Page 61 of Never Besmirch a Wallflower: Dukes and Wallflowers

“Thank you for the invitation, Your Grace. However, I must decline.” Mr. Hughes nodded toward the broken latch on the window.

“Of course,” Roxburghe said. “We’ll leave you to the investigation.”

Moans, mostly from Beaufort, punctuated the thirty-minute coach ride to Roxburghe’s lodgings.

“You’re not going to die before we arrive,” Roxburghe said after Beaufort expelled a particularly loud sigh.

His hand clutching his forehead, Beaufort peeled open one eye. “Five men in one coach, I might.”

He hiccupped and face graying, bent forward, placing his head between his knees, and sucked in several deep breaths.

Warwick squished himself against the carriage wall. “If you vomit on me, I shall beat you unconscious.”

“Excellent,” Beaufort groaned, twisting his face toward Warwick. “I wish to be unconscious.”

“Happy to oblige.” Warwick lifted his cane.

“And if you,”—Roxburghe leaned forward and jabbed his finger at Warwick—“spill blood in my coach, I’ll announce the reclusive Duke of Warwick has decided to take a wife this season.”

Warwick paled, lowering his arm. “You wouldn’t.”

A dark smile crossed Roxburghe’s lips.

Before violence erupted in the small cabin, Levi placed a hand on Roxburghe’s chest, guiding him back onto the bench.

“Instead of threats, I propose using this time to determine our own list of suspects.”

“I concur.” Mansfield nodded once. “Mr. Hughes may be intelligent, but Roxburghe and Lennox captured Mr. Philbert’s murderer, not him.”

“Mr. Hughes is sober,” Beaufort moaned, rubbing his temples. “His memory is better than ours.”

“There are five of us.” Mansfield gestured around the coach. “Surely, we can piece together the events of the evening.”

Scrunched his eyes closed, Levi sorted through his hazy memories. “When we arrived, half the party departed.”

“Then you made the wager with Miss Rowe?”

Levi shook his head. “We didn’t bet until after she won the game against Miss Webb and Miss Philbert.”

“Miss Philbert left with Grisham,” Mansfield said, stroking his chin. “I doubt she returned to steal from us.”

“Didn’t you play cards as well?” Levi asked as the carriage slowed.

“I did.” Mansfield placed his hand on the coach door. “At my table sat Miss Venning, her cousin, and Miss Sinclair.”

As they exited the coach, Beaufort stumbled on the step and fell, landing in a pile of snow.

“Leave me here,” he murmured, face down in the slush.

Crouching beside him, Roxburghe said, “Wouldn’t you prefer to expire on a full stomach?”

Beaufort grumbled, then flipped over and sat up. “You make an excellent point.”

“Venning is hosting a party next week.” Roxburghe helped Beaufort to his feet. “All three ladies should be in attendance.”

“Are you proposing we corner them and demand answers?” Beaufort asked, brushing the snow from his greatcoat.

“Certainly not.” Roxburghe bristled, visibly offended by Beaufort’s suggestion. “However, if a guest in attendance is wearing one of the missing watch fobs or Lennox’s father’s ring, we should question him immediately.”