A Most Improper Rumor (21 page)

“It wasn’t one man . . . It was all of them. All vying for your attention. The entire ballroom riveted on whom you might dance with next. Even the gossips were fascinated, and you are right, I
hated
you.”

The admission was beyond shocking.

“It seems you still do.”

“Nonsense. I love you as my dearest friend.”

It would have been better if the words had more conviction. Angelina said quietly, “I think that sometimes you convince yourself that is true, but it isn’t. Christopher loves me. I am at the moment very aware of the difference.”

Eve didn’t deny it. “And of course he wanted to marry you.”

The past tense took her aback. “I accepted his proposal. Christopher was adamant he could protect himself.” Angelina almost didn’t have it in her to respond. She just wanted to leave the room and go hide away, but she’d done that for too many years now.

“But of course, now there will be no wedding.”

At an utter loss, she took a moment before she could find her voice. Her mouth was actually dry. “Why wouldn’t there be?”

Eve went still and then she damned herself. “You mean he isn’t dead?”

Chapter 26

H
e had conducted quite a few interrogations in his varied career. Traitors were his specialty because he could tap into their thought processes, not because he was one, but because he wasn’t—and yet he understood what it took.

A desire for gain above honor.

Still, Ben thought he’d relinquish the interview to someone who might not have quite the same level of courtesy and understood the suspect better. At the moment it was still civilized, but the atmosphere was strained to a snapping point where he was sure if someone as much as sneezed, the whole room would shatter.

So it should be. Lady Eve had all but confessed to attempted murder. Maybe not by direct means, but murder nonetheless, and the details were excruciatingly important to him.

However it was done, it was up to him to initiate the proceedings.

“How did it start?”

Understandably, Lady Eve sat very stiffly on a high-backed chair in the morning room, though it was late afternoon, guilt incarnate, her face a mask of hostility. “I am not sure what you mean, my lord. This is a matter between Lady DeBrooke and me only.” She pointed to Janelle and demanded, “Why is
she
here?”

“And here in the carriage we got along so famously,” Janelle drawled coolly.

“I didn’t realize . . .”

“Didn’t realize what?”

“Never mind.”

“I need only about five minutes, my lord.” Janelle sounded remarkably confident, not even bothering to look at him, her smile almost chilling. “Why don’t you leave us and I will have the truth for you in the blink of an eye.”

Ben was still reluctant to abandon Lady Eve to Janelle’s not-so-tender mercies if there was another choice. “I offered you the opportunity for a private conversation between just you and me. You declined.”

He admired Eve’s composure as she said evenly, “You offered me little but a chance for you to pose uncomfortable questions with no witnesses. I owe you nothing.”

“But Angelina?” Janelle asked into the resulting silence. “Surely you owe her the truth. As close as the two of you are and all.”

The lady’s resentful gaze went back and forth, but then she shook her head. “I owe her nothing. I’ve supported her when no one else would. She should be grateful to
me
.”

“And so she was, which I suspect was your intention.”

“What is this? Where
is
Angelina?”

“Having tea with Lady Heathton.” Janelle raised a brow slowly, her low-cut gown striking, her red curls brushing ivory shoulders. “All very civilized, unlike you. How did you come to hire him?”

“Hire whom?”

“The murdering bastard who did away with her first two husbands for you, of course.” Janelle looked bland. “We know you did; we just need the information to find him.”

Eve went pale. “What a baseless accusation . . . Lord Heathton, who
is
this woman? I’ve heard rumors her connection to the duke is untrue. That she is nothing but an expensive whore.”

“I think she is definitely connected to the duke and she is an old friend of mine.”

Janelle shot him a reproving look. “Old? I’m six and twenty. Not exactly an unpicked blossom, but not an old thorny branch either. Go on, my lady; answer my question.”

“I have no idea—”

“Yes, you do.” As he watched, a particularly intimidating predatory smile touched Janelle’s soft pink mouth. “I hate bad liars. There is no excuse for it. If you are going to bother, at least be convincing, though I admit I can spot a falsehood from a mile away, and that is exactly why his lordship invited me to this discussion. He is far kinder than I am. So the truth now, my fine lady. Save yourself and give us the information we want. Two men died and one got a bullet in his chest. How did it come about?”

