Page 9 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

After tea in the family parlor upstairs, Gabriel and his wife went upstairs to the schoolroom. He wanted to reassure himself that his children were safe.

“I understand that need,” Mary whispered at the door to the classroom, which was really one of the two guest rooms they’d converted from a bedchamber to use as the learning space.

The other guest room was shared by the children.

If their family grew further, they would be forced to move to a bigger house.

“I felt it at Hyde Park while looking at the body.”

He nodded. “It’s different, now, being a father and working cases.” Then he went into the room where both Cassandra and Charlie sat at a round table, tracing a row of letters Miss Alexander had written out for them. “Did you have tea with your governess?”

Both children looked up at him with happiness in their eyes. That always tugged at his heart.

“Yes, Papa.” Cassandra stood up from her chair and then crossed the room to throw her arms about his legs.

It never failed to make his heart expand with love when she called him that.

As well, her affectionate nature had grown since they’d adopted her last April.

His heart couldn’t possibly feel fuller.

“I am learning how to write my letters.” She was so dear in her white dress with a ruffle at the bottom and a jaunty orange sash around the waist.

“That’s fantastic, poppet. I know you’ll grasp the gist of it quickly, and soon enough, you’ll be reading.” He kneeled in front of her so he could peer into her Arctic blue eyes. “Reading and writing means freedom and will take you far in life.”

“Charlie is learning too,” Cassandra said with a glance at Mary. “He doesn’t understand why the letters are different, though.”

Mary smiled. “He is younger than you, so it will take him a bit to catch up, but you are both quite intelligent, and Miss Alexander is an excellent teacher.”

The governess, who stood nearby, nodded with gratitude in her expression. “I appreciate that, Mrs. Bright.”

Charlie, not to be outdone, proudly held up his paper where he’d more or less traced the letters. “I’m doing a bang-up job, Mama. I want to learn how to write so I can send a letter to the king and tell him he’s too fat.”

Oh, God.

Gabriel bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing lest the lad think his mirth was directed at him. “You should concentrate on the alphabet first. Then we’ll talk about letter writing later. Perhaps you can write a note to your mama first.”

“Right.” The little boy nodded. “I want to go sail boats.”

“Well, it’s raining just now, and that’s usually an activity for the summer,” Gabriel was quick to respond, for if the boy got wind of a possible outing, he’d never settle back into his lessons.

“Besides,” Mary inserted in a soft voice, “your father and I have an errand yet this afternoon because we’re working a case.”

A frown tugged the corners of Cassandra’s lips downward. “Is Papa chasing bad people again? He does that a lot.”

Mary briefly met his gaze before nodding. “He is. Your papa is an inspector of some regard, which means his skills are needed when a case is difficult. Sometimes he is very involved in his work and can’t go haring off to sail boats or take walks.”

“This is true, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you both very much.

” He patted the top of Cassandra’s head then gave the end of her wheat-blonde braid a tweak.

The girl rewarded him with a smile. “I search for people who have committed crimes or even killed others.” With a shrug, he stood to his full height.

“Then I send them to prison—if they’re fortunate.

” Only a couple of times had his quarry been killed in the course of an investigation.

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Do you shoot the bad fellows?”

“Only if I must. Instead, I try to talk them ‘round with words and understanding. Your mama showed me that way.”

“Will you take us on your investigation?” the boy wanted to know.

“Not until you’re much older.” Gabriel smiled and then moved over to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Many times, it’s a grim business.”

Cassandra tugged on the bottom of his jacket. “Are you safe?” Concern clouded her eyes, for she no doubt remembered the case he’d investigated which led them to find her outside of a butcher’s shop.

“I am. So is your mother.” Then he bent and bussed her little cheek. “We need to go out now, but we will be up later to tuck you both in and read you a story before bedtime.” It was a little ritual he would never miss if he could help it.

“I’ll wager if you both do well on your letters, Miss Alexander might let you run about the parlor for a few moments since it’s raining and you can’t go outside to the garden.” As she spoke, Mary gave them both a kiss to the top of their heads then went to the door. “We will see you later tonight.”

