Society thought him a bumbling idiot of a man. A fool in lavender and lace who minced about the place waving scented handkerchiefs. He was far from that, and a very talented actor.
Realizing he was still clutching the note Haven handed him, he turned up the lamp and opened it.
I wish only to reiterate your value to Alexius, Lord Montgomery, and acknowledge the sacrifices again that you have made. I believe, with what we have recently learned, we will find justice for your parents. It is my deepest regret we could not do so before now.It was signed Geraint.
He read the words again. Geraint never showed emotion. In fact, he was a great deal like Monty in that. It surprised him the man had taken the time to send him this.
Was what he had learned tonight really going to lead to justice for the two people he’d loved most in the world?
“I am going to ensure it does,” he vowed.
Who killed my parents?
CHAPTERFOUR
Monty inhaled and exhaled several times. He then shook his gloved hands. It was a ritual he did most evenings he was to play the part of Lord Plunge.
You can do this. Just until the end of the season or your parents’ killers are found.
The carriage rolled to a stop behind others, all lined up to wait their turn to alight outside the house of Lord and Lady Raine.
When the door opened, Monty stepped down with his usual pious expression in place. When he left London, he would never simper or pout again. In fact, he’d stalk about his estate scowling simply because he could.
He’d only taken a few steps when someone spoke behind him.
“Move it along there, Plunge. No need to grandstand and promenade out here. Save that for inside.”
Turning, he found Mr. Zachariel Deville smirking, and Mrs. Mary Deville with a smile of welcome for him on her pretty face.Friends,he thought.Something I never wanted.
Monty bowed deeply, waving his lavender-scented handkerchief before him. “And where is it you wish for me to move along to, my dear Mr. Zachariel Deville?”
Zach was tall, like his brothers. The five Devilles were all handsome according to the women of society and—most especially—their wives. They had the look of each other in different variations. Dark hair, blue or dark brown eyes, and a wicked sense of humor they used on one another and Monty.
“Stride like a man, Plunge, instead of mincing like a lady,” Zach said.
“I protest,” the woman at his side said. She then elbowed her husband in the ribs hard enough to make him wince.
Monty really liked Mary.
“Hello, Lord Plunge, how wonderful you look this evening,” she said, holding out her hand for him to take. “Lavender again?”
A great deal shorter than her husband, Mary was blond and sweet and had been the first friend he had after his childhood friendship with Iris, his neighbor.
The day he realized that like him, she was living two lives, Monty had been in the church talking with Geraint. A knock on the door had alerted them to a caller. Mary arrived to deliver a note from her ill father, also part of Alexius. After forcing herself inside, they’d been working together ever since.
“Thank you, Mrs. Mary Deville, but of course, I always wear lavender. It is a favorite color and scent of mine, you understand.” He felt like the words were choking him tonight. They’d come out raspy, like he was forcing them through a sore throat. The news Geraint had given him today had clearly unsettled him.
Perhaps he should just go home?
Zach and Mary moved closer, so they both stood before him, creating a wall.
“Monty, what’s wrong?” Mary whispered.
“Nothing. I am well, Mary.”
“I don’t think you are,” Zach said softly, so only they could hear his words. “Now is not the place to talk more, but we will have the reason for that tight look in your eyes, my friend, and why your voice sounds off.”
Good God, he felt a sting of tears at the words “my friend.” Was he ailing or something? Monty could find no other explanation for what he was feeling. He was cold and hard; he didn’t feel.
