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Authors: TASHA ALEXANDER
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anything in the house has been disturbed,” Davis said.
“I’m not surprised,” Colin said.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, madam? Shall I summon the police?”
“Must we?” I asked Colin.
“You will have to talk to them in the morning, but there’s nothing they can do now that I can’t take care of myself.”
“I’m quite all right, Davis. Thank you for your assistance.” The butler left, leaving the door partly open behind him. Colin opened it the rest of the way.
“I don’t want to compromise your reputation.” He looked at the letter again. “Have you received any other similar notes?”
“Just the one you saw me open some weeks ago.” I was suddenly aware that I was wearing nothing but my nightgown and a flimsy lace robe, and that Colin, who had dressed in a great hurry, had only partly buttoned the wrinkled shirt that he had neglected to tuck into his trousers. “I am most grateful that you came so quickly,” I said quietly, tears filling my eyes. “I want to believe that I could face any situation head-on, with no assistance, but find myself more vulnerable than I expected.”
“No one should have to face every situation alone, Emily.”
“Having you here is an enormous comfort.”
“I am loath to leave you at all tonight,” he said. “But you know I cannot stay.” He picked me up and carried me across the room, placing me gently on the bed. “Try to sleep.” Tracing my lips with a finger, he smiled. “I suppose this is inappropriate, but I can’t resist pointing out that, were we married, you would not have to spend this night alone.”
And then he was gone, but he did not return to his house on Park Lane. Davis informed me the next morning that, after conducting a thorough search of the house and grounds, Colin had stayed in the garden, pacing beneath my window, for the remainder of the night.
6
I NSPECTOR M ANNING ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING , just as Cécile and I were sitting down at the breakfast table. The cheerful room, filled with sunshine and freshly cut flowers, belied the sullen mood of its occupants. The inspector questioned me about the events of the previous evening but admitted to having no leads as to the identity of the intruder. There seemed little hope that he would ever be caught.
“Please eat something, Inspector,” I said. “I really must insist. There’s no point letting all this food go to waste, and I’ve no appetite this morning.”
“Thank you, Lady Ashton.” He hesitated for a moment, but the temptation of the dishes on the sideboard was too great. He picked up a plate and began to fill it.
“So this intruder left no clues?” Cécile asked.
“Not that we can find. He’s a skilled thief.” He dove into his eggs and smiled gratefully when the maid gave him a steaming cup of coffee. “I would like to assure you that we’ll be able to keep news of this from reaching the papers, but I’m afraid that would be a false promise.”
I sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. Have you any objection to my returning the diamond to Mrs. Francis?”
“Not in the least. So far, the local constabulary has handled the case in Richmond, but I am hoping that now we may be able to transfer it to Scotland Yard.”
“Do you think there’s a connection between the thefts and the murders?”
“Not necessarily,” the detective said. “But don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Mr. Hargreaves has asked that I once again increase the patrols near your house, something I will do gladly. I’ve also arranged to have an undercover policeman stationed in Berkeley Square overnight.”
“Thank you. I will rest easier knowing that.”
“Do you think she is in danger?” Cécile asked.
“If the intruder had wanted to harm her, he had ample opportunity to do so last night. It seems that his interest in Lady Ashton is of a…er…romantic nature. Still, I wouldn’t like to see you have another run-in with him. Difficult
“I’m not surprised,” Colin said.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, madam? Shall I summon the police?”
“Must we?” I asked Colin.
“You will have to talk to them in the morning, but there’s nothing they can do now that I can’t take care of myself.”
“I’m quite all right, Davis. Thank you for your assistance.” The butler left, leaving the door partly open behind him. Colin opened it the rest of the way.
“I don’t want to compromise your reputation.” He looked at the letter again. “Have you received any other similar notes?”
“Just the one you saw me open some weeks ago.” I was suddenly aware that I was wearing nothing but my nightgown and a flimsy lace robe, and that Colin, who had dressed in a great hurry, had only partly buttoned the wrinkled shirt that he had neglected to tuck into his trousers. “I am most grateful that you came so quickly,” I said quietly, tears filling my eyes. “I want to believe that I could face any situation head-on, with no assistance, but find myself more vulnerable than I expected.”
“No one should have to face every situation alone, Emily.”
“Having you here is an enormous comfort.”
“I am loath to leave you at all tonight,” he said. “But you know I cannot stay.” He picked me up and carried me across the room, placing me gently on the bed. “Try to sleep.” Tracing my lips with a finger, he smiled. “I suppose this is inappropriate, but I can’t resist pointing out that, were we married, you would not have to spend this night alone.”
And then he was gone, but he did not return to his house on Park Lane. Davis informed me the next morning that, after conducting a thorough search of the house and grounds, Colin had stayed in the garden, pacing beneath my window, for the remainder of the night.
6
I NSPECTOR M ANNING ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE EARLY THE NEXT MORNING , just as Cécile and I were sitting down at the breakfast table. The cheerful room, filled with sunshine and freshly cut flowers, belied the sullen mood of its occupants. The inspector questioned me about the events of the previous evening but admitted to having no leads as to the identity of the intruder. There seemed little hope that he would ever be caught.
“Please eat something, Inspector,” I said. “I really must insist. There’s no point letting all this food go to waste, and I’ve no appetite this morning.”
“Thank you, Lady Ashton.” He hesitated for a moment, but the temptation of the dishes on the sideboard was too great. He picked up a plate and began to fill it.
“So this intruder left no clues?” Cécile asked.
“Not that we can find. He’s a skilled thief.” He dove into his eggs and smiled gratefully when the maid gave him a steaming cup of coffee. “I would like to assure you that we’ll be able to keep news of this from reaching the papers, but I’m afraid that would be a false promise.”
I sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. Have you any objection to my returning the diamond to Mrs. Francis?”
“Not in the least. So far, the local constabulary has handled the case in Richmond, but I am hoping that now we may be able to transfer it to Scotland Yard.”
“Do you think there’s a connection between the thefts and the murders?”
“Not necessarily,” the detective said. “But don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Mr. Hargreaves has asked that I once again increase the patrols near your house, something I will do gladly. I’ve also arranged to have an undercover policeman stationed in Berkeley Square overnight.”
“Thank you. I will rest easier knowing that.”
“Do you think she is in danger?” Cécile asked.
“If the intruder had wanted to harm her, he had ample opportunity to do so last night. It seems that his interest in Lady Ashton is of a…er…romantic nature. Still, I wouldn’t like to see you have another run-in with him. Difficult
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