“I didn’t—”

“You did,” Ben interjected, his tone cool. “However, there is no true accusation of murder. If you will allow me, my lady, I am going to lay out my assumptions. Perhaps that will be easier for all of us.” He had brought a glass of something stronger than the tea being served in the drawing room, and he took a sip before he continued, seeing the approval in Janelle’s eyes at the tactic. “I think when you discovered years ago that Angelina’s first engagement loomed, you answered a small ad in the
Times
. For a small fee this person offered a unique service. To provide romantic intervention with total anonymity.” He lifted a brow. “So far, am I correct?”

Rigid, Eve said nothing.

Janelle, on the other hand, laughed lightly. “I think you must be.” She took over the conversation again. “The wedding happened anyway and perhaps you felt duped. However, what you asked for was provided four months later and the means were not quite what you expected. If I had to place myself in your position, I would think that at first you were surprised by William’s death, but then quickly told yourself that it was just a coincidence. Unfortunately, when it happened a second time with Lord DeBrooke, you could hardly ignore it. Still, you said nothing. How could you? In essence, you were the catalyst and you must have known it. Murder by proxy.”

“I didn’t.” Eve’s denial wasn’t exactly convincing and she looked shaken.

“You
did
,” Janelle said succinctly. “But as it gained you what you wanted, even though the method might have been objectionable, in your mind you adjusted to the notion and never told your supposed dear friend, not even when she was hauled before a magistrate on the charge of murder. How much did it please when you secretly hoped she might hang because of your actions? Rather a vicious bitch, aren’t you?”

“She knows I would never intend such a thing.” The freckles across the bridge of Lady Eve’s nose looked copper in the late sunlight because her skin was so ashen.

“Oh, you would, and you did.” Janelle took an idle sip of tea. “Out of spite, and that is one of the least admirable motivations I can think of. I’ve certainly done my share of questionable deeds, but very rarely out of shallow jealousy. You may call me what you will, but I am much more honest than you are, Lady Eve.”

“You—”

Janelle interrupted with clear warning. “Don’t say it. You’ve insulted me once already and I let it pass.”

It was time to interrupt this, because Janelle actually could be a rather dangerous young woman.

“Tell me how to find him.” Ben, glass in hand, leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. “Give him to me. Since the attempt on Lord Lowe’s life failed, Angelina might even forgive you if you help us. Have I mentioned yet how close the bullet came to hitting her? You made a pact with a master manipulator, my lady, and he will not forget you either. Even if he does, I could have you dragged before a magistrate and perhaps you will experience exactly what Lady DeBrooke, your dear friend, endured.”

“You wouldn’t.” Bright spots starred Lady Eve’s cheeks.

“Don’t test him,” Janelle murmured negligently, and he could tell she was enjoying every moment of the interview.

The rage faded from Eve’s face and her voice was hushed. “I never expected what happened to William and then Thomas . . . I was horrified.”

Ben was not completely convinced that was true because Eve had been fully aware of Angelina’s fears once she became involved with Lowe, and she still said nothing until she delivered the tip on their departure to the country. “But it assuaged your jealousy once they were gone, that she was dependent on your friendship more than ever, and all was well until she met a man who truly won her heart. Do I have that correct?”

“You can prove none of this.”

At the lift of her chin, Ben felt the advantage slipping. It was no doubt in her best interest to simply deny all of it, for she was right, without the puppet master in this deadly production, he really could not make a case for her guilt that wasn’t based on a great deal of speculation.

“We don’t have to prove it,” Janelle said, her laugh cold. “All we have to do is tell the
haut ton
the truth about you, my fine lady. The duke’s auntie would be a good place to start. She and the other old bats have nothing to do but sip their sherry and gossip, and I promise you, this story would be a juicy tidbit for them to chew on. The earl’s vindictive daughter is so spoiled, she cannot stand for another young lady to steal the stage and she will even stoop to murder. I can see that all over the tittle-tattle sheets. She’s been trying to destroy the Dark Angel for years, but that lady found out and severed their friendship. How long do you think it will take before everyone is talking about it? With or without a trial, I suspect you’ll get a taste of what your friend endured when your parents either marry you off to stave off the scandal, or send you away.”

This is why I sent for Janelle
. Her unholy amusement aside, Ben would never threaten to spread such a rumor, and he had rather wondered if his inconvenient sense of honor would get in the way of gaining the truth. Janelle had no such scruples.

“You bitch,” Lady Eve, upright in her chair, said through her teeth, her face twisted into an expression of fury, the look in her eyes one of a cornered animal. “No one will believe a tart like you any more than they thought you were the duke’s cousin. His doxy more like, opening your legs for the old fool with the duchess right there in residence.”

