Far Too Tempted (26 page)

Two men? Alex’s mind raced ahead, registering the information with growing apprehension. One elusive character was more than enough. Two made the world that much more dangerous. He said carefully, “After he—the man I fought—gained the advantage and ran away, did you see where they went, either of them?”

She shook her head, her silky mane of hair swirling across the pale skin of her smooth, bare shoulders. “I was watching you, Alex. I could see that he’d hurt you…”

The catch in her voice caught his attention, even as he cursed inside over this new complication in the case. His entire attention seemed to snap to the bed, with the tumbled blankets and the slender naked woman sitting next him, her face averted. He reached out and touched her upper arm, sliding his fingers down to the bend of her elbow. “Yes?”

Jessica swallowed and straightened her shoulders, not precisely jerking away but nonetheless shutting him out. “And it distracted me. I’m sorry to disappoint, but the two of them disappeared before I even thought to look for where they might be going.”

Odd, this feeling of chagrin that assailed him. What had he hoped for? A declaration like that which he’d come close to himself? That she loved him? Not likely. Not Jessica, with her pride and hard-won defenses. She had married him because she’d had little choice. The sweet romantic love she’d once felt for him was long, long gone.

Marriage must have addled his brains for he felt deep disappointment in the realization instead of the relief he should experience. The last thing he needed was a heartbroken young wife to leave behind when the time came for him to return to Spain.

Wasn’t it?

Of course it was, he told himself firmly and let go of her arm. She’d been hurt and disillusioned enough. It was his duty to protect her, and the best way he could do that was to keep things simple between them.

Which meant the last thing in the world he should do was fall in love with her.

Charles shook his little blond head. “Mine.”

Jessica watched him run around in a circle, brandishing the item in question by swinging it over his head and whooping. She picked her skirts up and squatted down on her heels to be more on his level before she tried again. “Come on, Charles, let Aunt Jess see. Please.”

He eased back to what he obviously thought a safe distance and clutched the strap to his chest. “You keep it.” It was an accusation.

Since he obviously had experience with treacherous adults who took dangerous treasures away from him, Jessica decided on a new tactic. Lifting her brows, she said persuasively, “What if we could trade? Say…some sweets for your little find?”

“Sweets?” He looked dubious, his chubby face wrinkling.

“Jam,” Jessica promised solemnly, saying a silent prayer that Ariel wouldn’t have her head for filling her little son full of sugar right before lunch.

The future duke seemed to find jam an acceptable bribe and he tossed aside the odd leather strap and dashed over to grab her hand. “Now,” he demanded in his imperious way. “Jam right now.”

Once he was firmly ensconced in the kitchen, happily smearing jam and scones all over his little person as he devoured his food under the approving eye of the cook, Jessica excused herself. She went back to the gardens to examine the piece of leather Charles had found while crawling under a bush during a vigorous game of hide-and-seek. Sinking down onto a carved bench, she held it in her hands and felt a mixture of both curiosity and revulsion.

With no idea of its purpose, she was still convinced that one of their night visitors had dropped it. Charles had crawled all over that same area the day before and he would not have missed it. It was about two feet long and nothing more than a strip of strong, supple leather with no buckles or other fastenings.

Why would anyone carry such a thing? Especially considering the behavior of both her brother-in-law and her husband the night before, an unaccountable chill struck her, and she set it aside in distaste.

In retrospect, Alex had been more than reasonably alarmed at the news of the second prowler, but he hadn’t been
surprised
. And once again this morning he’d set off after a quick breakfast, leaving no word of his whereabouts or when he might be home. She was sure he hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours.

Marcus was little better, evading his wife’s questions and trying to act as if the whole bizarre episode was nothing more than some common thief trying to break into the house.

Men
, Jessica thought darkly. What ridiculous creatures they could be, with their absurd sense of superiority just because they were physically stronger and larger. She and Ariel had little illusions about the events of the previous evening, even with their husbands’ refusal to explain.

The danger had been very real and immediate.

Glancing at the coiled leather strap next to her, she shivered again.

Chapter Fourteen

Elizabeth Ashton fluttered her eyelashes and smiled deeply, tucking in the corners of her mouth and dimpling her smooth cheeks. “I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful, Colonel. I’m afraid I was occupied with my guests when dear Lord Orschell was killed.” A delicate shudder shook her body, but her dark eyes were avid with curiosity. “Were you special friends, then?”

Alex lifted his teacup and took a sip, then answered evasively, “I can honestly say his murder occupies my mind a great deal, my lady.” Trying to ignore that the tea was tepid and the drawing room somewhat stuffy and filled with the heavy scent of her perfume, he persisted, “You truly noticed nothing at all out of the ordinary? No guest who might have left without saying his goodbyes? No one wearing their cloak to cover what might be suspicious stains on their clothing, or perhaps just acting in an odd fashion?”

Lady Ashton frowned prettily, furrowing her brow. Dressed in fashionable white, with ruffles around the bodice and sleeves, she played the contrast of her olive skin and ebony hair to advantage. Fully conscious of her beauty, she made every languid gesture, every glance and bat of an eyelash with deliberate intent.

His impression from the night of the disastrous engagement party strengthened by the second; Elizabeth played the femme fatale very well indeed. Lord Orschell’s wife might well have basis for her suspicions, though O’Brien had found no hint of a relationship when questioning the lady’s servants.

Lady Ashton said in demure objection, “Surely you don’t agree with the police and suspect one of my guests, Colonel?”

“I think one can reasonably suspect anyone attending who had the strength to physically commit the act, madam.”

Her perfectly arched brows lifted. “Then, since half my guests were women, I assume they are exonerated.”

