‘You are an incredibly difficult woman, Miss Blair.’
Pulling to a stop in front of the crowded tea shop, Clio turned to face him as warmth, unexpected and soothing, washed over her. ‘Why, Lieutenant General Grey, what a lovely compliment.’
‘It wasn’t a compliment,’ he growled.
The carriage dipped as the footman hopped down from the back and took the reins from her.
‘It most certainly was.’ Clio accepted the footman’s hand. ‘Meet us back here in an hour, John. Thank you kindly.’ She tapped her shoulder for Sir Robin to join her on the busy street. Making her way through the crowd to the entrance of Gunter’s, she didn’t wait to see if Lieutenant General Grey followed her.
Thankfully, Lady Cynthia arrived not long after they were seated, alleviating the need to make awkward conversation. They all ordered: tea for Lady Cynthia, coffee for Lieutenant General Grey, and Gunter’s famed hot chocolate for Clio.
‘How unexpectedly delightful to make a new friend, Miss Blair. My brother was in the midst of asking me a favour when you arrived at Madame Laurent’s.’ Cynthia’s eyes, hazel to her brother’s clear green, sparkled with mischief.
‘I’ll bet you that iced cake he was asking to meet with the Duchess of Devon.’ Clio had done her research on Lieutenant General Grey. Cynthia wasn’t the only one who knew how to study Debrett’s, but unlike Clio, his entire family was listed.
Cynthia was married to the Marquess of Kentmore, and it was well known among the ladies who frequented All Things Bright and Beautiful that the Marchioness of Kentmore and the Duchess of Devon were intimate friends. The Duchess of Devon was also Viscount Beachley’s sister, and Anna’s aunt. Uncle Lachlan wasright. Grey’s connections within the beau monde were helpful even if the man was not.
‘Aren’t you a clever one. So, this mysterioussomethingyou wanted to speak with Thomas about is the case he’s working on?’
‘The caseweare working on,’ Clio corrected. There was no reason to hide her involvement. While ladies were meant to follow strict rules of decorum set forth by their fathers and husbands, Clio had no men controlling her choices. She could move in the world far more freely than the highly esteemed Marchioness of Kentmore.
The marchioness leaned back in her chair; her expertly tinted lips curled in a smile. ‘I see.’ She glanced at her brother, then back to Clio. ‘You might be one of the most interesting women I’ve ever met. Don’t you agree, Thomas?’
Lieutenant General Grey sipped his coffee and kept his – no doubt dim – opinions to himself.
‘I’m flattered.’ Clio forced a bright smile.
Cynthia leaned forward, her delicate features growing serious. ‘And you think it might help to speak with poor Anna?’
‘Miss Blair thinks the girlmighthave some insight as to what happened that night.’ It was clear he did not agree.
‘Unlike your brother, I think it’s important to pursue every possible lead.’
‘Even if it is a complete waste of our time,’ Lieutenant General Grey muttered.
‘Or the key that unlocks our entire case,’ Clio hissed.
Cynthia gave each of them a curious glance before directing her question to Clio. ‘Because you think the viscountess murdered him?’ She shook her head, her chestnut hair catching the weak sunlight battling through a stormy sky. ‘Violet Beachley hasn’t the backbone needed to squash a spider, let alone kill her husband.’
‘You know her? What kind of woman is she?’ Clio’s pulse quickened.
‘Admittedly, I don’t know her well.’ Cynthia spun her cup in a slow circle on the saucer. ‘According to her sister-in-law, my dear friend Lady Langley, she doesn’t possess the kind of passion needed to commit such a violent crime.’
Clio swirled whipped cream into dark chocolate with her spoon. ‘I don’t know if the viscountess is a murderer. We don’t have any evidence to prove her guilt or innocence. Many people had access to the viscount, which is why we should leave no avenue unexplored.’ Clio sent a pointed glare in Lieutenant General Grey’s direction before sipping her decadent treat. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment as she let the warm, rich sweetness of cocoa and cinnamon coat her tongue. She swallowed and opened her eyes to see Lieutenant General Grey’s face tighten. She couldn’t even drink her chocolate without angering him.
Well, too bad. It’s delicious, and I won’t hide my enjoyment because it irritates you. In fact…
She took another sip, licking her lips and marvelling at the flare of incendiary frustration in the lieutenant general’s gaze. Pulling her thoughts back to the case, she refocused on Lady Burrows. ‘But finding Viscountess Beachley is of paramount importance, if only to determine that she is alive, and possibly eliminate her as a suspect.’
‘You think she might also be… deceased?’ Cynthia’s eyes widened.
Clio ignored Lieutenant General Grey’s exasperated sigh. ‘I don’t know. She is missing. We need to find her. That is all I know for certain.’
Cynthia picked up an iced cake and nibbled on the edge before her mouth turned down in a small frown. ‘Her Grace is incredibly protective of Anna. Especially now. If you are right and both Anna’s parents were murdered, she is wise to shield her so fiercely.’
Lieutenant General Grey exhaled. ‘Exactly. I would have misgivings myself in her situation.’
‘I suppose even a gentleman of the beau monde has limitations on what he can and can’t accomplish.’ It was a petty barb, but Clio couldn’t help herself.
