Page 24 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

The Albany

Mayfair, London

Gabriel covered a yawn with his hand. He’d just finished doing an interview with Mr. Corbett, the young man who was a friend of the young viscount, and the one who was studying to be a physician.

Without the benefit of a medical college, for apparently, he didn’t have the intelligence to pass the needed exams, so he was studying by himself. Not something Gabriel would ever recommend.

Unfortunately, the man had solid alibies for each of the murders, and even more unfortunately, there were witnesses that could vouch for his whereabouts.

Yes, he knew of Adelaide, Miss Madison, as well as the girls who were murdered, but he hadn’t shown any particular interest in any of them due to his dedication to his studies.

After warning the man not to leave London until the investigation concluded, Gabriel continued on his way, for he had the name of the man who’d ruined Miss Westman.

Now, as he waited for his knock to be answered at the rooms Mr. Jansen rented at The Albany, all he wanted was to go back home and spend time with his family.

He hadn’t slept well last night with everything pressing in on his mind.

The papers were currently ripping him as well as his reputation to shreds with Bow Street in general a close second, but there was nothing for it.

They’d all rush to interview him once the case was solved.

And it would be solved.

The wooden panel finally swung open to reveal a man clearly devastated and upset to the point of being inconsolable. It seemed he had been told of the death of his fiancée.

“Mr. Jansen?”

“Yes.” The blond man with a slight but lean build stood back and motioned Gabriel into the room. “You are Inspector Bright, are you not?”

“I am, but how did you know that?”

“Mr. Westman called last night. He told me the horrible news about Lillian and said you might seek me out.”

Gabriel frowned as he entered the set of rooms. “How did he know about you? Mr. Westman didn’t indicate his daughter was engaged when I interviewed him yesterday.”

“Uh, Lillian and had intended to tell him, but then she was kidnapped…” Mr. Jansen’s swallow was audible.

“And she never came back,” he added in a soft tone.

He closed the door behind Gabriel. “Mr. Westman told me that he’d found an entry in her diary of how elated she was and how excited about the engagement she felt. ”

“Ah, I see.” He drifted toward a grouping of furniture in the front room but didn’t sit down. “In what line of work are you, Mr. Jansen?”

“Oh, I’m apprenticing to be a solicitor. The man I’m training under is growing too old to keep up with the rigors of the position. I have two months left on my contract. After that, I’ll take over my mentor’s practice.”

“Impressive.” Gabriel nodded. “My son is also apprenticing to become a solicitor. He says it’s interesting work.”

“It can be, but most of the time, it’s dull paperwork or listening to squabbling family members.

” Mr. Jansen heaved a sigh. “Regardless, it will be a lovely life, and one I’d hoped to share with Lillian.

” Moisture misted his eyes. “From the moment I set eyes on Miss Westman at a rout two months ago, I knew she was the one for me.”

“Sometimes love is like that.” Gabriel made a note in his book. “It’s even better when the man falls hard and it takes time for his mind to catch up.”

“Indeed.” When he surreptitiously wiped the tears from his cheeks, Gabriel glanced politely away. “Lillian felt the same way about me that I did for her, but we didn’t want anyone to know when the relationship was still new.”

“You kept it a secret from your friends and contemporaries?”

“Yes.” Mr. Jansen nodded. “I called on her whenever I could, and when we met in public, we acted as acquaintances, but I couldn’t wait for the day to tell the world.

” A faint grin curved his lips. “God, but she was adorable, had a tiny beauty mark over her left eyebrow.” A sniffling sound issued from him, and he quickly withdrew a handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket to dab at his nose.

“When I was told about the babe—about a week before Lillian went missing—I immediately asked for her hand because I loved her, wanted to build a family with her.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Jansen. Was she angry or on the outs with anyone shortly before she went missing?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Lillian was the type of girl to make everyone feel needed.

” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I was frantic when she was taken. Tried to find her myself but there were no clues, and I couldn’t let on that we’d been courting or having an intimate relationship.

Neither could I talk to her father about it. Such agony.”

Gabriel nodded. “I’m aware of that frustration of not finding clues. This case has been perplexing from the start.”

For long moments, Mr. Jansen stared into the flames in the hearth.

Then he shook himself and focused on Gabriel.

