“Yes” came from Ramsey and the rest of the Nightingales.
“Oh, very well.” Leo got to his feet and shook Gray’s hand. “Hurt her and there will be nowhere you can hide.”
“A missive has arrived for you, sir,” the butler said, handing out a piece of paper to Gray.
Ellen watched as he read it, hoping it was not bad news.
“Brownly’s house has just been searched and theBlackstead Bestiaryfound. They have arrested him for being an accomplice in the murder of George Nicholson,” Gray said.
“Excellent,” Uncle Bram said. “We have more to celebrate, it seems.”
“Thank you,” Gray said to Ellen, when her family were all seated drinking tea and eating. He’d put Lottie down, and she was now being chased around the room by Teddy, shrieking loudly. It left his hands free to hold Ellen’s.
“For what?”
“For seeing something in me you could love. For helping me find George Nicholson’s murderer and coming to rescue me last night. Lastly, for being the most wonderful, infuriating woman I have ever known.”
She leaned to kiss him. “You are very welcome, and thank you for being my uptight, handsome detective, who I will love until the day I draw my last breath.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
The wedding of Miss Ellen Nightingale to Mr. Grayson Fletcher was a great deal less grand than his eldest brother’s would be. It took place a month after the day they’d arrested Brownly.
Ellen had declared she would like the ceremony outside in the small park in the middle of Crabbett Close. While unorthodox, Gray thought it a grand idea, so the locals along with Ramsey and the Nightingales got to work.
Gray now stood at the end of the aisle, beside his cousin, Leo, and Alex, as it was pathetic, according to all of them, that he only had one friend to call upon.
Ellen wanted a handful of people they loved and had befriended and no fuss to witness their vows. Clearly, she didn’t know her neighbors in Crabbett Close very well.
“I wonder where the pews came from?” Ramsey said from his position beside Gray. Before them were five wooden pews to the left and five to the right. Seated on those were people, friends and family.
“There is a church somewhere that will have its congregations standing this Sunday,” Alex said.
Ivy, Mungo, and the Nightingale household staff sat in the front pew. Behind them were the entire Sinclair and Raven family taking up the rest of the rows. All who he’d recently been introduced to, and found he liked very much.
The residents of Crabbett Close were seated on the left and the right to make it seem like Gray actually had more than four people there for him.
Not that he cared. The only important person in his life was about to walk down that strip of red-and-gold patterned carpet.
“My fear is that was stolen right out of a prosperous household,” Gray said.
“You are not on duty today, Detective Fletcher, and look at that carpet closely.”
He did. “My God, Ram, that’s from your house.”
“So you need not worry about theft… although I can’t vouch for—”
“Cease.” Gray raised a hand. “I do not want to know.”
“That’s probably best,” Leo added.
The residents all sat in their seats, twittering with excitement like hens roosting. Some wore hats festooned with ribbons, others bonnets with new satin ribbons. Men were in their Sunday best.
Flowers were everywhere he looked. Standing on poles, tied to the edges of chairs with ribbons. Two huge urns stood on either side at the beginning of the aisle.
“I believe those were borrowed from the Alvins’ mother,” Alex said, nodding to the urns.
“They’re close to ninety. How do they have a mother alive?” Gray asked.
