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Dear lord. I expected him to ask questions of me, but I never thought it would be so soon or about this particular topic.
Mary clutched her hands tightly together in her lap and chose to stare into the fire’s flames instead of looking at the inspector, for she couldn’t bear to see the judgment or disappointment in his eyes.
“I met Francis, or rather Lord Stanwick, by accident.”
“How so?” With a frown at her, the inspector stood, crossed the room, and then softly closed the door. The fact he didn’t return to his chair spoke volumes. Did he truly not know who she was?
“Fourteen years ago, I was riding in a carriage with a friend on Rotten Row when he was driving his high perch phaeton recklessly and at a high rate of speed down the same thoroughfare. He barely got control of his cattle before his vehicle crashed into mine.”
Realization dawned on his chiseled face. “I remember that incident. I was living in London, had a position as a Bow Street Principal Officer. My son had just turned six, and the familial outrage regarding my brother’s escapades was at an all-time high.” Bright shook his head. “My father dressed him down after that incident, telling him he was a man of thirty who needed to settle down and make something of himself.”
“Yes, well, I’m not sure how much of that infiltrated his brain, considering what happened next.” The heat in her cheeks had nothing to do with the fire in the room. “For he was quite the rogue.”
“Francis has always been such. It’s a wonder to me that his marriage has remained intact so long without a whisper of scandal.”
She uttered an unladylike snort. “Just because you haven’t heard about it doesn’t mean scandal isn’t present.” It was nearly a paraphrase of what she’d told William before agreeing to come to this house party.
“Hell’s bells, never say that you and he—”
Never had she regretted her past indiscretion more. “We did. As I said, I was young and foolish, had my head turned by a handsome man about Town who promised the world.” She kept her gaze on the flames dancing in the hearth. “After the carriage incident, Lord Stanwick invited me to a masquerade ball his parents threw.”
Inspector Bright shoved a hand through that gloriously thick hair. “Christ, but I was at that event. My wife and I both were.”
“No doubt you were splendid in costume.” Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that, but then, she’d always found plain speaking to be more succinct and to the point than not. “I’d agonized over whether to attend, but my brother urged me to go, for in the event I could land the heir to a viscounty, my future would be set.” Oh, what a mistake that had been! “You see, at the time, I hadn’t known your brother had already made plans for an engagement with someone else.” She shrugged. “I was twenty and naïve and men hadn’t paid me any mind before. Well, certainly not men of consequence.”
“He led you down the garden path.” Again, it wasn’t a question, but his voice was guarded, as if he were well-practiced in not giving away his thoughts when he spoke.
“Oh, yes. Midway through the ball, he encouraged me into the butler’s pantry, and that is where we began our trysts.”
“I’d wondered where he’d got off to, but just assumed it was to further his courtship with Vivian—who is now his wife.”
For long moments, Mary remained quiet as thoughts of that time in her life flitted through her mind. She appreciated that Bright didn’t push for her to continue before she was ready. “We were together in that way for the summer, all of our meetings were of a clandestine nature. I’d thought it was because he didn’t want anyone to know he was courting me, but as I said, my head had been turned by him, and I fancied myself in love with him by the end of the summer.”
“I should call him out for what he did to you.” The words were propelled in a low thrilling growl that sent flutters dancing through her belly. “That was beyond the pale.”
Finally, she glanced at the inspector, surprised by his defense. “It was a long time ago, but I appreciate the sentiment. Over the years, I realized it wasn’t love at all, but an infatuation enhanced by physical intimacy. Yet it took years of maturing on my part to discover that.”
“Yet it didn’t help what happened,” he said, and his soft tones were like a soothing balm to the still ragged pieces of her spirit. “Whereas my arse of a brother has never done that, for I suspect he’s kept fancy pieces on the side, just cleverly away from his wife’s knowledge.”
Mary shook her head. “Do you honestly believe a woman wouldn’t know if her husband’s attentions were split?” Perhaps her own marriage had been different in the fact that her spouse had made no secret of his philandering.
An odd expression crossed his face that made her even more curious about him. “If the other person in the relationship is skilled enough, their partner will be none the wiser.”
“Perhaps.” It was a good reminder that men were naught but liars who preyed upon innocent women. After both of those relationships, trust of the opposite sex was difficult to come by. “Well, what your brother and I had came to a crashing and abrupt end the night your parents hosted a rout, where they announced Francis’ engagement to the daughter of a marquess.”
