Which of course, would be the latest gossip among her “ladies,” those distinguished members of her card group, some of whom no doubt had attended as well.
It would have been far simpler if they gathered for a few games of whist, or a seance with Madame Sybille.
Not one to throw cold water on the woman’s talent, she had provided some very interesting information in other situations. Still, Brodie was not inclined to put much weight in her abilities.
“And always for a sizeable fee from her ladyship,” he had commented in the past. “Ye surprise me that ye would even consider the woman’s advice.”
I did not admit that I had reluctantly participated in one of my great aunt’s gatherings, as she called them.
During that session, Madame had proceeded to read my cards and had predicted new adventures that I would be taking along with a dark-eyed stranger. This was just after my return from the Greek Islands where Brodie had retrieved me from certain ruin and scandal.
It did seem as if Madame had some insight into certain things.
I could only hope that whatever my great aunt was able to learn from her “source,” as she referred to Madame, that she would not then take herself off on her own inquiries as she had once declared. I remembered the conversation quite well.
“We could start our own investigations. It could be quite exciting! I would imagine that it could reveal just who is sleeping with whom among the ton. And then there is always a murder or two thrown into the mix.”
As I was saying…I knew Sir Laughton, my aunt’s lawyer, quite well and telephoned his office from Sussex Square. He was not due in court and agreed to meet with me at his office near the Crown Courts.
“Mr. Hastings is available to take you to his office,” Aunt Antonia insisted. “The weather seems to have taken a nasty turn this morning,”
Not that I was fooled. She could be quite clever, and no doubt hoped to learn something from her coachman when he returned.
“There are all sorts of persons around the courts. It might be best if I accompany ye,” Munro commented when he arrived to announce that Mr. Hastings had arrived at the porte cochère at the entrance to the manor.
I suppose that I should have been surprised to find Lily in the coach. I was not.
“I can make notes for ye,” she informed me.
It did seem as if she had overheard my conversation with Aunt Antonia.
It was a paltry excuse at best as I was quite capable of making my own notes. Yet, Brodie’s earlier comment was there—that I could support her participation or attempt to thwart it, in which case she would go about it in her own way.
Case in point the previous evening at Marlborough House, when she had discovered the means by which it seemed the murderer and another man had escaped.
“Very well,” I agreed. “But then you will immediately return here.”
“Of course,” she replied, in a manner that was not at all convincing.
I caught the frown on her face as her gaze slipped past me to Munro, who intended to accompany us to Sir Laughton’s office at the law courts.
“An escort?” she pointedly inquired.
It was not the first time I had noticed that there did seem to be some difficulty between the two of them. Lily’s expression was quite obvious.
“It will not be necessary for you to accompany us,” I told him as he assisted me into the coach.
“Mr. Hastings is quite adept at navigating London traffic, and I am quite well armed,” I assured him.
“Verra well,” he snapped obviously not pleased as he stood back from the coach, and we departed.
“I canna go anywhere without him accompanying me,” Lily shared. “As if I need a chaperone. Bloody stubborn Scot!”
With the rain that had turned to icy snow and clogged the streets, it was a slow trip across the city and very near midday by the time we arrived at Sir Laughton’s office.
“Miss Montgomery as well,” he acknowledged Lily. “Always a pleasure. And the weather has not put you off, I see,” he said by way of greeting as we were shown to his private office within the large office occupied by two of his law clerks.
“Not at all,” I replied as we handed over our coats and umbrellas to one of them.
