“Do not be angry with me,” she said, since he would not stop frowning at her. “You know it is important for me to confront this man. Perhaps having a look at him will stir something in my memory and help us solve the crime. Did you think of that?”
“Of course, I did. But the risk to you is greater because you are out on the London streets again,” he grumbled. “Did you think of that?”
“Yes, and I would not have insisted on my joining you if I agreed with your assessment of the risk. Nor would you have agreed to bring me along if you really thought it was a significant peril. Now, will you tell me what else you noticed while we were confronting Allendale?”
CHAPTER 12
JULIUS SAT OPPOSITE Gory in the carriage as they made their way to Bow Street in the fading light. The sun was setting, and its vibrant rays shone upon Gory’s dark hair and reflected in her eyes, giving them that familiar incandescent glow.
His heartbeat quickened, another familiar occurrence whenever he was around her.
She was not only beautiful, but had an ethereal quality about her that should have seemed odd because she was so scientifically minded. But there was just something charming in the vibrancy of her eyes and the openhearted sincerity in her smile.
Yes, she was a magical, lovely thing.
But she also gave him fits and headaches because she refused to remain safely in hiding. This was Gory, and she was not about to cower in fear. It was a good thing, he supposed. That she was lively and alert meant she was on the mend and returning to her normal self.
Of course, this also meant she was back to being a stubborn handful.
Was this not better than worrying about her ever recovering from the vicious blow that would have killed her except for the miraculous grace of good fortune?
Yes, Gory was someone very special.
He needed to marry her.
“Julius, tell me what you noticed.”
He cleared his throat. “I am not saying that Allendale and Sarah had anything to do with your uncle’s murder, mind you. But they were definitely planning something unsavory that had to do with you.”
“Because you noticed Mayfield’s card in the salver when we walked in?”
He nodded. “It immediately put me on my guard, and confirmed my suspicion that Allendale knew of your potential inheritance beyond the dowry before he proposed to you. Do you want to hear more of what I think?”
“Of course. Go on,” she urged, taking a deep breath in anticipation.
“All right, here’s what I think happened. Allendale either paid Reginald Mayfield for information about you, or might have overheard something by accident and learned there was more coming to you than the ten thousand pounds you were to receive upon your marriage.”
“But he would also realize that nothing more was to come to me before my uncle passed away.”
“True, but he may not have been in any particular hurry. Your dowry was adequate to maintain Sarah and their daughter in relative comfort while the two of them waited for your uncle to die of natural causes. Of course, I do not know that he would have waited all that long before deciding to help your uncle along to his demise.”
“I cannot believe Allendale is so depraved.”
“Why? Because he outwardly appears to be a gentleman?”
Gory nodded. “And you referred to the baby as their daughter. But Allendale insisted the child was not his. You really do not like him, do you? Why do you believe he is so underhanded?”
He regarded her steadily. “Because Sarah is not who they claim she is.”
Gory’s eyes widened. “How do you know this?”
“I have seen her upon the stage. She is an actress. I mean, she is a real actress.”
Gory gasped and leaned forward, practically tumbling out of her seat in her eagerness to hear more. “You saw her on a Covent Garden stage? Are you certain?”
He nodded. “Not a doubt.”
In truth, he had seen her much closer up than on a stage. Not that he had ever been intimate with her, but he had been to a few demi-monde parties and recognized her as one of the scantily clad courtesans who had made advances toward him and his companions. “I have no idea if Martin is truly her family surname, but I can assure you that she is no ward to anyone in the Allendale family. That nonsense spouted by Allendale about his having to keep his assistance a secret has more to do with his family’s outrage when they discover he is consorting with an actress and has fathered a child with her.”
