“Did Mr. Garrity admit his infidelity?” Emma was saying quietly.
“He denied it. Told me to stop being silly.” Cheeks flushed, Gabby said with a flash of spirit, “But if my husband wasn’t being unfaithful, then why would he be so torn up over the loss of some woman who worked at a bawdy house?”
It was a good question. Tessa mulled it over.
“Perhaps she wasn’t a lover, merely a friend?” Polly suggested.
Gabby didn’t look convinced, and Tessa didn’t blame her. From what Tessa knew about brothels (which was quite a lot), visits were rarely platonic. And if Garrity had indeed been enamored of a wench at The Pearl, surely he would share that fact with Grandpapa? It was, after all, an alibi. Then it struck her.
“What if it wasn’t one of the prostitutes?” she said.
“I beg your pardon?” Gabby sniffled.
“A lot of people work in brothels…”Don’t give yourself away.“Or so I’ve heard. And according to the papers, prostitutes weren’t the only victims at The Pearl.There were kitchen staff, footmen, and maids.”
And perhaps Garrity had some secret connection to one of The Pearl’s employees. Some relationship he wanted to keep quiet…for whatever reason.
“Excellent deduction, Tessa,” Emma said.
“You think that’s possible?” Gabby whispered. “That Mr. Garrity didn’t have a paramour?”
“Someone importantcould mean many things,” Tessa reasoned.
“It could be someone to whom Mr. Garrity owes something. A friend…or even some distant relation,” Polly chimed in. “Perhaps there is a branch of his family you haven’t met?”
“I haven’t met any of Mr. Garrity’s family,” Gabby said slowly. “His mama is deceased, and he will not speak about the rest of his kin—if, indeed, he has any.”
“If anything is complicated, it is familial relations.” Emma gave a knowing nod. “Which might explain why your description of Mr. Garrity’s initial reaction wasn’t that he was heartbroken. I believe the term you used wasagitated.”
“You’re…right. All of you are.”
Hope spread like sunrise over the redhead’s face, so dazzling that it was almost painful to see. To witness how desperately Gabby loved her husband. Recalling how she, herself, had felt, catching Celeste De Witt in Bennett’s arms, Tessa shivered because she understood.
In her case, however, she knew Bennett could be trusted.
Garrity was another story.
“When Mr. Garrity first came home, he seemed more angry than sad,” Gabby said in excited tones. “Then when I found him drunk in the study, he wasn’t grieving, exactly. He was more…um, agitated and rather…”
“Rather what, dear?” Polly said.
“Impassioned.” Gabby’s cheeks turned as red as her hair.
“And there’s been no other trouble between the two of you?” Emma said dryly.
Gabby shook her head sheepishly. “I think I may have jumped to conclusions.” She broke into a beatific smile. “Thanks to all of you, I feel ever so much better—”
The opening of the door cut her short. Tessa’s pulse sped up as a lean, dark-haired man strode toward them.
“Mr. Garrity!” Gabby said breathlessly. “You’re home early.”
“I hope I am not interrupting.” He made an elegant leg. “Your Graces.”
Emma and Polly murmured their greetings.
“Miss Smith, I don’t believe you’ve met my husband,” Gabby said with unmistakable pride.
Garrity’s onyx gaze trained on Tessa. He had the look of a fallen angel, with his slicked-back hair and pale ascetic features.
