And thank heaven for that,she reflected. She was of the opinion that adversity sculpted character. It made an individual strong, and it was to be hoped that it also made an individual compassionate for those who struggled against the odds. But as she well knew, strength of character was rarely admired in the beau monde.
Raven and Hawk wouldn’t easily fit in . . .
She shook off such worries. All that lay far in the future. As for the present—
“Excellent,” intoned McClellan as she inspected Raven’s scrubbed hands, ignoring his scowl. “Nowyou may go.” As they scampered off, she called, “And there just might be some ginger biscuits when you return!”
The prospect of Alison’s inquisition did nothing to lighten Charlotte’s mood. Sliding back onto her stool, she looked down at her half-eaten breakfast, suddenly finding her appetite had vanished.
“It’s normal to be nervous when making a change in life,” observed the maid, after she had refilled Charlotte’s mug. “Yes, I know it’s a platitude, which I detest as much as you do. But there’s often a truth to such sayings.
“You’re right, of course,” Charlotte replied, forcing a wry smile. “If it were merely family matters—entering into marriage, facing my estranged brother, worrying about how the Weasels will adapt to a new world—I would not be batting an eyelash. But the prospect of a murder investigation . . .”
“There’s no reason you should be drawn into one,” replied McClellan. “From what Hawk explained of the events, the man’s demise had no connection to you and Wrexford. And as for the boy, he saw nothing other than a momentary glimpse of a tall shadowy figure moving through the gloom.”
“Alas, murder’s tentacles rarely respect reason. I fear . . .” Charlotte couldn’t quite articulate what it was that she feared. And yet, that didn’t make it any less real.
For a long moment, the only sounds in the kitchen were the hissing and crackling of coal within the belly of the stove.
“How did Tyler come to know Dr. Hosack?” Charlotte asked. McClellan was Tyler’s cousin, and like him, she had been part of the earl’s household until a previous murder investigation had led to her taking up residence with Charlotte. “The American appears a good deal older.”
“Aye, he is,” answered the maid. “They met six years ago, when the doctor visited Scotland to give a series of lectures at the University of Edinburgh, where he had studied in the early 1790s. Tyler attended them, and was impressed with his intellect and passion for working with plants to develop medicines for curing the diseases that cut short so many lives.”
“Hosack sounds like a very admirable man,” mused Charlotte. She had been struck by the doctor’s kindly face and his fierce determination to have justice for his murdered friend.
“A compassionate one as well. He lost his first wife and two children to yellow fever, so understands the pain of losing a loved one to illness,” said McClellan. “He’s devoted his life to championing the creations of botanic gardens in America so that medical men have a resource for research. Tyler says that Hosack’s Elgin Garden, just outside the city of New York, have garnered great praise here in Europe.”
The maid paused. “Indeed, that was how the two of them met. After giving his lectures in Edinburgh, Hosack wished to journey north and collect specimen plants from some of the remote areas in the Highlands. As Tyler was familiar with the area, he offered to serve as a guide. They worked several weeks together, and formed a close friendship. Tyler has kept up a regular correspondence since then, and he was very much looking forward to spending time with the doctor here in London.”
“As your beloved Scottish poet Bobby Burns said,The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men . . .” Charlotte pushed back her plate. “That explains how Hosack came to know of Wrexford.” A sigh. “Though I can’t pretend not to wish that Tyler had been a little less loquacious about the earl.”
McClellan nodded, her eyes pooling with concern.
But there is no use in fretting over spilled milk,she thought as McClellan rose and began to clear the table. The task now was to keep the damage from spreading.
CHAPTER 5
“Words can’t express how sorry I am, milord.” Tyler brushed a nonexistent mote of dust from the coat draped over his arm before holding it up for the earl to slip on. “I know that I’m responsible for ruining Lady Charlotte’s first appearance as the future Lady Wrexford. I don’t expect her—or you—to ever forgive me. But be assured that—”
“Oh, do stop sniveling. It doesn’t become you,” snapped Wrexford. “If I wanted an obsequious valet to fawn over me, I would have given you the boot long ago.”
As he had hoped, the rebuke drew a grudging snort.
“You know damn well that Lady Charlotte is profoundly grateful to you for the excuse to be absent from the frivolities of the gala supper,” he added. “As am I.”
Tyler was no longer looking quite so green around the gills. “Be that as it may, milord, I’ve put the two of you in a very awkward position. Not to speak of inadvertently involving Hawk in a bloody murder.”
“Actually, there wasn’t a drop of blood involved.” Wrexford moved to his dressing table and picked up a small glass vial set by the looking glass. “If you wish to make amends for your abandoning the boy for hours in the conservatory, set up the microscope in the workroom and prepare all the implements and chemicals we’ll need in order to determine the exact composition of this substance.”
“Ah.” Curiosity replaced the lingering look of remorse from the valet’s face. “I was hoping you had convinced Henning to give you a sample from the wineglass. His magnifying lenses and testing methods are far more primitive than ours.”
“Precisely.” Wrexford took up the freshly ironed cravat from the back of the chair and began looping it around his upturned shirt points.
Tyler winced. “You may consider me thoroughly punished for my verbal transgressions, milord. To go out in public looking like that is deeply humiliating for a man of my professional sensibilities. My reputation as a valet will be ruined.”
“I don’t employ you for your sartorial expertise.” Wrexford finished yanking a careless knot into place. “By the by, make sure to have plenty of vitriolic acid on hand. We will need it.”
“Hmmm—that must mean you suspect . . .” Tyler tapped a finger to his chin. “A very interesting surmise, milord. I’ll have everything ready by the time you return, and we’ll see whether you are right.”