“When I saw in the paper that another girl had been found murdered, I just knew ; I felt it deep in my soul.” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow.

“Of course, it was confirmed when Mr. Westman came to call.”

“Again, you have my condolences. What happened at that point?”

He shrugged. “I confessed about the babe and our engagement. Then I told him about our courtship, but it didn’t matter because she’s gone.” His voice broke.

Well, damn. Gabriel tucked his notebook into a pocket of his greatcoat.

“It broke the poor man. He’d never see his grandchild, would never see his daughter again. So we mourned together, but I don’t know if we’ll ever be the same again.”

“You won’t.” Gabriel laid a comforting hand on the other man’s shoulder. “That is how life is, but eventually, you’ll make room for the grief, and you’ll want to live again. Don’t neglect Mr. Westman once Lillian is buried. He’ll need the support as much as you do. Again, I’m sorry for your loss.”

Mr. Jansen nodded. “Thank you.”

“Perhaps this can be your motivation for when you’re a solicitor. Or if you’d rather, become a barrister and help people who have been wronged. There is no shortage of people being cheated by someone in London.”

A look of speculation crossed the other man’s face. “I’ll think over those words. Be safe, Inspector, and don’t take the horrid words about you in the papers to heart. Sometimes, people are just plain evil, and they made the choice to be that. It has nothing to do with you.”

“I appreciate that, Jansen. Send word to me if you think of anything else pertinent to the case, but hear this. I will bring Lillian’s killer to justice.”

“Somehow, I believe you.” As Mr. Jansen walked him to the door, he blew out a breath. “I don’t know how I’m going to get on…”

With his mind distracted about aspects of the case, Gabriel stared unseeing out the window of his carriage as the driver skillfully wove through moderate traffic in Mayfair. A desultory light rain fell.

How the hell was he going to solve this damned case?

A shout from his driver brought him out of his thoughts. Then the carriage jerked to a halt so abruptly that he was thrown from his bench.

“What the hell, Thomas?”

“Sorry, Inspector. A young woman darted in front of the horses.”

“What?” Wanting to know exactly what was happening, Gabriel threw open the door and then kicked down the steps.

Seconds later, he launched himself out of the vehicle.

As he came around the horses, who pawed the dirt street, his gaze fell on a young woman on the other side whose arm was being held by his driver. “Who is this?”

Thomas shrugged. “Don’t know yet.”

The young woman, around the same age as Adelaide, appeared quite hysterical with streaks of dust or dirt on her face and her gown. The rain wasn’t helping matters. Her brown hair hung in clumps about her shoulders and back, but it was the wild look in her hazel eyes that tugged at his chest.

“Let me go!” She wrenched at the driver’s hold.

“Miss, please, you’re in no state to go anywhere.

” Where the devil was her other slipper?

Slowly, steadily, as if he were approaching a skittish colt or cat, Gabriel moved toward her.

Drops of rain dripped from the brim of his top hat and dotted his great coat.

“I’m Inspector Bright. What is your name?

” With a nod to Thomas, he encouraged the driver to release her arm.

She nearly slumped into the street, but Gabriel was right there to keep her steady with an arm about her waist. “Miss… Miss…” With a frown, she glanced at him as if trying to remember. “Miss Hopewell.”

“Who are your people?”

“Uh…” The delicate tendons in her throat worked with a hard swallow. “So thirsty.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you home as soon as I can, but I need to know who they are.”

“My f-f-father is Lord Farmington,” she finally said though her teeth chattered together, and she gave into a violent shiver.

Bloody, bloody hell.

The fourth missing girl, and the third one taken.

“I’m the man heading up your case, as well as the other young women.

Your father has been beside himself looking for you.

” The viscount had been the one to attack him in that alley.

“Come. I’ll take you there straightaway.

” When he tried to move her around the horses, she broke away from his loose hold.

“No! Stay away!” She threw out a hand and shook her head. “I can’t get the… the tick tocking out of my head!” Then she put her hands over her ears. “So loud.”

Had she gone mad from what happened to her after she’d been kidnapped?

“Miss Hopewell, please calm yourself.” He spoke in low, soothing tones.

“While I am beyond thrilled that you’ve perhaps managed to escape your captors, I do need to bring you home as well as ask you some questions about where you have been held. ”