“Well, damn. I’ve always known he was a bounder, but to have his, his...” He floundered for words.
She took pity on him, for it truly had been a long time ago. “His whore?” When he choked at the word, Mary shook her head. “Call a spade a spade, Inspector. I wasn’t his mistress, for he didn’t pay me or put me under his protection or give me gifts.”
“But... at least a prostitute has some sort of payment.” Shock reflected in his eyes at the summation.
“When one is a con man at heart, why should one part with his coin if the woman in the puzzle doesn’t know better?” Surprised at the emotion in her voice, she shook her head. “Yes, the whole thing was in bad taste. I was devastated and humiliated. Of course, no one else in that room knew why, so I had to internalize the pain, but your brother dismissed me that evening as if I were dirt on the bottom of his boots.”
Inspector Bright sucked in a breath. He came to rest at the fireplace and put a hand on the mantel with a small notebook in hand. Had he been jotting notes this whole time? “You were dressed as some sort of Greek goddess.” When she nodded, his eyes flashed with anger. “I saw you as you ran from the room with tears on your cheeks. No wonder you caught Francis’ attention, for your looks were stunning.”
Oddly, the compliment helped to scrub the shame from the memories. “Fat lot of good that did me, hmm?” But she gave him a small smile, nonetheless. “Your brother’s world was the glittering environs of the ton whereas I’d been ruined, used, and discarded, tossed aside like rubbish to get on with my life the best I could.”
Life after Francis had been fraught with worry and struggle. It had taken months to work herself beyond the pain, and even then her parents had been concerned.
“I’m sorry. For everything that happened.” His eyes were kind as he held her gaze.
“I’ll wager you are. Especially since you kissed me in the carriage house.” She bounced her attention away from him, unable to see confirmation of what she said. “Now that you know who I am, you probably regret that.”
“Hardly. If anything, your history intrigues me even more.” When he returned to the chair he’d occupied earlier, Mary let out a tiny sigh of relief. Having him close was somewhat calming. “Now that we’ve settled that secret to my satisfaction, I can begin the official investigation. Did you have prior knowledge of Mr. Alderson before tonight?”
Had she? Mary thought back to the time with Francis. “I believe I’d only met him once.” She frowned and then felt her eyes widen. “It wasn’t especially pleasant.”
“How so?”
Heat went through her cheeks. “After I ran from the drawing room that night of the rout, he caught me at the front door. Told me that ‘men of the aristocracy find their entertainment cheaply but marry dear.’ Then he escorted me out of the house and put me in a hack. Sent me away with the warning that I shouldn’t hang about your brother or tempt him further.”
“How did that make you feel?”
She snorted. “How do you think, Inspector? I was humiliated by your brother. The butler’s added words threw fuel onto the fire, and I was angry that he would assume I was the one who’d led Francis astray.”
The inspector made a notation in his notebook. “Did Mr. Alderson and you exchange words when you came here yesterday?”
The heat in her cheeks engulfed her chest. “He warned me to stay away from the viscount, as if I have a wish to be anywhere near the man now.”
Another scribble went into his notebook. “I can imagine that might have reignited your anger for the situation.” When she remained quiet, he tried again. “Did you say anything to him after that?”
“I told him I had no intentions of seeing or even speaking with the viscount. When he didn’t appear to believe me, I asked Mr. Alderson to leave me alone, that my life and what I did with it was not his business.” Truly, the butler had overstepped his bounds, and she hadn’t appreciated it, especially since he’d made the comments while Adelaide had been nearly within earshot.
“I see.” The inspector scribbled another note on his page. “Which means you had motive to kill the butler.”
“What?” Surprise shot through her body, and she launched to her feet. “Are you accusing me of killing Mr. Alderson?” When he said nothing, she huffed. “I was standing beside you when he was killed!”
“While this is true, you could have had someone plunge a blade into his chest on your behalf.” He tucked his notebook and pencil into his pocket. “I have been looking into cases for many years, Mary, and I have seen people do much worse for less.”
“How would killing a butler benefit me?” Even she heard the incredulity in her voice. Shock coiled through her insides. “Why would you think such a thing?”
“That is not my concern; I only wish to know why you wanted him dead.” He shrugged. “Because of this, I rescind my offer to engage you as my assistant on this case. It would prove a conflict of interest and could skew my results.” Disappointment reflected in his eyes as he crossed the room and wrenched open the door. “This interview has concluded. Don’t think about leaving the manor house. There might be further questioning needed later.”
“Of course.”