He didn’t answer. “According to the doctor who examined the body, Orschell was strangled before he was run through and set up in your gazebo. Tell me, could you by any chance give me an accounting of what gentlemen were in attendance that eve?”

“I might still have the guest list written down somewhere, I suppose. That evening turned into such a nightmare I haven’t been myself.” She rose in a slow, graceful movement and smiled. “I use my late husband’s study now to manage my affairs. I’ll be right back, Colonel.”

“I appreciate your effort, madam.”

After she left the room, Alex paced restlessly across the rich rug and examined a rather garish watercolor of a willow tree that hung over the mantel. He needed to keep his mind on the matter at hand, yet his thoughts kept straying. After their passionate sharing that morning, Jessica had fallen back to sleep in his arms, sweetly composed and trusting in her slumber. He’d lain there and listened to every breath she took, relishing the fact he could simply hold her.

An odd emotion for a man who always prided himself on his detachment. Considering he’d stayed awake the entire night, he would have done better to get a little bit of sleep rather than indulge in romantic whims.

An audible sigh escaped his lips.

“Colonel?”

He turned and saw Lady Ashton had come back and held out a sheet of vellum in her hand. “I hope this is what you need.”

“Thank you, my lady.” The list was neatly done, and he scanned it quickly, one name bringing his attention quickly into focus. Lifting his head, he stared at Elizabeth Ashton’s lovely face. “Thank you very,
very
much. This is of immense help.”

With a bold look in exchange and extending her hand, she murmured, “My pleasure, Colonel.”

Her fingers lingered in his and he couldn’t help but think with fleeting amusement just how quickly life could change. Even a week ago the blatant invitation in her eyes might have tempted him.

But now he found himself tied to a sable-haired stubborn woman who could both infuriate and captivate with the same depth of emotion.

Lady Ashton seemed flatteringly disappointed when he took his leave as quickly as possible. Practically bounding down the steps toward the carriage, he gave the driver directions and an address and opened the door to climb in, only to be arrested with his foot in the air. The vehicle was unexpectedly occupied.

“Guv, I thought you and the lady would never finish.” A cheeky grin accompanied the declaration. The light from the open door fell on unkempt blond hair and smooth, girlish cheeks. A young man sat sprawled on the seat, his legs extended, arms folded loosely across his chest. “Nice ride, this.”

Alex muttered, “Tolley. Thanks for scaring the life out of me. What are you doing here?”

“Reporting in, sir. Thought I’d sit a bit and wait for you.”

Since he stood on the street like a fool,
and
was talking to the inside of his carriage, Alex quickly climbed inside and tapped on the roof. They lurched away just as he settled onto the seat opposite the young man. “I’ve someone to see. My driver can drop you off wherever you wish later. Is there something of value to report?”

“Judge for yourself.” Elbows on shabby knees, the boy leaned forward and proceeded to outline Major Pickford’s movements of the past several days, some of which Alex already knew—such as the meeting—and some of which made him frown, including the information that apparently Major Pickford was having an illicit affair. When Tolley finished, Alex asked sharply, “This all happened yesterday afternoon?”

“Indeed.” A quick nod.

“You say the man watching the inn was very tall?”

“Tall as you, sir. Maybe even a mite more. He arrived right behind the major and his ladybird and watched them go inside. I stayed back when I saw the gent loitering there, and then I began to suspect what he was up to. When they came out later, he followed them and I followed
him
.”

“Where’d they go?” Settled into the swaying carriage, Alex watched his companion through narrowed eyes.

“Pickford and his light o’ love parted ways on a quiet little street a few blocks away from his house.”

“And the man?”

Tolley rubbed his chin with the backs of his fingers. His guileless blue eyes were troubled. “That’s the puzzle, sir. He followed
her
, not the major. I debated what to do, but my orders were to stick with Pickford, so that’s what I did.”

A sense of disappointment settled in Alex’s chest. He sighed. “So, for all we know, the man was some jealous husband, looking for his errant wife. I suppose we should find out who she is, Tolley. Would you know her again if you saw her?”

The young man nodded brusquely. “That I would, sir, that I would. A pretty bit of fluff, she was.”

“And him, our watcher, would you recognize him?”

“It was devilish dark and he kept to the shadows, but I think so.”

The carriage slowed and took a turn. Stretching out a leg, Alex thought about what the boy had told him. If indeed it was
El Diablo
following Pickford to the inn, he’d been a busy man last evening. If—again—the man in the garden had been one and the same.

Damn.

If Pickford had been anyone except a member of the committee, Alex would just assume the tryst and the stalker to be related to each other and not the murders. But an assumption like that right now might be disastrous.

As they rocked to a halt, he said abruptly, “O’Brien tells me that Lady Ashton’s servants haven’t heard a whisper about her and Lord Orschell. Yet his wife is convinced he was having an affair.”

“Sir?”

“I’ve been trying to find a common thread, something we can link together to help us find our man. Orschell was a married man, so is Pickford. Infidelity is hardly unusual, but maybe we’d better find out a little more about Pickford’s mistress, Tolley. If nothing else, the lady might be in grave danger. Our murderer might use her to trap the major.”

Tolley looked resigned, a faint smile playing at his mouth. “I suppose that means you want me to continue following the bugger, sir.”

“Problem, Tolley?”

“He’s a dull old sod. Can’t see what any pretty bird would see in him, that’s all.”

Alex lifted a brow. “I saw that dull old sod hold his command steady in Spain when younger, fitter men like yourself broke like schoolboys in the face of a French column and he stood there like a rock.”

Tolley had the grace to look apologetic, a dull red glow coming up in his face. “Sorry, meant no disrespect. Rest assured, I’ll do my best.”