It pained him that Mary considered their housekeeper and maid as suitable companions, but nothing could be done. He’d just received the missive from Andrew Clancy that Thomas Bauer was at the assembly rooms that night, and if he wanted to observe this man, he needed to seize this opportunity.
Clancy, a longtime friend, was the owner and one of the standing masters of ceremonies at Clancy Assembly Rooms. Despite his nonchalant persona, Clancy was a shrewd businessman. He catered to the higher echelons of society, but as with most enterprises, he’d occasionally encounter suspicious characters and contact Gabriel to discreetly track down the offending persons. Clancy often would return the favor, informing Gabriel of the comings and goings of people he was investigating.
By the time Gabriel arrived at the assembly rooms, they had already been open for hours, but even so, patrons and carriages were lined up out front, waiting to gain admittance. Gabriel bypassed the main entrance and took the alley back around to another entry to an antechamber just off the main vestibule.
He found Clancy in the ballroom, as expected, impeccably clad in a tailored tailcoat of vibrant emerald wool and buff cotton trousers. Every auburn curl was in place, and his cravat, uniquely and intricately tied to a double bow, gleamed snowy white. As the master of ceremonies, Clancy knew everyone and, on the surface, appeared friendly with everyone. The man’s social aptitudewas unmatched. His power lay in the fact he was intimidated by no one, and he was incredibly discreet. And his loyalty—a dying trait—propelled him above everyone else.
“Full tonight?” Gabriel asked as he approached Clancy.
“Ah. Rowe, good man. Yes, very full. You got my message, I see.”
“I did.”
Clancy nodded to the left. “Bauer’s in the tearoom, conducting his little demonstrations, or whatever he calls them.”
Noting the sarcasm in Clancy’s tone, Gabriel angled his head to see through to the tearoom.
“He seems harmless at the moment, but you know how these things go.” Clancy adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, cocked his head to the side, and lifted a finely arched brow in amusement. “So what are we watching this one for? Theft? Murder? Smuggling? I do love to know all the details.”
Gabriel grinned and tugged at his linen waistcoat to straighten it. “Something like that. If my hunch is right, you’ll be the first to know.”
“I’d better be. I dare a man like him to attempt to take advantage of my patrons, and yet he’s hardly the first to try captivating this crowd. I do have to admit that of all the odd attractions I’ve seen attempting to dazzle society, this is a new one. Phrenology. Who ever heard of such a thing? Everyone seems to love it, though. I daresay at times the tearoom has been more interesting than the ballroom.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Apparently Mr. Bauerclaimsto be a serious anatomist and behaviorist.”
“But you don’t think that, do you?”
“We’ll wait and see what the natural philosophers say abouthim. He’s to be their speaker at their symposium, you know. They’re a serious lot. I doubt they care how entertaining he is.”
Clancy clicked his tongue. “Always assuming the worst, aren’t you, my friend? Ah, well. If it is the natural philosophers you are keen to sway, then you might be interested to learn that Mr. Richard Hawthorne is here.”
Gabriel nodded at the name. “Is he?”
Clancy paused to bow toward a small group of women who walked by them. “Hawthorne is the one who vouched for Bauer’s integrity and suggested my venue would be an interesting stage for him to share his skills. He’s here with his daughter and two other ladies.”
“Miss Phoebe Hawthorne?” he clarified.
“Yes, with Miss Caroline Nolting and Miss Eleanor Wilde.”
Gabriel’s interest flashed at the last name mentioned.
“Aha! See, I have told you something you don’t know.”
Gabriel quickly steadied himself. He’d written his letter nearly a fortnight prior and had received no response. “You’re right. I am surprised. I’m acquainted with Miss Wilde. I attended her father’s school.”
“Then are you aware of the recent scuffle with her and the failed engagement? It’s all that is being spoken of.”
Gabriel’s brow rose in question.
Clancy pivoted and lowered his voice. “She was engaged to Mr. Nathaniel Rawlston, and he was poised to take over as headmaster at the school, but he had an inexplicable change of heart after meeting Miss Catherine Hughton in Scotland. I’m told an engagement is imminent.”
Gabriel glanced around the ballroom, hoping to glimpse Miss Wilde. “I’d not heard.”
“But there is always more to it, isn’t there?” Amusement lit Clancy’s gray eyes. “With all this renewed interest in phrenology, that damning pamphlet written about Mrs. Wilde has resurfaced. I’ve heard through a trusted source that Rawlston was concerned Miss Wilde might follow in her mother’s perceived insanity, and that is what prompted him to set his sights on greener pastures.”
Gabriel searched his memory, vaguely recalling the scuffle. “Ah yes. I remember.”
“Rawlston’s the fortunate one, though, for society will overlook a handsome man’s offenses, will it not? Poor Miss Wilde hasn’t a prayer.”
