“Are you certain?”
“Yes. I am just as eager as you to put an end to this man’s reign.”
He walked over to his wardrobe and withdrew the banyan robe that she had worn during her stay before. “You might want to put this on. I do not want you to get a chill.”
She slipped her arms in the sleeves and tied the belt in front of her. The sight of her being swamped by the overlarge robe touched something in Cordell’s heart, but he pushed it aside for the moment. There were pressing matters that needed his attention. There would be plenty of time to worship Aislynn’s body and make his way to paradise after the nightmare had come to a close.
Together they made their way back downstairs. She curled up on the settee they had vacated earlier while Cordell sat behind his desk and retrieved the list.
“Who is listed?”
He read off the list. “Earl of Parkson, Lord Wrexville, Viscount Alton, James Reynolds, Mary Spade, The Wolf.” He paused. “And me.”
She set her lips in a tight line before she said, “I think we can dispense with most of those listed, including the viscount, Mary and you.”
He reluctantly crossed them off.
“I am not certain I could imagine the Earl of Parkson or Lord Wrexville in the villainous role of the man I met this evening. They are evil men, to be sure, but I am not sure they are capable of the things this man mentioned.”
Cordell marked them off. “That leaves Reynolds and The Wolf.”
“Reynolds. Do you mean the Runner?”
“Yes.”
“What makes you suspect him?”
“He was someone who came into contact with you. I was not discounting any possibility, however farfetched it might seem.”
“If that is how you are preparing the investigation, I have several names that could be added as well,” she pointed out. “But no one I’ve met thus far seems to have met the qualifications of this man. His voice sent chills down my spine.” She gave a slight shiver that Cordell was quite certain did not have to be fabricated.
“If he is not a suspect, that leaves The Wolf, but after this evening, I am starting to doubt he is the one. While he would certainly have the demeanor to commit violent crimes, I met with him before I went to Vauxhall. I am not certain he could have made it to the Gardens, assault you, and make a clean escape in such a short amount of time when he is still convalescing.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “You keep in contact with him?”
“It is a necessary evil,” he muttered. “He has contacts all over the city. He was the one who warned me that you might be in danger this evening.”
“That was… kind of him.”
Cordell snorted. “I am not sure that was the reason. He offers assistance if he sees benefit or if he finds it amusing. Tonight, I was lucky it was the latter.” He marked his name off the list. “Now we are back to zero.”
“I suppose we could add my mother to the list, or her current paramour, but I do not believe they were at fault.” She put a hand to her forehead. “I cannot imagine who could be at fault. I did not recognize the voice. Perhaps it is a man I have never come into contact with.”
“A secret admirer,” Cordell wondered aloud. “That would certainly seem plausible. And it would explain his obsession to make you famous.”
“In the wrong way,” she uttered. “That was not how I wished to be remembered.”
Cordell pinched the bridge of his nose. “Forgive me. I did not mean to?—”
“It is not your fault, Cordell. Neither of us will have closure until the mystery is solved.” She appeared to stare off into oblivion. “I know I shall never forget those piercing blue eyes as long as I live.”
He stilled. A sinking feeling suddenly growing in the pit of his stomach. It was as if all of the pieces of this miserable puzzle had finally fallen into place.
Tomorrow would prove if his theory was correct.
Not wishing to ruin the evening by allowing this dark cloud to intercede on his time with Aislynn, he got up and announced, “I think that is enough intrigue for one night.” He walked over and held out his hand to her. “Let us go to bed.”
She smiled and accepted the offering. “I thought you would never ask.”
