Page 8 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

“Yes, it’s called stubbornness, and it’s becoming quite a challenge,” another man said as he came into the parlor. “Hullo. I’m Mr. Sheridan. It’s fortunate I come home for tea; otherwise, I would have missed you.”

Mary’s gaze went to the newcomer. Average height, average build, the man had blonde hair that was thinning on the top and turning silver on the sides, but his brown eyes were very clearly his best feature.

There was a depth to him that she’d wager most people missed.

In those eyes, he held the agony and sorrow of the world, all because his precious daughter was missing.

“Ah, Mr. Sheridan. Thank you for taking the time to see us.” Bright came forward enough to shake the other man’s hand. “I’m Inspector Bright, consulting with Bow Street on the case of the missing girls.”

“So Jeffries told me.” The banker waved him toward a chair. He took a seat on a low sofa while exhaustion lined his face. “I didn’t wish to involve my wife in this interview; she is already beside herself and beset with nerves.”

“I can just imagine.” Mary rested her gaze upon the man, who was essentially a father at heart. “Rest assured, the inspector is working as hard as he can to find your daughter and bring her back.”

Hopefully unharmed, but they couldn’t tempt fate.

“I appreciate that.”

Bright cleared his throat. “Since I’ve recently been handed the case, I’d like to go over a few of the basic facts. I rather think my predecessor left a bit out.”

“Of course.” Mr. Sheridan nodded. “I appreciate any insight you can give.”

Mary answered first. “How long has it been since your daughter went missing?”

“Two weeks tomorrow.”

“Was she taken from this house?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I was at the bank. My wife had taken Sarah out to the shops in Mayfair. Apparently, there are many fripperies young ladies need for a Come Out year.” His smile held a sad edge.

“Was she with anyone besides your wife?” Bright asked the question while giving the room another glance. “Did she have friends with her? They seem to travel in packs.”

A half-grin tugged at Mr. Sheridan’s mouth.

“Since she’s a deb this year, she’s made a variety of friends and acquaintances.

” He shrugged. “My wife told me that during the course of visiting the shops, Sarah ran into several young women. There was even a time they’d paused for a few moments to chat with a couple of young men they’d all met during one event or another. ”

Mary scribbled a few notes on a fresh page. “Were the young men highly sought after and from good families?”

“I wouldn’t know. But I can ask my wife to join us if you’d like.”

“That isn’t necessary,” Bright said quickly with a glance to her. “Is your family connected to the ton ? Or does your daughter have a sponsor?”

Mr. Sheridan frowned. “Does that matter to the investigation?”

“It might?” Bright looked expectantly at him. “Take me, for instance. My brother is Viscount Stanwick. My wife and I are sponsoring her niece, so that bit of connection to the beau monde might help Miss Swanson’s chances, or so my wife tells me,” he said with a chuckle.

Mary narrowed her eyes.

“It’s all right.” A sigh escaped the banker.

“My wife is the third daughter of a baron. We’re clinging to the ton on the fringes, but it’s better than nothing.

” Then he rested his gaze on Mary. “Miss Swanson is one of the friends my Sarah made this year. She said Miss Swanson was the nicest person she’d ever met. ”

Heat went through Mary’s cheeks. “What a kind thing to say. My niece is staying with us until her father returns to England.” Then his expression sobered again.

“While Sarah has always been popular, she’s a bit shy, so when she met Miss Swanson and the others, they drew her out of her shell.

There is a Miss Madison among their set as well, and I think she struggles with shyness too, but she’s not as bubbly as the others. ”

One of Bright’s eyebrows went up. “Did that seem to matter?”

“Not at all.” Mr. Sheridan shook his head. “The girls accepted each other without reservation. It was refreshing to see, for some of those young ladies are quite vicious and are quick to tear each other down.”

Warmth went through Mary’s chest. “I’m glad my niece has influenced the group. Sponsoring her this year has truly opened my eyes to things within the ton I had no idea about.”

“It’s been far too quiet here without Sarah.” His voice was a tad broken. “I have a feeling Bow Street has given up the search.” When he looked at her with such desolation in his eyes, Mary’s chest tightened. “Please don’t tell me I need to prepare myself for the inevitable.”

“Oh, we would never do that,” she said in soft tones. “Inspector Bright is one of the best investigators in England. He’s solved many impossible cases, but you mustn’t give up hope.”

Her husband frowned. “However, it might be best to think of all possibilities,” he said, and annoyance was clear in his voice.

“I work within parameters of what the facts give me. Your daughter has been missing for two weeks. One of the girls who’d gone missing before her just turned up dead in Hyde Park this afternoon.

I don’t know what the pattern is with this, but I need you to know this might be the reality. ”

“Of course.” Mr. Sheridan nodded though there was moisture gathering in his eyes. “Thank you for giving me the truth of the matter instead of dancing around it.”

“However,” Bright said as he leaned forward in his chair and rested his forearms on his knees. “I promise to do everything that I can to find your daughter. If I can’t do that, then I’ll bring the persons involved to swift and sure justice.”

The other man nodded.

Softly, Mary cleared her throat. “Did your daughter, or any of her friends, have trouble with various gentlemen? Were they ever harassed in any way?”

“Now that you mention it, she once told me that a young viscount kept pressuring her to dance with him. When she continually declined, he tried to force her into a garden earlier in the summer. To talk or do something else, I would have no idea.”

“What happened after that?” Bright wanted to know.

Mr. Sheridan shrugged. “I suppose some other young lady caught his eye because I didn’t hear Sarah complain about him again. She went on to fancy someone else, a sailor in the navy.”

“And what sort of man is he?”

“Well, he’s quite beside himself that she’s missing. From what I’ve heard, he goes out every evening to scour different sections of Town looking for her.”

Mary scribbled a few more notes. “That’s lovely of him.

” And for his sake, she hoped Gabriel could truly find Sarah.

Unless the man was only doing that because he was the killer…

“I’m afraid we’ve taken up enough of your time, but if you can give us the name of the viscount? We’ll need to ask him a few questions.”

Quietly, the banker gave her the viscount’s name as well as that of the sailor.

Then, after handing over a calling card, Bright escorted her out of the house and into the waiting carriage.

Mary looked at him as they were on their way. “Do you truly believe we won’t find Sarah in time?”

“I don’t know. The case is still new to me, and I don’t know all the players yet. We need more clues, which is why I want to have a look at the body after tea today.”

She nodded but kept her own counsel. This would prove a trying case, she could just feel it. However, with Bright in charge, she knew he would overturn every stone, and he wouldn’t stop until he’d tracked the killer down.

But at what cost?