept him away from Town just now and the Season was well underway, Gabriel and Mary offered to look after Adelaide and host her for the Season.

Then they went a step further and decided to host an All Hallow’s Ball to help Adelaide during her all-important Come Out year.

And said ball was only a handful of days away.

Already, Mary had been pulled in twelve different directions while he’d been asked to consult on this case.

Their paths had barely crossed. Yes, they were both doing things they adored, but he still hadn’t adjusted to busy schedules and acting like ships passing in the night.

When he’d married Mary just a year ago, he rather thought they’d be able to act as newlyweds, but ever since they’d adopted two children over the course of the past year, their time alone had been limited.

He blew out a breath as the words on the pages in front of him blurred.

Closing his eyes, he rubbed them with his fingers, for he’d misplaced his reading spectacles…

again. As much as he loved their two children—Cassandra and Charlie—many of his days had been spoken for, and life around the townhouse was pure chaos most times, but oddly, he couldn’t be happier with how things had worked out.

Having this second family? It had been all he’d ever dreamed of.

Hell, during the early years of his first marriage, he’d wanted a large family, but his wife at the time hadn’t been suited to domestic life.

She’d grudgingly gave him his first son, Henry, but after that, she’d left him for another man while he’d raised his son alone while balancing a growing career with Bow Street.

He’d assumed those dreams were long dead after his first marriage collapsed, but then, later in his life and while attending a Christmastide house party two years ago, he’d met Mary, and his life went tip over tail as well as changed exponentially.

And since he’d finally married her last October, every new month that went by had brought him another reason to be not only thankful but stunned at how different the second marriage was from the first.

As he opened his eyes, Gabriel stacked the papers on his desk. Odd how a marriage could make or break a man.

And then there was the fact that his son Henry had wed the love of his life last April.

There’d been an unfortunate bit of murder that had delayed the nuptial ceremony, but he and Mary had eventually solved the case.

His son was apprenticing to become a solicitor these days, and they were both quite proud of him.

Gabriel leaned back in his chair once more and relaxed as best he could into the worn leather.

Between news of Henry, the playful and noisy scrapping between his other children and this impossible case, he was nearing his wit’s end.

Perhaps it was time to pull Mary into this with him.

More than likely, she would have a different perspective on things than he did, and that always helped to guide the investigation.

At best, she would find something he and Bow Street had missed; at worst, she would mourn the missing girls if they were inevitably found dead.

Then he cocked his head to the side. The din that usually rang through the corridors was oddly not present today, and the house was unusually quiet.

Why?

Before he could go investigate, Mary came into the study with a ready smile while carrying a tea tray of polished wood.

“Good afternoon, Inspector.”

He grinned, for he adored it when she used his title. “What this, then?”

“I thought you might enjoy a repast and a chance to step away from your work for a bit.” She set the tray on the shallow credenza that served as a sideboard where his decanters rested. “Besides, I was growing lonely and decided to check in on you.”

“Ah, that is lovely. Most appreciated, of course.” There was something inherently gratifying about knowing someone cared. “Perhaps you’ll indulge me in listening to the particulars of this case?”

Her eyes twinkled as she nodded. “Of course I will, but in a bit.”

“Fair enough.” But he couldn’t help his frown. “I have noticed a distinct lack of noise in the townhouse. Where are the children?”

“Well, Adelaide is out shopping with one of her friends.”

“I suppose that makes sense. She’s quite social. Must get that from her father.”

“That’s what I’ve always suspected, for her mother was quite timid.

” Mary nodded while she approached his desk.

“Cassandra and Charlie are on an outing with Miss Alexander.” Who was their third attempt at employing a governess.

The first one was too critical, the second couldn’t hold up under Charlie’s obsession with all things bugs and worms. “They aren’t scheduled to return for another hour.

Tomorrow, Cassandra has the music master in as well as the French tutor. ”

“Is that too early in her development? She’s only nine-years-old.” Christ, a year older than when they’d found her. Where was the time going?

“Of course not, and young minds are like sponges when it comes to learning.” Mary flashed another smile. “Also, today is market day, so the cook and housekeeper are out.”

He’d forgotten about that. “And the butler?”

She shrugged. “He had a few errands of his own. And both maids are currently busy with their chores, as are the two footmen.”

God, they had quite the staff these days. It was damned expensive, but keeping up with their growing family required the help. “So then, you and I are afforded a bit of time alone?” That hadn’t happened for longer than he cared to admit.

“It’s surprising, isn’t it?” Mary slipped over to his desk and then with a twinkle in her eye, she sat on the top facing him. “Whatever shall we do with this boon?”

Awareness of her slammed through him. “Why, Mrs. Bright, are you trying to proposition me?” One of the reasons he loved his wife to distraction was the fact that the spark in their relationship hadn’t dimmed. If anything, it still blazed furiously.

She raked her gaze up and down his person as the blue pools of her eyes darkened with the same need heating his blood. “Only if you’re of a mind.”

“Have you ever known me to turn down a request from you?” He jumped up from his chair, crossed the room, and then closed the door as well as locked it. “And we must make the best use of our time, hmm?” Then he returned to her and claimed her lips with his.

Almost immediately, it was as if a match dropped to dry tinder, but then, it had always been that way between them, from that first cheeky kiss in the carriage house where they’d unofficially met. Everything just seemed better when Mary was there.

When she pulled slightly away, she chuckled. “I’ll take it that you are interested in getting up to a bit of scandal?” Her voice was a purr, her eyes fathomless blue pools.

How many times had he lost himself in them? In her?

“I do, rather. Shall I do unspeakable things to you, my dear?” Desire danced through his veins, setting fire to his blood.

She took hold of his cravat and tugged him a bit closer. “I would enjoy that, for it’s been far too long since I had you to myself.”

“Indeed.” He slung an arm about her hips and drew her toward him. Easily he stood between her naturally splayed legs. “Do we have enough time to dispense with our clothing?”