“And in my off hours, chatting up his elderly aunt.” Janelle’s auburn brows lifted a fraction, the vitriol ignored. “She told me with a sniffle or two that she was going to miss me. However, I do believe we were discussing not my recent activities, but yours. I think we could probably convince a magistrate to look into the matter, especially with an earl and a baron as the petitioners. It is possible we could not prove everything to full satisfaction, but it would be embarrassing, would it not? Ask Lady DeBrooke.”

In the face of such blatant manipulation, Lady Eve seemed to crumple. She whispered, “I don’t know if I can even help you. I don’t know his name or have an address.”

“How do you contact him?”

“Through the post. I was curious, especially after Thomas died, and I went to the address I was given. It is a solicitor’s office. I didn’t go in and inquire for obvious reasons.”

A frisson of triumph went through him. And Ben thought,
A lead at last
. When investigating Alicia’s cousin’s disappearance, Lord Andrews’s aunt had not kept the envelope, but Ben suspected that was what the burglar who ransacked his office was looking for, so it must be damning in some way.

He said, “I am not going to ask you if you hired him once, or three times, and in return for my generosity you are going to provide me with that address and anything else you can remember. Agreed?”

It took a moment, but finally Lady Eve decided she was bested, for she said tersely, “Agreed.”

“Don’t try and fool him,” Janelle warned her in a theatrical tone of false camaraderie. “It never turns out well.”

* * *

Tea was interrupted by the arrival of Christopher Durham, his shirt not quite fastened over the bandages on his shoulder but otherwise quite respectfully dressed, their murmured conversation coming to a decided halt at his entrance.

“I hope I am not interrupting, but Lady Heathton graciously invited me and I was feeling well enough to join you.” His smile was charming. “The doctor told me not to play the invalid, and without my beautiful nurse, what is the point of not following his advice?”

Angelina stood but then sank back down when he waved at her with his hand to stay seated. She asked, “Milk and two sugars?”

“You know me well.” He smiled, but they were all strained, and it showed.

“I’ll pour.” Alicia did so, especially since she knew Angelina was still shaken by her interview with Lady Eve. She picked up a spoon and stirred the beverage before handing it to him. “It is good to see you up and about, my lord.”

“Thank you.” He sank into a chair with only the slightest tightening in his jaw to indicate he was in pain. He looked directly at his future wife. “What happened?”

Her eyes were shadowed. “It is as you said. Lord Heathton is interviewing her now to try and see if he can glean information on whoever tried to kill you.”

“One has to wonder if it wasn’t a relief for her to confess.”

If it was a relief for Lady Eve, Alicia thought it was not quite the same for Angelina. She was clearly distressed.

“I think that conversation was more difficult than being taken before a magistrate and accused of two murders I did not commit.”

“I’m sorry, my love.” Lord Lowe’s expression softened.

Alicia wished Ben would look at her with such adoration in his eyes, but then again, he was clearly delighted over their coming child and it had prompted that demonstration the other day. Every time she thought of it, she experienced an inner surge of joy.

Angelina shook her head. “I think any apologies owed are to you.”

“Nonsense.” He touched his cup to his mouth and took a slow sip. “My shoulder will heal and none of this is your fault. And let me state I do not wish her ill, but I fear Eve’s obsession with you has cost too many too much.”

“I agree.” Alicia thought about the fire at their town house. “I don’t think she’s evil, but she did make a grave error when she sought to interfere in your life for her own purposes.”

“On the other hand,” a voice from the doorway said, “she may have provided us with the means to foil a very diabolical and calculating criminal.” Ben strolled in, his half smile telling. “Mrs. Dulcet is going to accompany Lady Eve back to London. They are on their way now. Might I add I am glad I am not going to be in that particular carriage for the entirety of the journey. They thoroughly dislike each other.”

The alluring Mrs. Dulcet no longer really made her so intensely curious, or, if she admitted it, a little jealous. Her husband had a past, Alicia thought pragmatically, but he also had a future, and while she was more than a little interested in knowing if he was in love with
her
, she was convinced he certainly wasn’t in love with anyone else.

Not perfect, but she could handle imperfect as opposed to the devastating alternative of discovering her husband had a mistress. That recognition meant that the lovely red-haired woman was exactly what he said she was, a colleague from the war, and just the person to escort Lady Eve back to her parents and her life—bereft now of Angelina—and into the not-so-tender arms of London society.