She sniffed. “We did?”
“Yes. The mysterious Mr. Singleton.”
“Oh. The manager, perhaps? Certainly someone in authority.”
“Or the owner. He might be both Whetstone and Frank. Where does their financial support come from? You can’t start a carriage making business on a few shillings and a dream, you know.”
She took that in and digested it. “Good point,” she said slowly.
“So asking ourselves who has the most to lose from accidents like this…” He looked at her. “I would suggest the man who controls the money.”
“And possibly reaps the rewards.”
“Exactly.” He leaned back as the ride smoothed out over London’s outskirts and paved roads. “It makes me wonder who might be in a similar position at Kanehall.”
“Businessmen, you think?”
“Possibly.”
“Max, you’re frowning.”
“I have something…a suspicion, if you will…born of the idea that it takes a lot of money to set up this kind of business.” He glanced at her. “More than the average cit could afford.”
She pursed her lips. “You’re thinking someone of high rank?”
“The more I do, the more I like the notion. The whole thing…sawing through wheels…it reeks of personal attacks. It’s the kind of vicious behavior I associate, unfortunately, with many of theTon. A total lack of concern for others, greed perhaps, or vengeance. All good motives for the sawn wheels, and if there’s more than enough money to secure a villain to perform the deed…”
Kitty’s eyes were wide. “Goodness, you do have a low opinion of theTon, don’t you?”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “Overall, yes.”
She had to wonder at that, but decided to pursue it at a later time. Max was turning out to be a mystery she would like to unravel. The more time they spent together, the more she found attractive about him, as a person. As a man, he was everything any woman could desire, but for Kitty his appeal grew not just from his masculinity, but also his honesty, his intelligence, and his willingness to treat her as someone who could think. It showed respect for people on a level she’d not experienced very much before, and it filled her with gratitude.
On an impulse, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “For what?”
She grinned. “For being you.”
*~~*~~*
Upon their return to Mowbray House, both Max and Kitty were surprised to be greeted by Deery with a somewhat concerned—for him—expression. “Welcome home, sir, Miss Ridlington,” he said as the door opened. “Company arrived while you were absent. Mrs. Chaney was in the parlor…I wasn’t quite sure what to do with him.”
Max’s pulse accelerated at the thought of his sister, so hermit-like in her choice of life, closeted with a man. “Who, Deery?” He struggled from the caped cloak.
“Sir Peregrine Hawkesbury, sir.” Deery took both Max’s and Kitty’s outer garments. “I can only hope I did right?”
Max relaxed. “You did, Deery. Thank you.” He turned to Kitty. “Come on. I’d like you to meet Perry.”
She followed him as he strode the length of the hall and opened the parlor door.
“So Max said to him…by all means, sir. Perhaps you can bring it back to life…I hear your caresses are magical.”
This was followed by a peal of laughter from Grace, the likes of which Max could barely remember hearing. “Perry. Stop telling my sister disgraceful stories.” He walked in and crossed the room shaking hands with his friend.
“Oh, Max. So funny.” Grace hiccupped. “I haven’t laughed so much in an age.”
“I told you that you should get out of the house more, my girl,” grinned Max, noting the veil was in place, but her eyes were sparkling with delight.
