“Men. We do love you, but there are times when the word ‘vexing’ is not a strong enough description. You and Madeline were caught in a compromised position, yet you did not offer marriage. She brushed my question away when I asked if you had, but I could see the hurt in her eyes.”
“The world believes you and I are engaged. It would not be seemly.”
“You kissed her, sir, and she is aware our engagement is a ruse, nothing more.” She raised an eyebrow. “And you kissed her. Under the circumstances, I am surprised she talked to you at all.”
Robert shut his eyes, nodding slowly. “No wonder she wouldn’t dance with me. I will apologize. I hold Miss Mercer in the highest regard. She is everything I could ever hope for in a woman. I intend to offer for her hand at the Frost Fair.”
“Do not be surprised if she says no. You were most critical of her sketches. If I were in her place, I would look at that as an indication that you would be the sort of man who would dictate her every thought.”
“But you cannot approve of her topic. She sketched the driver, a Mr. Tinker. The poor man met an untimely death at, we suspect, Devonshire’s hand. It was a gruesome image and not appropriate for a lady to draw.”
“Yet the sketch was well drawn. She has talent. Do you not agree?”
“Decidedly so. With that I agree. That is not my objection.”
“Madeline is not an adornment on a man’s arm, nor a person who needs guidance. She is a woman with strength of character and intellect who will help the lucky man she chooses build a meaningful and happy life. You must apologize…and often.”
Robert felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath his feet. He glanced toward Miss Mercer. She was dancing with another gentleman who had joined the swarm of men vying for her attention. She laughed at something the gentleman had said, but when she turned in Robert’s direction, her expression froze, and she looked away.
“I will apologize. What did you call me?”
“A dunderhead. You must do more than apologize, if you wish to gain her good wishes once again. A grand gesture is in order.” She paused to gaze at him and then sighed. “I wish you luck, but I must leave you. I grow weary and long for a good night’s sleep. I have hired a carriage and driver to take me to my estate, and with my persuasion that nice American will act as our guard. Do not give me that frown. I have also hired the driver’s wife to act as chaperone, so it cannot be said that I traveled unchaperoned. Good night, Robert, and do not forget my advice.”
Robert gave a nod of farewell toward Elizabeth and reached for a tankard of ale from the barkeep before venturing outside. The noise in the inn was deafening, and the constant laughter sounded shrill to his ears. Crowds usually did not concern him. Tonight was the exception. He did not delude himself on the root cause. He had been truthful when he told Miss Mercer that he could not abide seeing her dance with other men. It went beyond annoyance, however. He was jealous.
“There you are,” Jeremy said, joining him. “It is warmer inside.”
“Too crowded for my taste.”
“Yes, Miss Mercer is surrounded by suitors. What do you plan to do about it?”
“Elizabeth asked me much the same question. I need to change the subject. What have you learned?”
Jeremy handed Robert a man’s silk cravat. “We believe this belonged to Devonshire. It bares his initials. We found it at what we think was the ambush site. Elizabeth mentioned that she had seen a flash of light and then heard the gunshot. We searched the route the carriage had taken and that is where we saw the silk cravat snagged on a branch. There are tracks that lead away from the ambush site in the direction of London, but we lost them when Devonshire crossed a stream. It’s hard to know if London really was his destination. But what could be gained by murdering Elizabeth and Miss Mercer?”
“Revenge,” Robert offered. “Or perhaps he meant to rob Elizabeth when the carriage crashed. Elizabeth is known for carrying her jewels.”
“Devonshire has had a head start,” Jeremy said. “How will we find him?”
“He needs money to pay for his passage. He is a viscount and lives as though the trees on his estate produce gold crowns instead of fruit. According to Elizabeth, he is in debt and is believed to be a thief. At the ball you and Molly hosted at your castle, I overheard that one of the ladies lost a diamond bracelet.”
“It could have been a coincidence. Molly complains that the clasps on her jewelry are not as secure as she would like.”
“Perhaps. I do not think the missing bracelet and Devonshire’s presence at the event were a coincidence.”
Jeremy shook his head. “You suspect Devonshire is a thief.”
“I do, and if I am correct, I know where he has fled. The Frost Fair is the perfect hunting ground for a man with an unscrupulous character.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Robert and Jeremy reached the outskirts of the Frost Fair as dawn spread ribbons of pale rose pink across the horizon. It had been a grueling ride, but they had wanted to reach London early in the hope of capturing Devonshire before he boarded a ship. Robert had believed his focus on catching Devonshire would distract him from thoughts of Madeline. That was not the case.
Elizabeth had been correct. He had been the worst sort of fool for criticizing Madeline’s sketches. He considered himself a modern man, and yet he had made remarks such as his father and grandfather might have made. Elizabeth suggested he make a grand gesture of apology. He had an idea but could only hope it would be enough.
Robert reined in his horse as Jeremy dismounted to stretch. They had questioned travelers along the way and were heartened when they described a man fitting Devonshire’s description heading in the direction of the city.
The view along the Thames River resembled a few of the landscape paintings in his mother’s gallery in her Women’s Room. The scene before him was not one of reality but of fantasy. The dawn’s muted light hid the imperfections of the Frost Fair’s temporary town hugging the shoreline of the Thames River and spilling out onto the frozen water.
