“What he said,” Gray added to his cousin.
“If we are mannered alike, Ramsey, then these two could be identical twins in their sour demeanor,” Alex said, pointing from Gray to Leo.
They continued to bicker as they moved through the opening and into the Nightingales’ box. It was the perfect viewing position to see the performance that would take place below.
“Now, you sit there, Gray and Ramsey. Ellen, you can sit between the cousins. I will be next to Ramsey, and Bram next to me. Leo and Alex can take the row behind,” Ivy said.
No one argued with her and definitely not him because he got to sit next to Ellen.
“Do you like the theatre?” Gray asked her when they were settled in their seats with all the eyes from the other boxes on them. How scandalous. Not only were the Nightingales here but also the long-lost Grayson Fletcher.
“I do,” Ellen said, and something in her tone had him looking at her. Her face was pale, eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?” Gray asked her.
“Nothing is wrong.”
“Now that’s a lie.”
She pressed her lips together.
“Ellen, tell me what has happened?”
“It is not enough that I am here in a public setting with members of society?”
“If that’s the reason, then of course.” Her eyes went to his and away again.
Gray was sure she was lying.
Looking around them, he found a box directly across the theatre that held his family. Father, brothers, Lady Mary, and his mother. They were looking at him, so he nodded. His mother raised her hand, and his father said something, so she lowered it.
Gray smiled at her, remembering Mrs. Nicholson’s words. She acknowledged his gesture with a nod.
“If only we could pick our family,” Ellen whispered. “Life would be a great deal easier.” She’d seen what had taken place.
“It would.” Gray sat back in his seat and focused on the stage as the performance began. He enjoyed sitting there with the soft weight of Ellen’s thigh against his and her scent filling the air. As the second act began, Gray realized he wasn’t as tense as he normally would be seeing his family. Was it because he was with the Nightingales who were society outcasts also?He wasn’t alone anymore.
That thought had heat blooming inside him.
Staring down to the mass of people below, he searched through them, for no other reason than he could and often did. It was part of who he had become as a detective. He was always searching for something or someone.
He focused on a well-dressed man standing beside a young lady. Gray realized it was Mr. Brownly. As he watched, the man bent to speak to his sister and then excused himself and made his way out of the theatre.
“Walk, Gray?”
“Pardon?” He looked at Ramsey.
“It’s the end of the second act. Come, we shall find some food.”
“I’ll join you,” Alex said, clearly hearing the word food.
“I’ll be back shortly,” Gray said. “I must speak to someone.”
Ellen was chatting with her aunt now, so he excused himself and ran down the stairs. Once he reached the foyer, he wove his way through the crowds. He didn’t see Mr. Brownly anywhere, so he headed outside.
He wanted to talk to the man. Gray needed to find out if he was guilty or just greedy and using the opportunity of George Nicholson’s death to get the book.
It was dark, but lamps lit the front entrance. Making his way to the side, he carried on down the street, looking for Mr. Brownly. It would not be easy as there were lots of people and carriages about. He’d been walking for about five minutes when he saw a woman. It was her side profile, but something about her was familiar.
