The Mayfair Affair (2 page)

"I've kept people out of it. There's no sign of forced entry. And the servants say they admitted no one else to the house."

"Someone else could have come in through the secret entrance," Suzanne said.

"They could," Roth conceded.

Malcolm recalled the flashes of wry amusement he'd glimpsed in Laura Dudley's gaze when she didn't think she was being observed. And the way she would retreat behind her governess façade if the conversation began to verge remotely on the personal. "Who else knows?" he asked.

"I woke the duchess and informed her. She had no idea why Miss Dudley might have had business with the duke."

Malcolm drew a breath. "Does Carfax know?"

"I haven't informed him yet. Or the home secretary or the prime minister or anyone else. I came to you first."

Malcolm met his friend's gaze, knowing full well the risk Roth had run. "Thank you."

Roth inclined his head. "I've always liked Miss Dudley. I can't ignore the obvious implications of tonight's events, but I agree they're confusing on the surface."

"We want to see Laura," Suzanne said.

"I assumed you would. Though I should warn you she says she won't talk."

"Not surprising." Suzanne stood and shook out the folds of her dressing gown.

"But if you can get her to talk, there's one thing you might ask her about," Roth said.

"Yes?" Malcolm asked.

"The footman said that as he bent over the dying duke, Trenchard whispered the name 'Emily.'"

"I'm coming with you, Malcolm." In their bedchamber, Suzanne dragged a chemise over her head and pulled on a front-lacing corset.

"Of course. Laura's more likely to talk to you than me."

"I'm afraid she won't talk to either of us." Suzanne tugged at the corset laces. "Which is going to make it damnably difficult to help her."

"Suzette—"

Suzanne looked up to find her husband staring at her, waistcoat unbuttoned over his shirt, cravat dangling from his fingers, gaze dark with suspicions neither had yet dared voice.

"You're right." Suzanne tied the laces in a quick bow and reached for the mulberry sarcenet gown she had pulled from the wardrobe and thrown over a chairback. "We can't be sure Laura didn't kill Trenchard. But I'm sure if she did there were extenuating circumstances."

Malcolm wound the cravat round his neck and knotted the ends with a haste that would horrify his valet. "You can't be sure of that, Suzette. I've come to think of Laura as one of the family, but one can never really know what another person is capable of—"

He broke off. Suzanne met his gaze in the suddenly taut air. There it was, the truth they rarely voiced but that underlay their every interaction now. She looked into her husband's gray eyes, which she knew would never again meet her own quite so openly as they once had. They'd only get through this by confronting the ugly truth head on. "As I myself showed you," she said.

His mouth twisted in a way that cut her in two. "Believe it or not, I wasn't thinking of that."

"No, but we always seem to circle back to it, one way and another." She dropped into a chair, clutching her gown. "It would be understandable if you didn't trust anyone just now, darling."

"I wouldn't say that." Malcolm began to button his waistcoat, fingers quick and precise. "But I can't but be aware that one can be blind to truths even about those to whom one is closest. We don't know Laura anywhere near as well as I'd have said I knew you."

Suzanne gripped the silk braid that edged the sarcenet sleeves of the gown. She wasn't sure if it made it better or worse that he could speak about it so calmly. She stood up, dropped the dress over her head, and slid her arms into the long, tight sleeves. "I know it sounds absurd for me to be so certain. But for all Laura's reserve, I can't believe she's a cold-blooded killer."

"Why such certainty?"

Suzanne's fingers froze on the jet buttons on her waistcoat bodice. "Because I trusted her with our children." She gave a laugh sharp with despair.

Malcolm's mouth curved in rueful acknowledgement. "So did I."

"But it's more than that." Suzanne did up the last button. "Laura might kill in self-defense or to protect someone she loved, but not in cold blood."

Malcolm reached for his coat. "So you're a better judge of people than I am?"

"Of course not. I'm a lot of things, but I don't think I'm a cold-blooded killer either." She regarded her husband, hands at her sides. It seemed unfair to barricade herself in any way. "I've told you I'm not nearly as nice a person as you thought I was, Malcolm. But fundamentally, I
am
the person you thought you knew."

"So you can't believe Laura is a cold-blooded murderer, but you wouldn't be shocked by her being a French spy?" Malcolm stared at Suzanne a moment. She felt the force of those first moments after he'd learned she had been a Bonapartist agent, but his gaze was now ruthlessly neutral. "
Is
Laura a French spy?"

