Bella nodded as Mr. Martin broke off playing. The Spaniard awkwardly stopped as well.
“My apologies,” Aidan said. “I didn’t mean for you to stop.”
Mr. Martin rubbed his palms along his pant legs. “I needed to stop. I have more people to interview today.” He rose from the pianoforte bench and bowed toward the Spaniard.
“Thank you, Don Joaquín Pedroso y Castel. Well played,” he said.
The don’s lip curled at the corner as he bowed his acknowledgment and salute to his opponent. He eased himself down in his chair, extending his bad leg out before him.
“Have you interviewed the musicians already?” Aidan asked Mr. Martin.
“Yes. Musicians always have interesting observations about the surrounding people. Very productive. Thank you all.”
“Lord Malmsby, this is Mr. Lewis Martin from Bow Street. Martin, this is my brother, his grace, the Duke of Malmsby.”
Mr. Martin bowed to Lord Malmsby, who waved aside that action. “Please, no.”
“Lord Lakehurst is meeting you in the Duke’s old study,” Aidan told him.
“I’ll show him the way,” the Duke said, “so he can interview us both.”
“We’ll leave you and your associates alone now.” Aidan told Gwinnie. “See you at dinner?” He opened the music room door. Oscar darted into the room.
“Yes. And I shall want to hear all about the day,” Gwinnie said. “No, Oscar! Out!” she told the cat, trying to shoo him back out the door.
“Our bass player, Mr. Sumptner, is terribly allergic,” Gwinnie explained. “Can you help get Oscar out?” she requested.
Oscar had taken a seated position in front of the musicians, a concert attendee awaiting a performance. Oscar mildly growled as Aidan picked him up. As he straightened, Aidan was curious as to the expression on the Spaniard’s face. While Mr. Sumptner might be allergic, the Spaniard looked terrified. He made the sign of the cross.
“Might I hold him?” Bella asked. “Will he let me?” She held out her arms.
Aidan laughed. “Yes. Oscar loves attention.” He handed him to her, then looked back at Gwinnie. “Dinner should prove interesting tonight. We will have some revelations for you,” he promised.
She nodded, thanked them for removing the cat, then turned back to her musicians. Aidan closed the music room door softly behind them as they left.
* * *
With the doorto the music room closed behind them, Oscar squirmed in Bella’s arms to be let down. Bella laughed, but let him down and watched as the cat ran down the hall and up the stairs.
“You go with the Duke,” Bella suggested to Aidan after the cat ran out of sight. She looked back at him. “I’ll sit with the Duchess until Mr. Martin is through talking to Lord Lakehurst and the Duke. Then you can escort Mr. Martin here for her interview.”
Aidan nodded. “She would be more comfortable in her own domain.”
“It will probably be teatime by then anyway,” Bella ruefully said.
Aidan smiled. “Wouldn’t want to disrupt Mother’s tea,” he said. “I will see you later then. And Bella—”
“Yes?”
“I think you are correct. We can be friends.”
She smiled back at him. “Yes,” she said. She turned to walk across the hall to the Lady Margaret Parlor.
Aidan watched her go.And maybe more?
* * *
“Bella!”Lady Malmsby said when she saw her in the doorway. She laid aside the book she’d been reading and swung her legs from the sofa to the floor. “Come, come sit by me. I feel there is much to discuss.”
