Don't Look Back (14 page)

"Thank you for the excellent references," Tobias muttered. "If you don't mind I'd like to move on to a more pressing topic. I received your message this afternoon. What is it you have to tell me about Nightingale?"

"I will explain in due time. But first sit down and let me pour you both a brandy."

Tobias took one of the unyielding straight-back chairs near the hearth. He reversed it, as was his custom, and sat astride. Anthony watched him and then quickly went through the same routine with the other chair. He folded his arms along the back, just as Tobias did, and took the glass of brandy Smiling Jack handed to him.

"I'll admit that I've not had a lot of contact with Mr. Nightingale." Smiling Jack went behind his broad desk and lowered his massive bulk into the oversize chair. "He trades in stolen antiquities, jewelry, and art. Only the finest and most valuable items. Boasts a very exclusive clientele, I'm told. An altogether higher class of business than my own humble line, I fear."

"Nonsense." Tobias sipped the brandy. "In my opinion there is not a great deal of difference between smuggling and tavern-keeping and the trade in stolen antiquities and art. And I'll match you against Nightingale any day when it comes to exclusive clientele."

Smiling Jack chuckled. "I appreciate your kind remarks, my friend. Now, then, as to Nightingale, he specializes in handling transactions between clients who prefer not to meet face-to-face for various reasons. He sets up auctions and sales for such persons."

Anthony frowned. "How does an illegal auction work?"

Smiling Jack settled into his chair and assumed a lecturing air. "Nightingale acts as a go-between for his clients. He notifies interested parties of the item that is on the block and solicits bids. He guarantees anonymity to all concerned. Takes a plump commission and appears to manage a decent livelihood."

Tobias drummed his fingers on the wood chair back, thinking. "Does he ever commission thefts?"

Jack rested one hand on his large belly and pondered that. "I cannot say. But I certainly wouldn't put it past him to take advantage of an opportunity if there was enough blunt in it."

"You mentioned his exclusive clientele," Tobias said. "Do you know the names of any who have done business with him?"

"No. As I said, part of what they pay for is a guarantee of absolute discretion. Nightingale provides it. His stock-in-trade is his reputation, after all. He is very careful to preserve it."

Tobias thought of the words Lavinia had printed on her business cards:
Discretion Assured.
"It seems that my associate, Mrs. Lake, is not the only one who attempts to lure the more exclusive sort with a promise of discretion."

Jack raised his beefy shoulders in a great shrug. "The proprietor of a business must do what he or she can to ensure a profit. Now, then, as you requested, I sent word to Nightingale that you wished to meet with him. He responded with such speed that I think it is safe to say he is as eager to discuss this business of the missing antiquity as you are yourself."

"When and where?"

"I'm afraid that will be up to Nightingale. You need not concern yourself with locating him. He will find you."

"I do not have a lot of time to waste."

Jack grimaced. "I got the impression that you will see him soon. Very soon."

Tobias took another swallow of brandy and lowered the glass. "What else can you tell me about Nightingale? Can you describe him?"

"We've met on one or two occasions, but to tell you the truth, I wouldn't recognize him on the street if he walked up to me and offered a civil greeting. Nightingale makes it a point not to be seen in the light of day by any of his clients or business associates."

Anthony looked intrigued. "How does he make his, uh, arrangements?"

"He works only at night and he's careful to stay in the shadows. Uses a couple of street lads to deliver his messages." Jack rolled his brandy glass between his wide palms. "From what little I've seen of him, I can tell you that he's a small man. Judging from the sound of his voice, I'd say he's not young. But not old and frail either. Caught a glimpse of him moving off down a foggy lane once. He's got an odd way of walking."

"How is that?" Tobias asked.

"A sort of a twist and a slide to his gait, if you know what I mean. I'll wager he suffered an unfortunate accident at one time or another and the bones never healed properly."

"An accident of that sort would not be surprising, given his line of work," Tobias said. "Probably ran afoul of a dissatisfied client."

"Aye."