"Good God, darling, I'd have told you."

"Would you?"

Suzanne drew a breath. "Probably. That is—"

"I don't think so. I think you'd have reasoned why ruin Laura's life as well as your own."

"Perhaps. But as it happens, she isn't a French agent." Suzanne met her husband's gaze. So many moments between them these days seemed to be tests that could take them forwards or backwards on the fragile neutral ground that was their marriage. "Do you believe me?"

"God help me, yes." He crossed to her side and took her face between his hands. "You're my wife. I'm your husband. We've made it through three months. The hardest part is behind us."

"We haven't had to cope with an investigation."

"Especially one that involves Carfax, however tangentially." His eyes darkened, but he stroked his thumb against her cheek. "But an investigation could be a good distraction."

She swallowed, a metallic tang in her throat. "That depends on what it uncovers."

For a moment, she saw the fear that coiled within her reflected in his eyes. Then he smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You've assured me Laura isn't a French spy. We should be safe."

She returned his smile, because that was the only thing to do. But the fear coiled tighter in her chest.

Because when had anything about their marriage ever been safe?

"I'm sorry you had to be disturbed, Mr. Rannoch. Mrs. Rannoch." Laura Dudley got to her feet from the straight-backed chair in the small room above the Brown Bear Tavern where she'd been sitting. A tarnished brass brace of candles burned on a small round table. "I'd have told Mr. Roth not to send to you, but I knew it would be a waste of breath."

Malcolm ducked his head beneath the low lintel and pulled the door to behind them. "I thought you'd got round to calling us Malcolm and Suzanne."

Laura smoothed her hands over the skirt of her gown. Her lace-edged cuffs were twitched straight, but patches of crusted blood showed on the dove gray of her skirts. "I think we can both agree that circumstances have changed tonight."

Malcolm reached for the other chair in the room and held it out for Suzanne. "Laura, I don't for a minute believe you committed cold-blooded murder."

"Nonsense. You have to at least have considered the possibility. Or can't you admit that you might have been foolish enough to trust your children with a woman capable of murder?"

Malcolm risked a glance at his wife and the saw the wry acknowledgment in her eyes. "Are you confessing?" he asked.

"I'm telling you you're both better out of this."

"Suzanne and I can take care of ourselves." Malcolm gestured to the chair Laura had vacated. "Won't you sit down, Laura? I can't do so until you do."

She gave a faint smile that did not reach her eyes and sank into the chair.

Malcolm dropped down on the edge of a cot covered with a blue blanket. "I've already sent word to a solicitor."

"I don't want one."

"What are you planning on doing?"

"Looking after myself. I'm quite good at it."

"Even you would find that somewhat difficult in these circumstances," Suzanne said. "What were you doing there, Laura?"

"I needed to see Trenchard." Laura folded her hands in her lap. "You can make whatever assumptions you wish."

"I never make obvious assumptions," Suzanne said. "Neither does Malcolm."

"So you don't think I was his mistress?"

"Were you?" Suzanne asked.

Laura gave a faint smile. "It would have been difficult to find time for it."

"Quite. Unless you're generally in the habit of slipping from the house at night. And if it's a habit, I flatter myself I'd have noticed."

"I daresay you would. I'm sorry about your pistol by the way. I trust Mr. Roth has returned it to you. I wouldn't have taken it if I could have thought of another way to come by one."

"If you'd explained things to me, I'd have been happy to lend it to you."

Laura's gaze locked on Suzanne's through the shadows. "I doubt it."

"You could always tell us what you wanted it for and let us judge for ourselves."

Laura surveyed Suzanne for a long moment. "Mrs. Rannoch, you've been good to me." Her gaze moved to Malcolm. "So have you, Mr. Rannoch. I'm exceedingly fond of Colin and Jessica. I don't want you anywhere near what's going to happen."

"Point taken," Suzanne said. "But if you know us at all, you must know it's a waste of breath."

"What's going to happen?" Malcolm asked.

"Nothing if you go home and stay out of this."

"Are you being threatened?"

"That would be an easy way out, wouldn't it? If I were a victim. But there's nothing easy about this."

