“Don’t depart on my account,” Ramsey said, smiling at the ladies.
Gray had the sudden urge to punch him when he looked at Ellen, which told him it was important not to spend too much time in that woman’s company going forward.
Brief introductions were made, and then they were all leaving.
“I’ll call again soon, Detective. You can give me an interview for one of my newspapers,” Cambridge Sinclair said. Gray noted he had a fruit bun in his hand.
He looked at Ellen, and she gave him a small smile before turning and walking out of his parlor.
When it was only him and Ramsey left in the room, Gray fell into the nearest chair and wondered what the hell was happening to his life.
“I’m so sorry about Uncle Henry, Ram.”
His cousin nodded and took the seat across from him. “It was a quick death, Gray, but we miss him dreadfully. Mother came back with me but is now closeted away with her sister in Cornwall after visiting with your family. Her brother, as you can imagine, was a cold, emotionless bastard when we arrived.”
“Yes, my father is the most soulless, unemotional man I know.”
“Amen,” Ram said.
Tall, with hair the color of a burnished chestnut, Ramsey had bright blue eyes and a large personality. He’d always been the exact opposite of Gray, and that was perhaps why they’d been the best of friends.
“I will bring more tea,” Albert said, still smiling. He then bustled about collecting up plates and cups and left.
“We were invited to your brother’s wedding, which as you can imagine will be a crushing bore, but needs must when it comes to family. Or so mother told me,” Ramsay said.
“Which one of them is getting married?” Gray asked, not surprised in the least that he hadn’t received an invitation. However the ache in his chest told him it still hurt.
“Don’t tell me you are not going?” The horror on his cousin’s face made Gray feel marginally better.
“We don’t talk often, and clearly, I’m an embarrassment. How would they explain to the haute ton that one of them was a detective at Scotland Yard?” He told himself he wasn’t hurt.
“That pompous bloody twit,” Ramsey seethed. He’d always been the louder of the two of them. “I’ve a mind to refuse. In fact, I will if they do not invite you.”
“No, go, I have no issue with not being there,” Gray lied. “Which brother has found a woman to have him?”
“Christopher. He’s marrying Lady Mary Smythe. A perfect match from what I gather. She was there when we arrived at the Seddon town house. She’s as cool and emotionless as Christopher.”
“You’re right, that is a perfect match.”
Pushing aside the gnawing ache deep inside that his family was so ashamed they hadn’t even invited him to his eldest brother’s wedding, Gray reminded himself they’d been ignoring him for years. This was just another occasion.
He drank more tea and caught up with his cousin for the next two hours, and by the time Ramsey left, he knew he had his best friend back. Gray thought that was a bloody amazing thing. A relative who didn’t care what he was and only that he was a friend.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Ellen and Uncle Bram had decided to visit Detective Fletcher at Scotland Yard instead of his house as he’d clearly he’d been uncomfortable having visitors in his home.
Leo and Alex had wanted to come, but they had recently ventured into business, and today were viewing a large building with the hopes of purchasing it. They would then convert it into a variety of shops all under the same roof. It was a concept others had achieved, and they wanted to try.
Her brothers were no longer the bored indolent nobleman they’d once been, and she knew Uncle Bram was behind this and their current venture.
“Don’t be nervous, niece. Detective Fletcher is a good man.”
“I know. He was kind to me in his house that day.”
They were at present sitting in hard chairs inside Scotland Yard, waiting to see if the detective had time to speak with them.
“He will not judge us harshly.”
