Charlotte heard a whisper of wool as Wrexford came to stand behind her.
“What may I offer you?” he asked politely.
“I do enjoy a good Scottish malt,” replied Mrs. Guppy.
“Ummm, make that two,” called Carrick.
Mademoiselle Benoit hesitated and then requested brandy.
“Please sit and allow me to serve your drinks,” said Charlotte, quickly assuming the role of a perfectly polished hostess—a lady of no substance beneath the froth of expensive silk and good manners.
If Mrs. Guppy wished to engage in a cat-and-mouse game of feminine wiles, reflected Charlotte, she would find herself matched with someone who had a great deal of experience in how to play it.
* * *
Wrexford stood in the shadows, waiting for everyone to settle themselves in the room. Patience was not usually his strong suit, but he used the delay to study Mrs. Guppy, who had not yet chosen a spot.An imaginative inventor, a highly successful entrepreneur—her intellect was clearly saber-sharp.
Mrs. Guppy seemed to sense his scrutiny, and while most people found his stare unsettling, she reacted by raising her glass in a subtle salute.
Or was it a challenge?
No doubt he would learn the answer to that in a moment, for after taking a small sip of her whisky, she edged away from the others, who had seated themselves near the hearth, and came to join him.
“You have a very intriguing circle of family and friends, Lord Wrexford.”
The earl said nothing.
“But then, that shouldn’t surprise me. You have the reputation for being a gentleman of many interesting talents,” she continued. “Raven is a very clever and perceptive lad. Wherever did you find him?”
He ignored the question. “One of the first things you’ve probably heard about me is that social niceties bore me to perdition. So let us not engage in thrust-and-parry verbal fencing under the guise of making polite conversation.”
“Excellent. I, too, prefer plain speaking,” answered Mrs. Guppy. “I imagine you have a great many questions for me. So perhaps I can help narrow them down by giving you a summary of Jasper Milton’s murder, along with what we do—and do not—know.”
She took a sip of her whisky. “Because, to be frank, time is of the essence. That you had Raven watching Mademoiselle Benoit was a fortuitous stroke of luck, as you shall soon understand. But to take advantage of it, we will have to move fast.”
“That’s a well-crafted emotional appeal, madam,” replied Wrexford. “But it’s wasted on me. If you wish to convince me to take a course of action, you’ll have to use facts and logic.”
“I expected no less.” She turned slightly, the candlelight kindling a flash of sparks beneath her lashes. “So, let me begin without further ado.”
* * *
Charlotte accepted a cup of tea from McClellan, listening with only half an ear as Cordelia and Sheffield peppered Carrick and Mademoiselle Benoit with questions. After the maid took a seat near the others, she drifted away from the group and shifted her attention to the interchange between Mrs. Guppy and Wrexford.
This, she knew, was where the real game would play out, with truth and lies moving around the checkered board like black-and-white chess pieces, looking to seize the advantage . . .
Charlotte caught the last few words of Mrs. Guppy’s challenge and the earl’s response. But before the woman could begin her summary, the earl spoke up, addressing his words to everyone in the room.
“I’m aware of Garfield’s offer to sell Milton’s papers to Mademoiselle Benoit and her French colleague and have heard a self-serving explanation from him all but accusing Mercer Wayland of being the real culprit.”
She noted that he kept Garfield’s murder to himself for now.
“So my patience, never in great abundance to begin with, is just about exhausted.” The earl straightened from his slouch against the wall. “I’ve had enough of lies and innuendoes. The only thing I wish to hear from our three guests is the truth.”
“Fair enough,” said Mrs. Guppy. “So let’s start with the key truth to this conundrum. Oliver Carrick did not kill Jasper Milton. But he saw who did.”
Charlotte bit back a gasp.
“Why—” began the earl.
