Charles watched as Jonathan’s widow slipped out of the room. He relaxed and settled back in the chair. It was difficult to maintain a pleasant disposition around someone who had something to hide.
She killed Jonathan. There was no doubt about it. She had trouble meeting his gaze. She kept shifting in the chair. Her hands trembled while she was drinking and eating. There was even a slight waver in her voice. All signs pointed to her being guilty.
The problem was that he had to prove it. Obviously, he couldn’t come right out and accuse her. She’d only deny it.
No, he had to be smart about this. He couldn’t let her know he knew the truth. He was going to have to be better than her. She was clever. She’d managed to fool everyone. Even the doctor didn’t believe there was anything suspicious about Jonathan’s untimely death. And if she was telling him the truth, that her brother was a Runner, then he bet she had picked up little tricks from him on getting away with crimes.
He had to figure this out, and he had to do it without arousing her suspicions. He was going to have to get close to her if he was going to prove she murdered his friend. And to do that, he was going to have to seem genuinely interested in her.
When she returned to the drawing room with the cane, he stood up to take it from her. “Thank you.”
He turned the cane over in his hands. Yes, it was Jonathan’s. He recognized the nick in the handle. Jonathan had dropped it by accident when they were walking down the steps of Lord Clement’s ball. That had been a year ago. He forced back the lump in his throat.
“I wish I had gotten to know him better,” she said, her voice soft. “He seemed like such a wonderful person.”
“He was,” Charles replied. It took all of his willpower not to demand she tell him why she killed him. Instead, he forced himself to meet her gaze and added, “Some people are gone much too soon.”
She nodded and lowered her gaze.
An admission of guilt. He was sure of it. He glanced over at the rest of the tea and crumpets. He couldn’t find a reason to linger here, and it was likely that she’d grow suspicious if he didn’t leave now that he’d gotten the cane.
He gave her a smile that hinted at flirtation and said, “I look forward to seeing you again.”
She seemed as if she didn’t know how to respond, and since it gave him the advantage, he wished her a pleasant afternoon then left the townhouse. He wasn’t sure he could keep coming to this townhouse to visit her. What he needed was to have some chance encounter with her. Otherwise, it would be too obvious. He had to be careful. He had to outwit her.
He got into his carriage and gripped the cane. It was ridiculous how many people thought she had planned to make a life with his friend. All she’d wanted was his money. It was no secret that Jonathan made a lot of money in the past year. He had become one of the most attractive bachelors in a very short time. She had come along and claimed him. She probably used her brother to accomplish her goal.
If only Jonathan had told him more about her.
If only he had thought to ask Jonathan more details about her and why he had agreed to the marriage.
He set his head against the back of the seat and closed his eyes. There was no point in going over the things he should have done. It wasn’t going to solve anything. All he could do was avenge his friend’s death, and the only way to do that was to prove his bride had murdered him. And he was going to do just that. One way or another, he was going to see to it that justice prevailed.
***
“Won’t you join the rest of us and play cards?” Heather Easton, Viscountess Powell, asked as she approached the chair.
Charles looked up from the cane he was holding. His sister stood in front of him, a concerned expression on her face.
“I shouldn’t have come tonight,” Charles said. “It’s not right that I should enjoy myself while Jonathan lies in the grave. I should be alone in my room like our younger sisters are.”
“It’s just a game of cards,” she replied. “You’re not going to a ball or the theatre. You’ve been in your home for the past two weeks since the funeral. Father and Mother are right. You need to be a part of life. Jonathan would want that.”
“I know. He was the kindest person who ever lived.”
He forced back his tears. It was difficult to go through so many emotions. At times, he was so determined to avenge his friend’s death that he was too angry to cry. Then at other times, like now, all he could do was dwell on the fact that he’d never see Jonathan again. All he had was the cane, and the cane was a lousy substitute for his friend.
With a sigh, Heather knelt in front of him. “He was kind. Kinder than most. It’s not fair that he’s gone. Perhaps Gill and I shouldn’t have had a dinner party this evening. We only wished to cheer you up.”
He glanced over at the table where their parents, their nineteen-year-old cousin, and Gill were playing cards. They were all here to cheer him up. It wasn’t their fault their plan hadn’t worked. They had promised a quiet dinner and a relaxing evening. It was a promise they had kept. He just couldn’t bring himself to go along with it.
All he could think about was the last time he’d seen Jonathan. That had been at the wedding breakfast. Jonathan had seemed so happy. He was looking forward to the rest of his life. Little did any of them know he’d never live to see another sunrise.
“I’m sorry,” Charles said. “I shouldn’t have come. I’m just not in the mood for this.”
He stood up, and she rose to her feet.
He stepped around her and went to the table where the others were playing cards. Charles stopped as an idea came to him.
His cousin might be nineteen, but she was a lady. Ladies had liberties gentlemen didn’t. They could visit other ladies and take walks with each other whenever they wanted. He’d been struggling to come up with a way to see Jonathan’s widowed bride again. His cousin very well could be the answer he was looking for.
“Reina, may I have a moment with you in private?” Charles asked his cousin.
Reina wiped a blonde wisp of hair from her eyes then put her cards down. “All right. I was going to lose this hand anyway.”
Ignoring the curious stares from the others, Charles led her over to the corner and waited until the others resumed their card game before softly asking, “How good are you at keeping secrets?”
“Did you hear about the thing that happened to my mother two years ago?” she asked.
“Something happened to your mother?”
“You don’t know because I didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m not telling you.”
Realizing she’d been making a point, he smiled. “That’s good.”
She returned his smile. “I might be young, but I have my wits about me.”
“Can you also pretend to be friends with someone?”
Not hiding her surprise, she said, “I suppose, but I’ve never had a need to do that. What is this about?”
“I can’t go into detail, but I need to get better acquainted with a lady and I don’t know how to do it without seeming too obvious.”
Her eyes lit up. “I had no idea you fancied someone.”
He debated whether he should tell her that he was only pretending he was interested in the widow, but it might be best if she thought he was sincerely interested in her.
“Do you want your sister to help, too?” Reina asked.
“No. Heather’s expecting a child, and she has her own family to think about.”
“Oh, that’s understandable.”
“There’s no need to tell her. Or the others. I’d rather keep this just between us.”
“You have no need to worry. I won’t say a word to anyone.” She let out a quiet cheer and patted him on the arm. “I can’t wait to do my part for true love. When should I start my role?”
Since she was so willing to do it, he ventured, “Is tomorrow too soon?”
“Tomorrow’s perfect. I have nothing to do. Where should I meet her?”
“At her townhouse.”
She bit her lower lip then asked, “You want me to go to her townhouse without her permission?”
“Not exactly.” He glanced at the others who were finishing up their game. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I don’t want to risk them hearing.”
“All right. I can’t wait to find out what we’re going to do.”
He watched her as she returned to the card table. He probably should play at least one hand, but the truth was, he would only lose. He had much to plan. He needed to come up with an excuse to get Reina to meet Jonathan’s widow. Everything had to be done just right. He couldn’t leave out a single detail.
Grasping the cane more firmly in his hand, he went to his family, excused himself for the evening, and took his carriage home.