As Cassandra reclaimed her chair and Charlie drew circles around the letters he’d recently completed, Gabriel escorted his wife out of the room.

“Ready to visit the morgue?” he asked in a low voice while they walked toward the stairs.

“No, but it’s a necessary part of our investigation.”

He took her hand and gave her fingers a squeeze. “Stiff upper lip, sweeting. This bit will go quickly, and at least the body won’t have had time to decompose this time.”

It was small comfort, but it was something.

In the carriage, the sound of the rain drummed on the roof of the vehicle.

Gabriel settled next to her, and he flashed her a grin.

“I realize I don’t often take you to Whitehall’s morgue, and it’s no place for a lady, so if you are feeling squeamish, you are more than welcome to either wait in the carriage or return home. I shall see you for dinner.”

“I think you should know me better than that by now, Bright.” One of her eyebrows rose, and damn but he wished he had the time to remove the bonnet and pluck the pins from her blonde tresses.

“I’m going to accompany you. It’s what partners do.

” But she held tight to the strings of her reticule.

“I’m quite capable of getting through the visit without fainting. ”

“Oh, I’m well aware of how strong you are, sweeting.” Time and time again, he’d had cause to witness that, but even men schooled in crime and murder couldn’t help but cast up their accounts at the sight of a naked corpse on a stark wooden table.

Heat reflected in her gaze as she looked at him. “I am always quite grateful that our paths crossed, for you are definitely not a man like the rest of them. In that, I know you will show Charlie how he should act and behave as he matures.”

“I appreciate that, and I will, of course.” Then he turned toward her on the bench.

When his knee touched hers, awareness prickled over his skin.

“Men these days need to understand that women are a vital part of life—personally and in society. They’d do well to grant them equality in all aspects, for there isn’t anything a woman cannot do, I’ve found. ”

“Whatever I did to bring you to me, I’ll never know, but I’m well content.” As she spoke, she laid a gloved hand on his thigh.

Heat shot through his limbs. It was insanity how much she could affect him and so quickly. “If you continue to watch me with that come hither expression, we will both tumble into scandal.”

“When has that ever stopped us before, Inspector?” His sweet Mary eased her fingers up the inside of his thigh to lightly skim them along his length that instantly sprang to life.

Bloody hell!

“There is something about you that sends me perilously close to the edge of both spending and scandal,” he said in a whisper.

There was nothing he wanted to do more than pull her onto his lap and have his way with her, but the trip to Whitehall wouldn’t take very long, and when he finally had her to himself, he wanted more than a quick, frenzied tryst.

“At least our union hasn’t grown stale.” She surged into him, put her lips to his ear and said, “If we aren’t completely knackered later tonight, I intend to take full advantage of you before sunrise.”

Oh, God.

“I rather think what we have between us will always prove exciting, and I can’t wait to have you to myself for more than just a quick tup.”

“Mmm, good.” With a light nip to the underside of his jaw, she settled back onto the bench beside him.

Unfortunately, the trip from their home to the collection of buildings that made up Whitehall had taken no time at all. He hadn’t even had the opportunity to kiss her.

“I can promise you far more carnal play tonight.” Damn, but he was far too randy with tension wound tight inside his body to view a corpse, but there was nothing for it. Once the carriage rocked to a halt, he blew out a breath. “You certainly lead me a merry chase.”

Mary giggled. “Even better.”

As soon as the steps were put down, he vaulted out and then assisted his wife to the ground. To the driver, he said, “We shouldn’t be more than an hour.”

“I’m happy to wait, Inspector. The area is interesting.”

“Thank you.” He ushered Mary along the pavement and then up the wide stone steps that led into the main building and between the Roman-style columns that framed the door.

“Dratted rain. For what it’s worth, I believe you are one of the only women who has been admitted into these halls. ” His voice was hushed in the space.

“Well, I am not like other women.”