Anthony glanced at Tobias, as if asking permission to put forth a notion of his own.

"What is it?" Tobias asked.

"It merely occurred to me that mayhap Mr. Nightingale effects a severe limp as a part of his disguise."

Tobias chuckled. "An excellent point. It is, indeed, a distinct possibility."

Jack glanced at Tobias and closed one eye in a knowing wink. "I'd say your new assistant has a knack for the trade."

"I've been afraid of that," Tobias said.

Anthony smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

Jack turned back to Tobias. "So, then, ye've taken on another case with your occasional partner, eh?"

"Our client claims that his wife was murdered by whoever convinced her to steal the antiquity," Tobias said neutrally.

"Ah, yes, the mesmerist's wife."

Anthony straightened. "You've heard about the affair?"

"Aye." Jack took a swallow of brandy. "Sooner or later that sort of news generally makes its way to the Gryphon." He studied Tobias. "You're searching for a killer again, my friend?"

"So it would seem."

Anthony glanced at Tobias in surprise. "What do you mean by that? There is no question but that Mrs. Hudson was murdered."

"The lady is dead, all right," Tobias said. "But I am not at all certain that her killer is unknown to us."

"I don't understand," Anthony said.

"The lady had arranged a meeting with her lover the night she died," Tobias said patiently. "Her husband was aware of the affair and he admits he knew about the rendezvous. He attended a demonstration of mesmerism that night. The lady was later found strangled. Those are the only real facts we have at this point."

Anthony was still baffled but Jack nodded, comprehension plain on his scarred features.

"You think Hudson followed her to the rendezvous and killed her in a jealous rage," he said.

Tobias shrugged. "I think that is the most likely explanation of events, yes."

"And then discovered too late that she had made off with a valuable antiquity and that the thing was missing." Jack snorted. "Talk about rough justice, eh?"

"Hold on here," Anthony said quickly. He turned to Tobias. "Are you saying that you believe Hudson hired you and Mrs. Lake to find Mrs. Hudson's lover, not because he wants to bring the killer to justice but because he wants to recover the bracelet?"

"In a word, yes," Tobias said.

"But if you believe that your client is lying, why did you agree to take the case?" Anthony demanded.

"I had no choice in the matter." Tobias finished his brandy. "My
partner
made it clear that she was determined to look for the lover and the bracelet with or without me."

"And you could not let her take on such a dangerous case alone," Anthony concluded.

"That sums up the situation very precisely." Tobias looked at Jack. "Have you anything else to tell us?"

"Only that I would advise a bit of caution," Jack said. "The fact that Mr. Nightingale is involved in this affair is a bit worrisome. Word has it that several of his clients are not only very rich but quite ruthless when it comes to acquiring items for their collections."

"Oddly enough, I had already reached that conclusion." Tobias stood and put down the empty brandy glass. "Come, Tony. We must be on our way if we are to arrive at the Stillwater ball before midnight. I can only hope that Nightingale will not keep us cooling our heels for very long."

"I doubt that he will," Jack said. "But the only thing I can tell you with any great certainty is that the meeting, when it does occur, will take place at night."

Shortly after midnight Lavinia stood with Tobias at the edge of Lady Stillwater's elegantly proportioned ballroom and watched Anthony lead Emeline into the sweeping turns of a waltz. A sense of inevitability descended on her.

"They do look very well together, don't they?" she said.

"Yes, they do." There was no inflection in Tobias's words. "I know that you had every intention of marrying Emeline off to a wealthy man, but sometimes love gets in the way of an otherwise entirely commendable scheme."

She watched the dancers. "It might be just a passing flirtation."

"Don't sound so hopeful. I fear the worst."

She winced. "The
worst
being that they are falling in love?"

"That is your view of the matter, is it not?" he said in that same, too-even voice.

For some odd reason the casual manner in which he agreed that
falling in love
was, indeed, the worst possible outcome flattened her spirits. She wondered morosely if Tobias would consider the possibility of falling in love himself an equally dreadful fate.

