A Little Mischief (25 page)

Daniel pushed aside the remains of his eggs, cheese, and toast. “Not you, too. Miss Winslowe and I would never suit. She’s too—” Daniel stopped abruptly.

Why wouldn’t they suit? The lady was headstrong, but he didn’t mind that. Her free thinking and adventurous attitude didn’t bother him, either, but those weren’t the things an earl needed in a wife. He needed a woman who wanted to make a home and have children. Isabella wanted her Wallflowers Society, intrigue, and mischief.

“Too what?” Chilton asked.

Daniel picked up his cup and sipped his coffee. “Too perplexing,” he finally said. And she was.

“Perplexing? Is that the best you can come up with? Damnation, Danny, every woman is perplexing. Name me one who isn’t.”

No, not like Isabella. He could also add that she was intelligent and capable and not easily frightened, but he didn’t want to share that with his friend.

Daniel glanced over his cup at Chilton’s stricken features and chuckled.

“Perhaps I meant to say I need a wife who will be submissive and obedient, and those are two things Miss Winslowe will never be.”

“You think this because she wouldn’t relinquish her handkerchief to you?”

Daniel remembered how clever Isabella had been concerning the handkerchief, but he had to be careful. Thoughts of last night would lead him to remember how delicious she felt in his arms, and he had to forget those things about her.

“Just take my word for it that she would not make me a good wife, and leave it at that.”

“Ah, yes, I guess an earl would need a wife to be submissive to him. Well, if you want a wife like that, there are plenty to choose from.”

Somehow a wife like that didn’t sound so appealing when Chilton said it.

“Who else have you pursued?” his friend asked.

“No one, but I plan to remedy that starting today. I will take Lady Katherine Spearmont riding in the park this afternoon and escort Miss Alice Eldridge tomorrow afternoon. And I have decided to dance with at least a dozen different ladies tonight.”

“Will Miss Winslowe understand that?”

“Yes, she and I have a perfect understanding of each other.”

“That’s a rather bold statement.”

“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t believe it to be true. I’m turning my attention to finding a husband for Gretchen, myself a wife, and I want to get better acquainted with other titled gentlemen in Town.”

“That is after all why you returned to London, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“It appears you’ve settled into the house here in St. James without any trouble.”

“All has gone well. I prefer the house in Mayfair, but this house is big enough.”

“How is Gretchen?”

“Good. Thomas Wright is calling on her today, and I’m hoping that she will decide that he will make her an excellent husband.”

Daniel watched Chilton closely. It seemed a bit far-fetched, but Daniel couldn’t help but wonder if Gretchen was the lady Isabella said Chilton watched but never approached. His friend’s expression didn’t change, giving no indication he harbored any unrequited feelings for Gretchen.

Perhaps he should just come clean and ask Chilton what he was doing in Throckmorten’s house. They had been close friends for years, but Daniel was hesitant to pry into Chilton’s private affairs.

Daniel sipped his coffee again. “How long have we been friends now, Chilton, fifteen years?”

“Longer.”

“Have you ever lied to me?”

Chilton’s eyes narrowed as he popped a piece of toast into his mouth and chewed.

Finally he answered. “Probably. Yes. But what kind of question is that to ask your best friend?”

“I need the truth from you about something important, Chilton.”

Chilton cleared his throat and pushed his empty plate aside. “This sounds serious.”

“It is.”

“Then ask me.”

“Why were you visiting Throckmorten the day before his death?”

Chilton’s eyes widened. “You saw me leave his house, didn’t you?”

“No, but your card was there.” Daniel didn’t want to say he’d seen the card when he hadn’t.

“So you were there, too.”

“Yes.”

Chilton remained cautious. “When we were riding, I asked if you had seen him and you said no.”

“I didn’t,” Daniel said. “He wasn’t home when I got there. Your card was lying in a crystal dish along with a few others.”

Chilton shifted uncomfortably in his chair and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. “All right, so I went to see him, too. He wasn’t home when I got there, either. His man didn’t know when he would return.”

“Why did you visit him?”

“You ask a lot, my friend.”

“I really need to know.”

“Why?” Chilton asked.

“It has to do with Gretchen.”

Chilton’s eyes narrowed and his expression turned grim. “Why? Tell me more? Did he accost her or hurt her?”

“I don’t think so, but she did arrange to meet him secretly.”

“Are you sure he didn’t harm her?”

“Quite sure. It was really a very short meeting between them, but I’m doing my best to see that bit of information doesn’t get out.”

“How does this involve me?”

Daniel rose from his chair and picked up the coffeepot from the sideboard and replenished their cups, then sat back down. “I’m trying to find out who might have had reason to kill Throckmorten.”

“There should be plenty of those,” Chilton muttered.

“Are you one of them, Chilton?”

Chilton’s eyes turned cold and he remained very still as he said, “Yes.”

Daniel sucked in a deep breath. He didn’t want to ask but had to: “Did you?”

“No, but I can’t say I was sorry that someone did the deed. In my opinion it was long overdue.”

“What was your problem with him?”

Chilton pick up his cup and took a sip. “You don’t need to know the reason. My dealings with the man can’t help you.”

“You don’t know that.”

Chilton set his cup down and chuckled derisively. He pushed his chair back from the table and made himself more comfortable in the chair.

“Oh, what the hell, I might as well tell you everything. I probably would have long ago had you not been gone for over a year.”

Daniel waited patiently.

“I was seeing a married woman.”

“When?”

