Jeremy released a sigh, which was quickly swallowed in the soft swishing of the leaves stirring in the breeze.
“He desperately needed textbooks for his chemistry studies. Expensive ones. So late one night, when he saw one of our wealthy friends in the throes of drink stop in one of the narrow lanes and remove his overcoat in order to take a piss . . .”
Charlotte could well imagine the scene.Drunken laughter. Hide-and-seek moonlight. A moment of temptation.
“Benedict wasn’t thinking straight. He’d just come from the room of a fellow student, who had plied him with ale,” went on Jeremy. “On impulse, he rushed in to riffle the pockets and found the man’s purse. It took only a moment, but unfortunately he was recognized by two other students as he turned and fled with the money. They gave chase and caught him.”
The path forced them to circle back toward the gate.
“Luckily, I heard about the incident right away, and as I had several influential friends willing to help me, I was able to convince the victim not to press charges,” said Jeremy, rushing his words. “I also arranged a small loan for Benedict, enough to purchase the books. He finished his studies and left Cambridge several months after the incident.”
Oh, Jeremy.A loyal and stalwart friend, no matter how ugly things appeared.
“I know how remorseful Benedict was about his mistake,” added Jeremy. “He was desperate to get his education and do some good in the world with his scientific gifts.” A pause. “He would never—never—have betrayed Ashton’s trust in him.”
Her friend had the gift of seeing the best in people. As he had with her. Charlotte only hoped that in this case he hadn’t let the wool be pulled over his eyes.
“Did Mr. Ashton know of this incident?” asked Charlotte. Recalling Octavia’s frightened face, she added, “And does Miss Merton?”
“IknowBenedict, and I can’t imagine that he didn’t tell them. Despite what I just told you, he is honest to a fault.” His eyes closed, but not quite quickly enough to hide a ripple of doubt. “But I don’t know for sure.”
Good Lord, what a coil.
“I think it wise for you to find out,” counseled Charlotte.
He nodded bleakly.
She didn’t have the heart to add that it would also be wise for him to consider that his friend might well be guilty. For all his worldly wisdom, Jeremy’s heart was achingly vulnerable. While she had long ago made peace with life’s disillusionments.
Or have I?Charlotte dared not look at him.
“By the by,” he said a moment later. “Miss Merton was quite upset about her rudeness to you. She intends to send an apology.”
“Her discretion was laudable,” murmured Charlotte. “One can’t be too careful.”
The remark didn’t lighten his mood.
They waited at the gate for McClellan to catch up with them, and as soon as she did, Jeremy wasted no time in escorting Charlotte to the waiting carriage.
“I shall walk back to my residence,” he murmured, handing her up the steps.”
“I will help in any way I can,” she replied softly.
The angle of his hat hid his face. “I’m not sure what any of us can do.”
She hated hearing him sound so defeated. “Come, it’s notlike you to sound so Friday-faced,” she chided. “If Mr. Hillhouse is innocent, we will prove him so.”
That drew a grudging smile. “Or God help the devil who stands in your way.”
“Yes, well, I’ve made it my mission in life to cut devils down to size.” She squeezed his hand. “Semper fortis.”Always brave.
“Semper fortis,” he repeated. “Would that I had your innate courage.”
As soon as she took her seat facing McClellan, Jeremy closed the door and called for the driver to be off. The whip cracked and the carriage lurched forward, joining the cacophony of wheels and iron-shod hooves clattering along the busy street.
Charlotte sank back against the squabs, and pressed her fingertips to her temples, trying to compose her thoughts. Worry for her friend set her blood to throbbing. She could feel the slow, rhythmic pulse of heat begin to burn through the thin kidskin gloves. The facts so far certainly seemed to cast a grim shadow of suspicion over Benedict Hillhouse. His disappearance, coming on the heels of another murder, roused all sorts of questions. Including ones about the motive of her dear friend.
She couldn’t help recalling Octavia’s first outburst—I fear something has gone dreadfully wrong.It seemed a strange phrasing, one that could imply a plan had been in place.