"Unfortunately, I feel obliged to inform you that Anthony does, indeed, seem to have a talent for the investigation business," Tobias added. "Now that he has had a taste of it, I doubt very much that I shall be able to persuade him to reconsider a more stable career."

She heard the grim resignation in his voice and understood. He had tried to do his best as a substitute father for his young brother-in-law, just as she had struggled to secure a safe future for Emeline.

"Do you think we have failed them both?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know," he said. "But I will say that when one sees them so happy together, it is difficult to feel that we are allowing them to ruin their lives entirely."

She brightened a little at that comment. "There is something to be said for love, is there not?"

"Something, yes. Precisely what, I cannot hazard a guess."

She did not know what to read into those words, so she decided to change the topic. "I must tell you that Anthony is not the only one who shows a flair for investigation. Emeline demonstrated a remarkable degree of skill with interrogation techniques this afternoon."

"The two of you did very well to get the information concerning Lord Banks's connection to the bracelet so quickly today."

"Thank you." She was briefly distracted by the praise. Then she returned to her subject. "The thing is, Tredlow practically melted into a puddle when Emeline smiled at him and complimented him on his reputation in the antiquities business. I vow, she would have got the information out of him even if I had not been there to promise him a fee for his professional services."

"Charm is always a useful talent, and Miss Emeline has a great quantity of it."

Lavinia nodded. "I have always known that she had a gracious way about her, but I admit that I had not realized until today how useful the ability to entrance gentlemen could be in the investigation business."

"Hmm."

"As a matter of fact, watching Emeline's excellent performance this afternoon gave me an idea."

There was a short, wary pause.

"What sort of idea?" Tobias asked cautiously.

"I am thinking of asking her to instruct me in the technique of employing charm to obtain information from gentlemen."

Tobias choked on the mouthful of champagne he had been in the process of swallowing. He sputtered and started to cough.

"Good heavens, sir, are you all right?" Alarmed, she reached into the little beaded reticule that Madam Francesca had insisted she purchase to go with her gown. She yanked out a handkerchief and thrust it into Tobias's hand. "Here. Use this."

"Thank you," he mumbled into the square of delicately embroidered linen. "I believe that what I really need, however, is a large glass of claret." He snagged another glass of champagne off a passing tray. "But I suppose this will have to do for now."

She frowned as she watched him down half the contents of the glass. "Is your leg bothering you again?"

"It is not my leg that is troubling me."

She did not care for the gleam in his eyes. "What is it, then?"

"My sweet, you have any number of admirable skills and talents. But as your loyal, occasional business partner, I must tell you that, in my considered opinion, any attempt on your part to study the art of charming gentlemen into giving up their secrets would be a complete waste of your time."

The fact that he assumed charm to be a skill that was beyond her struck her to the quick.

"Are you implying, sir," she said coldly, "that I lack the ability to cause gentlemen to dissolve into puddles?"

"Not at all." His teeth flashed in a wicked grin. "You certainly have a dissolving effect on me on occasion."

She glowered. "You find my notion of studying the techniques of charm quite amusing, do you not?"

"I regret to say that I do not believe that either one of us has an aptitude for charm. I speak with some authority because, as it happens, Anthony has been attempting to teach me some of the finer points of the art."

She was stunned. "He has?"

"Indeed. I have run one or two experiments on you recently, and as far as I can tell it has had no effect whatsoever."

"You
tried to charm
me}"

"For all the good it did. Obviously you failed to even notice my poor efforts."

"When do you ever employ charm—" She broke off, remembering his recent comments at breakfast. "Oh, yes. That business of me resembling an incarnation of Venus."

"And there was that rather nice line comparing you with a sea nymph. I practiced that one for the length of the entire distance between my house and yours this morning."

"Just because you have no gift for charm does not mean that I cannot learn the skill."

"Save your energy, my sweet. I have concluded that charm is an inborn attribute. One either possesses it naturally, from the cradle, as is the case with Miss Emeline and Anthony, or one lacks it altogether and no degree of instruction will enable one to acquire it."