She faked a glare. “And have you mess up my hair? Not on your life!”
“I knew it would happen eventually.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re beginning to sound just like a wife.”
Chapter 20
Kendra had been in elevators filled to capacity with more breathing room than Lady Harrington’s ball. In the slang of the day, the party was a crush, which was to say it was a smashing success.Good for Lady Harrington, but bad for her and Alec, as they were forced to fight their way through the warm bodies crowding the grand foyer to the elaborate staircase that curved to the upper level. It didn’t help that they were stopped every other minute by well-wishers congratulating Alec on his marriage and wondering when he planned to whisk his bride off on their honeymoon. Kendra had to admire the ease with which Alec dealt with the curiosity and gentle teasing. She kept mostly silent, which was for the best, since her inclination was to tell them to mind their own damn business.
Kendra breathed a sigh of relief when they were finally disgorged into the ballroom. It had been designed by John Nash himself, with a wraparound balcony and short flight of stairs down to the dance floor. Alec snagged two champagne flutes from a passing footman, handing one to Kendra as she watched the quadrille below, the orchestra playing in the corner.
Kendra let her gaze roam over the elegant throng, noting the glitter of diamonds, the blaze of sapphires, rubies and emeralds. “What kind of security does Lord and Lady Harrington have? There’s got to be at least a million dollars of jewels in this room.”
Alec chuckled. “That’s what you think of when you look around?”
“That was my first thought, but now I’m wondering what everyone is hiding.” She watched the dancers spin in graceful patterns around their partners. The scene looked like something out of a fairytale, but that was deceptive.
Or maybe not. Every fairytale had something evil at its core. How many of these couples were in dysfunctional marriages, abusive relationships? How many envied the other’s social position or luck at the gambling tables?
Pride, greed, lust, anger, sloth, gluttony, and envy—the seven deadly sins were alive and well, and slithering around the ballroom like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, Kendra thought. Which of the deadly sins was she dealing with in Lady Westford’s and Clarice’s murders?
She sipped her champagne. “Keep an eye out for ruffles.”
Alec laughed. “I don’t have to. Lady St. James is standing over there, near the orchestra, talking to Lady Colburn.”
Kendra found the countess, who was resplendent in green taffeta with, yes, several tiers of lace-edged ruffles. Diamonds and emeralds circled her throat and gloved wrists, and twinkled in the tiara atop her head.
“Kendra! Sutcliffe!”
Kendra glanced around to find Rebecca pushing through the knots of partygoers, followed by her parents and the Duke.
“Becca,” Alec said, smiling as he looked her over. “You look lovely.”
Rebecca’s maid had fashioned her auburn hair into complex braids and curls, embellished with seed pears and tiny blue flowers. The elaborate style contrasted with her modest silk gown, a lighter shade than her cornflower blue eyes.
“I pale in comparison to your wife, Sutcliffe,” Rebecca said. “Oh, my, Kendra, you are simply ravishing.”
“Marriage agrees with you, my dear,” Lord Blackburn said, beaming at Kendra.
“When did you arrive in London?” Alec asked.
“This afternoon,” Rebecca replied, and shot a grin at her parents. “Papa decided that there was less danger coming to London than having me run away to town by myself.”
“My daughter is quite headstrong.” Lady Blackburn laid a hand on Rebecca’s shoulder as she smiled at Kendra. “You really do look marvelous, my lady.”
“My maid worked for hours and hours on me,” Kendra commented, earning a laugh from Lady Blackburn.
“I’d say that she had good material to work with.” Lady Blackburn searched Kendra’s face with intelligent eyes. “Bertie told us that you’ve determined that Lady Westford was murdered. Have you learned anything of interest?”
“Several things, but I’m not sure where they fit at the moment. Did you know that Lord Westford had another family?”
Rebecca gasped and glanced at her mother, and her eyes widened when she saw the truth on her face. “Mama? You knew?”
“I was aware,” Lady Blackburn said quietly. “This is not a new arrangement. Nor is it a secret.”
“So I’ve been told,” Kendra said. “Do you also know about Mr. Goldsten?”
“I know about herfriendshipwith Mr. Goldsten,” Lady Blackburn said slowly.
Kendra eyed the matron. “At Aldridge Castle, I thought you said that you were acquainted with but not close to Lady Westford.”