"Trenchard was Lord Carfax's son-in-law. There's no way Suzanne and I are going to stay out of this, even if we wanted to."

"I would think Carfax's involvement would make you want to stay as far away as possible."

Malcolm willed his hands not to tense. There was no reason to believe Laura knew anything about Suzanne. Of course there had also been no reason to believe she'd known the Duke of Trenchard. "Let me deal with Carfax. I've been doing it for a long time."

"As you wish."

Malcolm stared into Laura's dark blue eyes. "You knew Trenchard."

"You're hardly going to believe I called at such an hour on a man I'd only met for a few moments in the company of my charges."

"How did you know about the secret entrance?"

"Trenchard showed it to me. And no, I'm not going to elaborate."

"All right." Malcolm sat back on the cot. "Assuming you didn't kill him, I presume you'd like to learn who did. What did you see when you stepped into Trenchard's study?"

Rather to his surprise, Laura's brows drew together in a seemingly genuine effort of memory. "One lamp was lit. I couldn't see Trenchard at first, but I could smell the blood. Then I heard the rasp of his breathing. I stepped round the desk—he was lying behind it, in front of the drinks trolley. The blood had soaked through his waistcoat and coat. I flung open the door and screamed for the footman, then I tried to stop the bleeding." She glanced down at the stains on her dress. For a moment, he thought her iron composure might crack. But though Laura's fingers whitened against the bloodstained gray of her gown, her features remained composed.

"Did the duke say anything?" Malcolm asked.

"I think he was beyond speech. His breathing was
—
difficult. I'm not even sure he knew who I was." She drew a breath, as though afraid she might have revealed too much.

"It must have been very difficult," Malcolm said.

Laura's fingers tightened. "In truth it happened so quickly I scarcely had time to think. The footman sent for a doctor but within minutes it was clear His Grace was gone. I thought it best to send for Mr. Roth."

Malcolm kept his gaze steady on her face. "You could have made your escape without sending for anyone at all, including the footman."

"Had the duke already been dead I might have done. But I'm not quite such a monster as to leave a man to die."

"You're a very astute woman, Laura. I know you were in shock. But did you note anything in the room that might give a clue to who had done this?"

Laura frowned, again in a seemingly genuine effort at recall. "There was no sign of a struggle. Whoever did this, it was someone he knew."

"Did you notice any sign anyone else had used the secret passage?"

"No. Given His Grace's state, if that's how the murderer came in and out of the house, he or she was only minutes before me."

"Or was still hiding in the house when you got there."

Laura's eyes widened. "Dear God. I didn't consider
—
But of course that's a possibility." Her hands locked, and Malcolm would swear she suppressed a shiver.

"I'd shiver at thought myself," Malcolm said.

"If he or she was there I obviously didn't come to any harm."

Malcolm nodded. "If you think of anything else send word to me. I'm not sure where they're taking you, but one or both of us will visit you tomorrow along with Alan Cunningham, the solicitor we're going to engage."

Laura glanced between them. Her eyes were at once granite hard and suspiciously bright. "Mr. Rannoch. Mrs. Rannoch. You don't owe me anything."

"On the contrary," Suzanne said. "Whatever else you've done, it doesn't change what you've done for Colin and Jessica these past years."

Laura met her gaze. For a moment, Malcolm sensed the children were as tangible between them as when Laura put Jessica in Suzanne's arms or they bent together over Colin's schoolroom slate. "I thought you might be cursing yourself for trusting me with them."

"No. I'm unshakably sure I was right to do so."

"You're a clever woman, Mrs. Rannoch. But that could be a very foolish mistake."

"It could. I don't think it is."

Laura swallowed. "Tell Colin
—
Tell him I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to finish
Robin Hood
."

"I'm sure you will finish it before long."

"You're an optimist, Mrs. Rannoch. It's a good quality in a mother."

Malcolm got to his feet and helped Suzanne up. "You're too sensible a woman to refuse help, Laura."

Laura stood as well, shaking out her skirts as she always did. "Perhaps I'm just sensible enough to know when it's useless."

"Nonsense," Suzanne said. "You're no more the self-sacrificial sort than I am."

Malcolm moved to the door, but turned back, one hand on the tarnished handle. A seemingly casual action, but in fact careful stagecraft. "Oh, one more thing. Who's Emily?"

Laura tensed, but merely said, "I haven't the least idea."