“Go back to being a companion to your niece, Mrs. Tomlinson. Shield her from the worst of this, for as time goes on, truths uncovered won’t be pleasant.”
She nodded. “I assumed you weren’t one of those arrogant, self-serving men who dismissed women as if we’re stupid.” Since there was nothing else to say, she lifted her chin and swept from the room.
Hot anger cycled through her veins. How dare he insinuate that she might have killed Mr. Alderson! Could he not tell from her body language and her story that she was innocent? Then she berated herself, for she’d enjoyed their verbal bantering with him far too much and had thought he was different.
Never again.
Mary fumed in the bedchamber she shared with Adelaide for a good portion of the night. When her niece came in to retire, she asked what was amiss, but Mary waved her away, saying something hadn’t agreed with her over the course of the evening.
She wished she had Admiral Nelson with her, for petting the often-purring Persian cat had a way of soothing her that nothing else could, but she’d left the animal with William. It had been a mistake, for she could have sent the cat after that dratted Inspector Bright with the hopes that the feline would bite his ankles.
Why had she thought coming here was a good idea? Nothing good could ever happen when tangling with one of the Bright family.
An hour after her niece had fallen asleep, Mary still fumed. “If he thinks he can just dismiss me out of hand as if I haven’t a brain in my head or that I’m a criminal mastermind, he can think again, and he’s richly deserving of a dressing down.” Despite the fact the carriage-style clock on her bedside table softly chimed the midnight hour or the fact that she was clad in a thin muslin nightgown, she slid out of bed. The floor was chilly against her bare feet, but she didn’t wish to waste time in finding her slippers. Grabbing up a matching robe trimmed with soft lace and blue satin ribbons, she donned the garment and left the relative safety of her room, closing the door behind her.
All the candles in the corridor holders had been snuffed out already, which meant most of the household had retired for the night. Then it occurred to her that she hadn’t a clue which room had been assigned to the inspector. And what if he shared the room with his son? She hadn’t wished for an audience when she vented her spleen. Or worse yet, what if he hadn’t retired for the night at all, and instead was downstairs in the study, interviewing potential suspects?
Then a string of muffled curses erupted behind one of the doors midway down the corridor, and that voice could only belong to one man—Gabriel. But her anger wouldn’t settle until she’d had words with him, so, daring much, she pressed the brass handle, pushed open the door, and then quickly darted inside the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The sight that greeted her was one she hadn’t expected in a hundred years, for the inspector was utterly and completely naked as he lounged in a porcelain bathtub. A bar of soap lay on the floor along with a sponge. Perhaps he’d dropped those things and couldn’t retrieve them from his position in the tub.
Oh, dear. “Pardon me.” Though she quickly turned about, the expanse of his nude chest she’d had in that fleeting glance had sent heat into her blood. The dratted man was quite a toothsome specimen, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the mat of dark hair that covered his upper torso in an abstract butterfly-shaped pattern. “I didn’t expect to find you in such... undress.”
“Right.” He blew out a sharp breath. “I mean, here in my private room, behind a closed door, who would have thought I might be doing something I didn’t wish for anyone else to be privy to?” The water splashed as he shifted in the water.
Was he even now reaching for the soap?
She couldn’t help but snicker at the heavy sarcasm in his voice. “I came here to give you a dressing down, but considering the circumstances, I should go.” The longer she stood there wondering what the rest of his form looked like, the more heated she grew. Unexpected need tingled down her spine while her nipples tightened with the beginnings of arousal.
“Then why haven’t you? Most ladies would faint dead away at the sight of an unclothed man.” Annoyance mixed with sarcasm, but in his baritone, it was a heady mix, and didn’t scream the warning that it would have.
“I am a widow. I have seen a naked man.” But she had to admit, he was easy on the eyes, and remarkably, he looked nothing like his brother. In fact, the inspector was muscled and lean and hard in all the right places, while Francis—when she’d known him like that—hadn’t been nearly as fit or as hairy.
“True, but this is still quite scandalous, yet you linger here.” More splashing ensued, and curious, she turned around.
Oh, dear God. Her knees were in danger of buckling, for the man had stood up in the tub. Rivulets of water ran down his body, through the wet mat of hair on his chest, down his torso, and those drops continued on down his muscled thighs and legs. And oh heavens, his shaft was half-erect even though he’d been in the water.
“Mercy,” she couldn’t help but whisper, and since she was naturally curious and definitely not a shrinking violet, she continued to look her fill as that lovely appendage twitched. “You are quite... something.”
