Withdrawing a sheet of vellum from his drawer, he flipped open the lid to his inkwell and dipped the quill inside. It was time to make a list of possible suspects to begin investigating. Anyone that had come into contact with Aislynn that, while not a credible threat, were still worth checking into. He’d found that sometimes the most unlikely villains were the ones responsible. The first name he wrote was the most obvious choice, the one he would most like to see judged for his crimes. They were lengthy, but the aristocrat was adept at covering most of his tracks.
Earl of Parkson
Next was the earl’s second, the man who shared in his licentious activities.
Lord Wrexville
He hesitated before writing the next few names, but again, he told himself that every possibility should be searched. They were all individuals that he knew, two of which he actually knew well and respected.
Viscount Alton
James Reynolds
Mary Spade
The Wolf
He scribbled the managers of the Theatre Royal as well as the Royalty Theatre and every actor and actress that he could recall.
He inspected the list and then forced himself to write one more name.
Cordell Steele
He knew that he wasn’t responsible for anyone’s death, but he also couldn’t discount himself because of his personal history and the one time he could not accurately remember his actions.
When he was finished, he waited for the alcohol to take effect and make him tired. However, when there was an urgent knock at his door, he realized it was going to be a long night, so it was a good thing he wasn’t yet exhausted.
A Runner was standing on his front step.
There had been another murder.
Aislynn wasn’t sure if Cordell would actually allow her to stay at Spade’s. She expected him to walk into the parlor and cart her out of the brothel slung over his shoulder, but when Mary had appeared alone, she wasn’t certain whether to be relieved or disappointed. Granted, she had not wanted to yield her display of rebellion, but neither had she wanted to give in too easily to Cordell’s arrogant, chivalrous demands.
Feeling an air of victory should have made her sleep soundly but she tossed and turned, unable to keep from replaying the memory of his fiery kisses and his gentle touch from running through her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see the indecision warring on his face that finally won out by his desperate need for her. It was certainly humbling and now that she had time to think clearly about everything that he’d sacrificed of himself to be with her, she wanted to reach out to him. It was too late for that, of course, since she’d made the decision to send him away but there was still time to right her wrongs.
Determined to see him the next morning, Aislynn was finally able to drift off into a fitful sleep.
It wasn’t until she woke up the next morning that she received another great shock.
As she sat down in Mary’s personal parlor and prepared her tea while a tray set to the side, anxiously awaiting her, the owner of the brothel announced in a matter-of-fact tone, “There was another murder last evening.”
Aislynn’s cup was halfway to her lips when she abruptly stopped and set it back down on her saucer with a slight rattle, her heart immediately starting to pound. “Pardon?”
“I did not think ye would want me to evade the subject when ye are bound to hear the truth.” Mary folded the paper she’d been reading and set it to the side. With her good arm, she propped her elbow on the back of the settee and rested her head in her palm. “Or was my judgment misrepresented?”
“No. You were right to tell me.” Aislynn took a deep breath and tried not to allow her stays to suffocate her. She had discovered her valise had been delivered sometime during the night and sat at the end of her rented bedchamber. She wanted to believe that Cordell himself had delivered it in person but she knew that was asking too much.
When she opened it to take out a clean gown to wear, tears instantly welled in her eyes when she saw a fresh white shift lying delicately on top of everything else. She didn’t recognize it as anything she owned because it was entirely too fine, proof that Cordell had bought it for her to replace the one he’d torn asunder. She wondered if he would be able to do the same for her heart if he managed to rip it in half as well.
“If ye hope to see Cordell today, I fear ye will not have much luck,” Mary said, as if reading her thoughts. “He sent word early this morning that he had been out all night with the Runners trying to find the culprit.”
Aislynn swallowed hard over the lump in her throat. Fear of a different sort shot through her, because what if she never got the chance to apologize to Cordell for the way they’d parted? “I am not surprised. He is intent on finding the killer.”
“Yes, he is, but it is not for the reasons that ye might be thinking.” Mary lifted a slight brow and straightened her pose. “It is clear to anyone who can see properly that he is besotted with ye. I might even go so far as to suggest that he is in love with ye, but I’ll let him be the one to confirm that.”
Aislynn’s breath caught. “Cordell and I have not known each other long enough to form that sort of meaningful connection.”
“Ye can say that after last night?” The lady shook her head. “I have known Steele for a long time and never have I known him to consider breaking that ridiculous vow of celibacy. If that doesn’t count for something with ye, then I am starting to wonder if ye are as intelligent as I thought ye were.” Getting to her feet, Mary waved a hand at the tray. “Ye should eat to keep your strength up. All of yer admirers will not want to see ye fainting on the stage for tonight’s performance.”