"Trenchard died saying her name."

Laura's gaze went shuttered. "Then I would look for clues among his effects."

"Well?" Roth met them at the base of the stairs.

"Very little more than she told you," Malcolm said. "I wish I knew whom she was protecting."

"If she killed him, she's clever enough to have made up a better story," Suzanne said.

"Perhaps. Fear and guilt can make people do odd things."

"I'd wager she feels guilt," Malcolm said. "But not because she murdered Trenchard. Where are you taking her?"

"Newgate," Roth said. "We should be able to move her in a few hours."

"We'll want to see her tomorrow."

"Both of us," Suzanne said.

"I expected as much."

"And I'm sending Alan Cunningham to wait on her," Malcolm added.

Roth nodded.

Malcolm pressed a purse into Roth's hand. "This is to make sure she's comfortable. I know you'll see it gets to the right people."

"Of course."

"Can we see Trenchard's study?"

Roth hesitated. "I don't see why not, if I'm with you. But
—
"

"You can't share the investigation with us because we aren't unbiased observers. Quite."

"Just as we can't necessarily share everything we discover with you," Suzanne said.

Roth grimaced. "I hope to God she isn't guilty. But
—
"

"It's your job." Malcolm touched his arm. "I know what it's like to feel distaste for one's job."

The door swung open. A wiry, compact, purposeful presence swept into the room, the dark folds of his greatcoat snapping about his ankles. Lord Carfax stopped, pushed his spectacles up on his nose, and surveyed the three of them. "Malcolm. Suzanne. Glad you're here. This will save time."

"My lord
—
" Roth began.

"Spare me." Carfax put out a hand. "Did you really think I'd remain ignorant of a murder in Mayfair for three hours?"

"You had a source in Trenchard's house?" Malcolm asked.

"My daughter. Mary sent for me." Carfax paused in the center of the room, shrugged out of his greatcoat, and began to remove his gloves. "I take it Miss Dudley is upstairs?"

Roth flicked a gaze at Malcolm. "Do you want to speak with her?"

"Not at present. I doubt she'd say anything to me she wouldn't say to Malcolm and Suzanne. Where are you taking her?"

"Newgate."

"She'll be watched," Malcolm said. "She isn't going to disappear."

"My dear Malcolm, you over estimate my nefarious designs and perhaps underestimate my morals."

"I merely proceed based on past experience."

"A fair point. But in this case I'm here as a concerned father."

The idea of Carfax's concerns being strictly domestic was laughable, but Malcolm had seen him show seemingly genuine affection for his children. Quite unlike the man Malcolm had grown up calling Father.

Carfax removed his second glove and slapped the pair down on the table. "What was your governess doing at Trenchard House?"

"She won't tell us," Malcolm said.

"Leaving one to draw obvious conclusions."

"Rather too obvious for a woman of Laura's subtlety."

Carfax held Malcolm's gaze in the flickering lamplight. "Yes, I thought you'd take her side. Personal loyalties have always been your weakness."

"Perhaps. But look at the hard facts, sir. She brought a pistol but it's not the pistol Trenchard was killed with. She could have fled through the secret passage and left the duke to die. Instead she summoned help and then sent to Bow Street."

Carfax aligned the fingers of the gloves. "Your logic is nearly as annoying as your weakness for personal loyalties, Malcolm. I admit you have a point." He swung his gaze to Roth. "That's why I want you to let him assist you in your investigation, Mr. Roth."

Malcolm could often keep up with Carfax, but he wasn't sure he had heard aright. "You want me to investigate?"

"And for once I assume you aren't going to refuse to undertake the mission. I assume you're going to investigate in any case."

"And you think—"

"I have no illusions that you aren't hopelessly biased in Miss Dudley's defense. While I admit there are irregularities in the case against her, I am by no means as certain as you of her innocence. But I agree it would be best to learn the truth. And the best chance of arriving at that is to have you working with Mr. Roth."

"Because people will say things to him that they won't to me." Jeremy Roth was not one to be intimidated by authority.

Carfax met Roth's gaze. "Quite. This is Mayfair." The earl picked up his gloves and slapped them against his hand. "I know your Radical sensibilities, Mr. Roth. But you're also said to be very good at your job. I trust you take your job seriously enough that you won't let Malcolm get away with covering up the truth."