“Ha.” The inspector grinned, and he was slow to reach for a towel that waited on the side of the porcelain tub, even slower in wrapping it about his waist. “I don’t know that I’ve ever had that reaction before.”
Heat slapped at her cheeks. “I apologize.”
“No, you don’t. From what little I know of you, the first thing you say is the most honest.” He stepped out of the tub. “What do you want, Mary, and please don’t say you came here to chase scandal with me.”
She glanced about the room. It was much like the one she shared with Adelaide, but instead of two narrow beds in hers, there was only one in this space. “I did not, and suffice it to say, I don’t know that I could trust a man again to allow for such intimacy.” When his gaze roved from her face to her bosom, she quickly wrapped her robe more firmly about her body and crossed her arms over her breasts to hide the evidence of her interest in him. “But I did come here for a purpose.”
“Oh?” One of his dratted eyebrows cocked in challenge. “I cannot wait to hear it.”
“Don’t be more of an arse than you already are.” Remembering why she’d come, she narrowed her eyes on him. “I don’t appreciate the fact you dismissed me out of hand earlier this evening. You and I both know I didn’t kill the butler, so if you’ve withdrawn your offer of being your assistant, I can only think it is because of my history with your brother.” Emotion crowded her throat, but she swallowed it down. “If that is what you are basing my character upon, I have obviously misjudged you.”
“Yet by your own admission, your head was turned by my brother, which means you might become distracted during an investigation, and you also admitted there was no love lost between you and Mr. Alderson. That hints at motive, and I would be remiss if I didn’t keep you on my suspect list.”
“How dare you.” Once more, her anger flared, and perhaps it was residual annoyance left over from living beneath her husband’s thumb or finding herself right back in the snare with Francis, but she would unleash her ire on the brother. Quickly closing the distance between them, she drilled a forefinger into his chest, his naked, hard, wet chest that temporarily robbed her of the ability to breathe. “I am more than capable of handling myself in these situations. I am well read. I am articulate. I am able to converse in social settings without angering people like you seem to do.” Poke, poke. “And while I don’t regret anything that happened in my past, those choices have helped to shape me into the woman I am today.”
“Surely you can see the situation from my perspective.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can, of course, but you are wrong.” Without fear, she held his gaze while ignoring the gold flecks in those gorgeous hazel depths. “If you can tell me that you didn’t have feelings of animosity toward Mr. Alderson, or if you never had your head turned by a woman who later ripped out your heart, I will gladly leave this room and let you go about your investigation without a peep, but if those two things are true, you have no right to pass erroneous judgment on me.”
For long moments, he stared at her, but she refused to back down. He was wrong, and he needed to understand that. “I will concede that you might have a point.”
“Good.” When she let her hand drop, he caught it in one of his. “Does this mean I can assist on the case?” Despite warning herself not to look at his chest, she did it anyway. What she wouldn’t give to lick at one of those water drops that clung heroically to the hair on his chest. Snap out of it! He is not for you.
“I think that we can perhaps come to an arrangement.” There was an intensity in his eyes that had a wave of awareness rolling over her, and slowly he moved his head toward hers.
Dear heavens! Did he intend to kiss her? She watched him for as long as she dared before her eyes shuttered closed.
But when he did no such thing, they popped open to find him regarding her with amusement in those hazel depths. Then he put his lips to the shell of her ear. “We shall resume our investigation directly after breakfast has concluded.” The heat of his breath skated over her cheek and ear. “But unless you would enjoy finding yourself embroiled in hot, torrid, and quite pleasurable endeavors, you need to remove yourself from my room.”
“Oh.” Mary slid her gaze down his body to linger at his groin where the towel was quite blatantly tented. “Oh!” Heat rushed into her cheeks, but she nodded and scuttled across the room to the door. “At breakfast, then.” Never had she exited a bedchamber so quickly nor had she let a man discomfit her so roundly since the long-ago day when she’d met his brother. Her feet made no sound as she made her way along the corridor. “Mary Katherine Tomlinson, you have no business flirting or doing anything else with a man,” she reminded herself in a whisper as she gained her own room. Quickly, she flung herself into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
It doesn’t matter that he looks like scandal and sin or that you might wish to ride him into exhaustion. Men will ruin your life, and you’ve already experienced that twice. No more!
Yet it would be a long time indeed until she could fall asleep, for she couldn’t evict the image of Inspector Bright’s naked form from her mind.
