“James!” she admonished. She set her teacup back on the table with a rattle of china.
Hugh spat up, the milky substance landing on James’ jacket.
Cecilia quickly grabbed Hugh from James so he might wipe up the mess. “Serves you right for swinging him above your head as you did so soon after he’s eaten. Your valet will be irritable.”
“No, he won’t. He is conversant with the behavior of babies from his mother’s household. He likes them,” he said as he casually wiped away the spittle from his jacket.
“Liking is not the same as removing baby stains from clothing,” observed Cecilia.
James canted his head a moment, then acknowledged her comment as he looked at the stain on his jacket.
“I believe that was Hugh’s way of helping me grab the reins and drive you to the topic we should be discussing. Miss Inglewood, Mrs. Jones, and pennyroyal. –Daniel, ask Mrs. Threadmont to retrieve Master Hugh. He requires a change of clothing.”
“At once, my lady,” said their attentive footman.
After Hugh had been placed in the devoted care of Mrs. Threadmont, Cecilia refreshed their tea and looked expectantly at her husband.
“Mr. Vernon talked to me directly. He did not glance away or otherwise subtly indicate he was not truth-telling. He did enjoy her company until it became clear to him that her charms were well shared. I believe that caused him to retreat from that relationship, though the young woman continued to send him notes and entreaties.”
“I’m sure she didn’t believe that any man could be immune to her charms and wiles for long,” Cecilia said. “She thought quite highly of herself.”
James agreed. “He did say something about Squire Inglewood that was interesting. At one time our magistrate arrested Mr. Vernon as a libertine and threw him into his gaol. He also seems to have spread a rumor that Mr. Vernon suffers from a sexual affliction.”
“What!” Cecilia declared. “Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. I can conjecture that he wanted to demean Mortlake and the Mortlake Brewery. Possibly revenge for Kendell not showing interest in marrying his daughter, even before she claimed she was enceinte.”
“He wanted a title for his daughter.”
“That is my thought. However, Mortlake and Dr. Patterson visited the magistrate and immediately after, Mr. Vernon was freed and the gossip recanted.”
“Interesting,” Cecilia said. “I wonder what was said—or threatened—to achieve that.”
James shrugged.
“I’m sure our housekeeper will be pleased to know her nephew was not one of Miss Inglewood’s crowd.”
“Speaking of her crowd, I did learn where the gamekeeper’s cottage is from Mr. Vernon.”
“Excellent! I’d like to visit it tomorrow,” Cecilia said.
“If you are hoping to find any evidence there, her family and her friends most likely searched the cottage after her death,” James cautioned.
Cecilia nodded, a wayward curl of her white-blonde hair falling out of her coif. “Yes, but sometimes familiarity with a space reduces thoughts of possibilities.”
James agreed as he reached over to push the wayward strand away from her face. She smiled lovingly at him.
He took another sip of tea and set his cup down. “After the brewery, I went to The Sheep’s Head Tavern. The owners are an interesting couple. Owning the tavern, they hear about everything going on in town.”
“I well believe that.”
“I asked them about George Inglewood, Miss Inglewood’s brother.”
“Isn’t he older than Miss Inglewood? Odd that Inglewood would name siblings who were not twins with similar names.”
“Squire Inglewood is an odd man. I am of the impression that he is not a loving father. Young George Inglewood is sailing mad and spends most of his time away from home in Folkestone with Captain Horsley, learning all about sailing. He probably went with the captain to fetch Miss Faith Jones. That reminds me, Miss Hope Jones has arrived at Mortlake House, but she has not visited the vicar. And Kendell told me she is engaged to bemarried, which has him twisted in a knot because that is all she talks of with his parents.”
“You were busy collecting bits and pieces,” Cecilia said, delighted.
