Page 23 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

“Ladies, that’s enough. You are both missing the point.

” Of course Adelaide tried to keep the peace.

“We’ll make sure you’re noticed, Theresa, and that you dance with more than a few men you might get on with, but we are all attending this ball because we want to enjoy the company of our friends first. Men come after that. Agreed?”

Both girls murmured their agreement.

Lady Beatrice got in a parting bit of advice. “And Theresa, don’t frown so much. It scares off the men.”

Miss Madison sighed. “I’d be happier if there wasn’t so much competition. It would save so much time, since it’s fleeting anyway.”

“Oh, Theresa.” Adelaide laughed. “You’re so silly. Why don’t we go upstairs and say hello to my little cousins? Perhaps Aunt Mary will let us take the children to the park for an outing.”

Mary looked at the housekeeper. All she could do was shake her head in amusement.

A couple of hours later, Mary stood in the drawing room as more of the decorations were being put into place.

A maid and a footman were in there, and they were expecting the men who had been hired to clean the chandelier within the next half hour.

Ordinarily, since it was Sunday, the staff would have had the day off, but with the ball looming, everyone had given up their day off, and would be rewarded with a second free day the following week.

Oh, it was going to be a lovely autumnal bower for the ball, and she couldn’t wait until Adelaide had a look at it. She told everyone to keep the girl from it so the finished product would remain a surprise until the special day.

Then a new thought occurred to her. Servants talked, and there was always a gossip network that ran among houses in Mayfair. Perhaps they would have a different perspective on certain aspects of this case.

“Edgar, Letty, will you come over here for a moment, please?” When the two approached, she continued.

“Have either of you heard any gossip through your friends or contemporaries in other homes regarding the murdered girls? The young women in the cases the inspector is trying to solve?” At times, servants did know more than anyone else.

The maid exchanged a glance with the footman.

It was the tall, lanky young footman who answered first. Probably not more than one and twenty, he would someday transform from an awkward man of limbs and angles into a lean, handsome man, but today was not that day.

“I was at a pub on my last day off. A couple of blokes inside were talking badly about the inspector, said he didn’t know a clue from his arse, and that they could find the killer of those girls faster than he was moving.

” Then the footman’s eyes rounded. He held up his hands, palms outward, and vigorously shook his head.

“I didn’t say anything when the men all laughed.

I just got out of there as soon as I finished my pint.

The footmen and groomsmen here think the inspector is the best of us. ”

“Thank you, Edgar. I’m sure Inspector Bright appreciates your support,” Mary said with a small grin.

He nodded. “As young Charlie says, he’s ‘bully good’ at his position.”

Letty smiled. She blew out a short breath that ruffled the sandy-blonde curls on her forehead beneath the lace of the mobcap.

“My friend is a maid at the townhouse three doors down. She said that the lady of the house told her friends that Adelaide shouldn’t be coming out while sponsored by you, Mrs. Bright. ”

Mary frowned. “Whyever not?”

A blush of embarrassment stained the young woman’s cheeks. “You were a scandalous widow and the inspector’s mistress before you married.”

“Yes, I was, but I also employed a staff, supported various charities, and worked in partnership with Inspector Bright to solve more than a handful of cases.” Hot annoyance rose in her chest. “Yet I’ve been married over a year and am a mother of two lovely children, who I plucked from a life on the streets.

” If her voice was a tad loud, she couldn’t help it.

How dare those society dragons gossip about me!

“If it helps, I heard something much better,” the footman offered as he clasped his hands behind his back.

“What is it, Edgar?”

He ducked his head. “The people across the square believe Miss Swanson has the potential to be a Diamond by year’s end. They said she’s easily one of the loveliest young ladies out this year.”

At least it was something.

“Thank you for that.”

The maid was quick to add something else.

“The family I spoke about also had a rumor about Miss Westman.” When Mary nodded in encouragement, Letty continued, “According to the daughter of the house, apparently, the young lady had just discovered she was increasing and had just gotten engaged to the man who’d ruined her. ”

“What?” Shock went through Mary’s chest. Clearly, the young viscount hadn’t heard that on-dit before or else he would have mentioned such a juicy bit of gossip to them.

Letty’s eyes sparkled, for she was no doubt enjoying herself.

