“Dear heavens—Marco isn’t a murderer!” she exclaimed. “I would wager my life on it.”
“I’ve come to the same conclusion,” admitted the earl. “Reluctantly, I admit, as I don’t like the fellow.”
“He’s been nothing but a good and loyal friend to me when I needed one,” replied Charlotte.
His mouth twitched. “Perhaps that’s what bothers me.”
She made a face.
“Still, I did take pity on the fellow. It must have been quite a shock to stumble upon the bodies.” A note of grudging sympathy had crept into his voice. “Even I, who am no stranger to violence, admit that the murder scene was not for the faint of heart,” continued the earl. “Kit and Hosack took him back to his rooms at the Albany Hotel. The doctor promised to stay with him through the night, and first thing this morning, I made arrangements for both of them to stay for the time being with an acquaintance from my military days whose estate is not far from the Royal Botanic Gardens.”
“Thank you, Wrexford.” That her old friend was alone in a strange country and likely terrified tugged at her heart. “I must go see him.”
“For now, I think it best that you don’t,” said the earl. “There’s a chance that the killer saw Moretti enter the conservatory, which might put his life in danger. The man behind all this is both clever and ruthless, and as he was present at the Royal Society’s gala supper on the night of Becton’s murder, he might have observed that you and Moretti know each other.”
Charlotte paled. “Was there no clue as to who might have killed DeVere and Quincy?”
“I haven’t quite finished my account of the evening.” Wrexford’s expression darkened. “Tyler and I took a look around, in case there were any clues near the door that was left unlocked,” he said, and went on to explain about spotting the American slipping out of the conservatory.
“Captain Daggett?” She immediately grasped the ramifications. “One has to wonder whether he has betrayed his oath to his country by becoming involved in some sordid scheme for personal profit. Or whether he’s carrying out some clandestine plan for his government. Though what that might be . . .” Frowning in thought, she let her words trail off.
“Some reasonable speculations come to mind,” said the earl. “Illness is always a very pressing worry for the military. It can be a ruthless enemy, incapacitating an army far more quickly and efficiently than any force of opposing soldiers. So a country that possesses a miracle cure for a dangerous illness has a great advantage on the battlefield.”
That made great sense, she realized. “Have you informed Griffin yet about Daggett’s presence at the murder scene? Surely, he—”
“He can likely do nothing,” replied Wrexford. “Our government is in a devilishly difficult position. Daggett is here under a special invitation. To arrest him without irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing would provoke an international scandal. One doesn’t break the code of honor between nations lightly.”
“But you saw him—” began Charlotte.
He cut her off with a curt laugh. “Ha—a momentary glimpse in the dead of night? That won’t fadge with the authorities. Perhaps if we had caught him bloody-handed, with four of us as witnesses. But the truth is, he still might get away with murder if the Foreign Office deems it in the country’s self-interest to turn a blind eye on the crime.” He made a face. “At least officially.”
“But . . .”But Wrexford is right.
“My guess is that the newspapers will announce it as an unfortunate robbery. After all, DeVere’s wealth is well known,” he continued. “Then it all depends on whether the government can be convinced that Daggett might have stolen an important medical discovery. And I’m not terribly sanguine about that— too few of our officials understand that science is not merely a hobby for rich dilettantes.”
Again, Charlotte knew he was right.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t confront the miscreant and have a private word with him,” said Wrexford. “I happen to know he’s staying at the Sun and Sextant Club, a place favored by mariners from around the world.”
The statement punched the breath from her lungs. “No—that’s too dangerous!” Much as she loathed DeVere, the news of his violent demise, and the horrific stabbing of Quincy, had shaken her to the core. “If Daggett is a cold-blooded murderer, he won’t hesitate to strike again.”
“Forewarned is forearmed.” The earl’s gaze hardened. “He won’t find me quite so easy a victim.”
“Is that supposed to quell my fears?” she snapped. “The fact that he won’t find iteasyto kill you?”
Wrexford took her hand and pressed her palm to his cheek. “I promise you, sweeting, there’s not a chance in the world that I will miss my wedding night.”
Tears prickled against her lids. “Don’t jest about the risk. I don’t find it remotely funny.”
His expression turned very serious. “Then let me make another promise—I shall take precautions and won’t do anything rash. Though he has no authority to arrest the captain, I’ll have Griffin accompany me, and I shall take care to confront Daggett within the club, where he won’t be expecting any trouble.”
It didn’t allay all her fears, but it was at least something, and Charlotte sensed that she would wring no further concessions from him. Leaning closer, she brushed a kiss to his lips. “Be careful. If you allow anything to happen to yourself, not even Lucifer will keep me from finding you in the netherworld and ringing a peal over your head.”
“That, my love, would almost be worth witnessing.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t find it amusing.”
He shifted slightly, setting off a faint crackle of paper. “Oh, by the by, here is the sketch that Moretti gave me. Hosack didn’t recognize it, but perhaps your brother will.”