“Over a year ago. We knew we were taking a great risk, but we took it anyway.”

Daniel could relate to that.

“Unfortunately, one afternoon Throckmorten saw me leaving the house where she and I always met. He waited around and saw her leave. When he paid me a visit to tell me he knew about us, naturally I asked him not to say anything. He was more than happy to be discreet.”

“Was he?”

“Oh, yes. For a price. I’ve been paying the devil for his silence for over a year.”

“Damn. That was vulgar of him.”

“Yes.”

“Do you still see her?”

“No. It’s been over since he saw us. I couldn’t take the chance on anyone else seeing us. I couldn’t do that to her. I realized the damage it would cause her wasn’t worth the pleasure we shared.”

“I’m sorry the dead bastard did that to you.”

“At least now you know why I’m not saddened by his death. I do hope he suffered a bit before he drew his last breath.”

Daniel believed Chilton, but if he didn’t kill Throckmorten, who did?

Daniel noticed his valet standing just inside the doorway of the dining room.

“Yes, Parker.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, my lord, but Lord Gleningwold is here. He says he needs to speak to you right away.”

He and Chilton looked at each other, but both remained silent.

“Very well, ask him to join us.”

The short, rotund earl walked in with a smile on his ruddy face. The man was noted for his outlandish mode of dressing, and today proved no exception. He wore a bright red jacket that was styled similar to a military uniform with large gold buttons and fringe. His waistcoat was deep purple with wide pink stripes. Daniel had no doubt the man enjoyed the attention his attire always received.

Daniel and Chilton greeted the man warmly, and pleasantries were exchanged.

“We were just finishing. Would you like to join us?” Daniel asked him.

Lord Gleningwold looked over at the sideboard and saw the eggs, sliced pork, and toast. “Don’t mind if I do.”

While he helped himself to a serving of food, Daniel motioned for Parker to pour the man a cup of coffee. Lord Gleningwold took a seat beside Daniel.

The men talked about the Lord Mayor and Parliament while the elder man polished off his eggs. He generously smothered the bread in his plate with cooked figs before biting into it with relish.

When he pushed his empty plate aside, Daniel said, “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, this.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a lady’s white glove.

Daniel’s brows drew together in a frown. Somehow he knew it belonged to Gretchen but said, “I don’t understand.”

“It has initials in it, and they are the same as your sister’s. Would you mind checking with her and seeing if it belongs to her?”

Did ladies have to put their initials in everything they owned?

“Yes, of course. If not, maybe she will know who it belongs to. How did you happen to come by it?”

“It was found in my garden. I assume she lost it at my party the other night. I can’t think of another time she’s been there recently.”

“Yes, it could be hers. She walked in the garden with me and Miss Winslowe. I don’t remember what she was wearing, but it’s possible she lost it out of her reticule while searching for a handkerchief or dance card.”

“Most likely. You didn’t by any chance see anyone else when you were in the garden, did you?”

He tried to keep his voice nonchalant. “Yes, as it happens, we saw Lord and Lady Stonehurst and spent a few moments talking to them. Why?”

“Oh, it seems Mr. Throckmorten’s brother is checking into his death. It appears the poor bloke was stabbed with a paper knife that came from my home.”

“Really?” Daniel said, feigning surprise. “How do they know that?”

“Well, the damned thing has
my
initials on it. My wife puts them on everything. We suspect that someone followed him into the garden with the intentions of doing him harm and picked up the knife from my desk on the way out to kill him.”

“But he was found in the Thames,” Daniel argued to be safe.

“Obviously someone either killed him in my garden and moved him, or met him later and killed him with the stolen knife.”

“I’ll be sure to ask Gretchen if she saw anything unusual while we were in the garden.”

“Do that. I’ve assured Mr. Throckmorten’s brother that I had nothing to do with his murder. But he was calling on your sister, wasn’t he?”

Daniel remained calm. “Throckmorten? No, he never called on her. I believe they had a dance or two, but that was all.”

Lord Gleningwold planted his beefy palms on the table to help rise out of his chair. The cups rattled as he shook the table.

“Well, let me know what you find out from your sister. I’ll need the glove back if it isn’t hers.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t bother to see me to the door. Finish your coffee. I’ll see myself out.”

Daniel motioned for Parker to follow Lord Gleningwold to the front door. When he was sure the man had left the house, he turned to Chilton and said, “I’ve got to find out who killed that man before anyone else comes looking for Gretchen.”

Daniel picked up the glove and walked out.

***

Isabella looked at the group of ladies sitting in her parlor drinking their tea and chattering among themselves. Every one of them was special in their own way. It was difficult to think there might be a murderer among them.

Two of the ladies present had the first and last initials that were on the handkerchief she found in Lord Gleningwold’s garden: Amanda Wright and Abigail Waterstone. Either girl would have been susceptible to Mr. Throckmorten’s charms as easily as Gretchen had been.

What a nasty man he was to prey on the affections of unfortunate young ladies. It was no wonder someone wanted to kill him.

She needed to find out which of those ladies’ middle initial was
L
. Perhaps neither would match, and she could move on to those outside her acquaintances. There were several married and widowed ladies who could have fallen prey to Mr. Throckmorten who had the same initials as those on the handkerchief.

Isabella would have liked to have time to think about Daniel and their time together, but perhaps it was just as well that she didn’t. Whenever he crossed her mind, she forced herself to think of solving Mr. Throckmorten’s murder, not kisses and caresses from Daniel.