“My friend the maid over there also heard that Miss Madison has a temper. My friend was berated by her the other day when she was in residence to visit the daughter of the house. Her sleeve snagged on a door handle. My friend said she could quickly repair it, but Miss Madison dressed her down and was quite vicious about it.”

“Good heavens. What happened after that?” Though that was interesting news.

“My friend fled to her room in tears, but the lady of the house berated Miss Madison and asked her to leave that afternoon.”

“And well she should. There is no reason to treat anyone with a raised voice or anger.”

The maid nodded. “Honestly, Mrs. Bright, Miss Madison is the rudest of Miss Swanson’s friends. What she sees in the girl I’m sure I don’t know.”

At that point, Mary was inclined to agree. “Well, Miss Swanson is accepting of everyone, and her circle is quite wide. It’s another reason why she’s so popular in society.”

Before either of the servants could say anything else, Bright came into the room.

“Excuse me, but I need to have a private word with my wife.” His gaze encompassed both the maid and the footman. “Please go ahead and take tea with the cook. I’m sure she won’t mind the early repast.”

As the two quickly left the drawing room, awareness of Bright shivered over Mary’s skin.

“I’m not certain I wish to speak with you at the moment.

” It was another truth, for her feelings had been hurt when he’d basically accused Adelaide of being involved somehow in the deaths of the three young women.

“I understand that, but please listen.” He dropped his hands on her shoulders and peered down into her eyes.

Concern and hope warred for dominance in those brown depths.

“I won’t apologize for what I did because that is part of being a good investigator.

You and I have both been on the receiving end of questioning before.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. ”

That was also true. She began to thaw toward him. Slowly, she nodded. “I know. Perhaps I was merely taken off-guard and slightly offended that you could think so poorly of Adelaide.”

“I don’t and you know it.” Honestly reflected in his expression. “I think the world of her, and she’ll no doubt change the damned world one day if given half a chance.”

“Oh.” Her heart skipped a beat, for he’d truly not done anything wrong. “I won’t apologize for my reaction. I was perfectly entitled to that, but I know you are only doing your duty. Talk with me next time before you do something like that.”

“I will.” When he cupped her cheek, she resisted the urge to burrow into his touch. “Do you forgive me?”

Why was he so handsome and so dear? Then she remembered what the girls said about him in passing, and warmth rose into her face.

“There is nothing to forgive. I was overly sensitive and protective, but you’re right.

We should interview the girls, especially since they would be the most likely candidates to have hat pins in their possession.

And some of them are quite sought after as collector’s pieces.

” She drew in a breath and then let it out.

“Also, the snippets of conversation I overheard earlier today suggest that it might be prudent to do so anyway.”

“Such as?”

Quickly, she told him about Adelaide and her friends talking about them. Then she added in what she’d learned from the servants. “But that’s not all. Apparently, Miss Westman was increasing, and she had just become engaged, presumably before she was kidnapped.”

“Engaged to who?”

“They didn’t say.”

He frowned. “Why didn’t her father say anything when we were there?”

“Perhaps he didn’t know. It could be that she hadn’t had the chance to say anything.”

“Fair enough. Which maid told you this gossip?” When she gave him the name, he nodded. “I’ll talk with her and see if she can tell me more. I’d like to interview this young man. He must have asked for her hand right before she was taken.”

“Or that occasion motivated her kidnapping…” Her chest tightened from that thought.

“Indeed. I’ll interview him as well as that Mr. Corbett the viscount mentioned, who is studying to be a physician.”

“Good idea. He might prove our best suspect due to the causes of deaths.” She shook her head. “Poor Miss Westman, though. She never had the chance to realize the joy of being a wife or a mother.” If she’d been cheated out of those things that she had with Bright, she would have been bereft.

The delicate skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled when he offered a small, sad grin. “We must solve this case, if only for her, so her death won’t be in vain.” Slowly, Bright reeled her into the protective circle of his arms. “You know I will protect Adelaide.”

“I know. So does she.” When he paused, still holding her gaze, as if he were asking for her permission, she sighed and the rest of her annoyance with him evaporated. “Come here, you dear man.” Slipping her arms about his shoulders and standing on her toes, she pressed her lips to his.

That was all it took to be swept away in a string of heated kisses she was all too familiar with. There was something to be said for being his partner in every aspect of life.