“I do. Would you like me to continue to find the answer? And the necklace?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I think it doesn’t matter anymore.” She paused then shook her head, feathers dancing. “No, it does not. But I thank you, Captain. Thank you for believing me.”
She clutched my arm again, fingers crushing, then at last released me and flowed back into the crowd.
I still could come nowhere near Lady Breckenridge, so I enjoyed myself sipping brandy and speaking to the Derwents and Gareth Travers. I asked Sir Gideon his opinion of Lord Clifford, and he gave me a surprising answer.
“Not a good-humored man, certainly. And his household is not a happy one, from what I hear. No, his benevolence lies elsewhere. He has given much money to help the London poor and is a staunch supporter of many of my reform efforts. He’s made speeches in the House of Lords on my behalf.”
I contrasted this picture to the snarling, unpleasant man I’d met, and Sir Gideon chuckled.
“You are amazed, Captain. Yes, it comes as a bit of a shock to those who have made his acquaintance. I offer no excuse for his demeanor. Some men are born surly, I suppose. But he was able to convince the magistrates to release his wife’s maid. He speaks loudly to the right people about the appalling conditions of prisons and of corruption among magistrates. He was able to bring her home and have the charges dismissed.”
“To think, I imagined this would be a simple matter,” I said.
“Nothing is simple where Lord Clifford is concerned. He is a cipher, Captain, even to me.”
I thanked Sir Gideon for his opinion, and we turned the conversation to other matters.
Guests seemed determined to stay until breakfast, but once the soprano said her farewells and departed, they began to migrate toward the doors. Lady Breckenridge edged me away from the lingerers, until we ended up relatively alone at the fireplace.
She put her hands to her cheeks. “My face hurts from all this bloody smiling. The things I suffer for my artists.”
“But you enjoyed the performance,” I said. “The pleasure I saw in you was real.”
A hint of the earlier smile returned. “Yes,” she said. “But cease the compliments and listen, before someone decides to drag me off into an inane conversation. I have something to tell you that was not in my letter. Which, I trust, you read carefully.”
“Every word,” I said. “It was quite intriguing.”
“I am certain it was. However, when my maid was dressing me this evening, she imparted intelligence from Lady Clifford’s kitchens. Waters, the maid, was enjoying telling her harrowing tale of Bow Street gaol and being up before the magistrate. Reprieved at the last moment by testimony from Lord Clifford.”
“Sir Gideon has been telling me that Lord Clifford is a bit of a reformer who worries the magistrates.”
“Gracious, there is more to the story than that. According to those below stairs, Lord Clifford was persuaded to intervene on the behalf of young Waters by Annabelle Dale. Begged him tearfully, said an upstairs maid, who overheard the conversation. Apparently, Mrs. Dale asked Lord Clifford to help for ‘poor, dear Marguerite’s sake. We must all do what we can to spare Marguerite.’ Extremely interesting, do you not think?”
Exceedingly.Spare Marguerite.Spare her from what?
“Life in the Clifford household must certainly be interesting,” I said with feeling.
“I agree.” Lady Breckenridge glanced across the room at Lady Clifford, and her mouth tightened with impatience. “I believe I will be more careful of the favors I do you in future.”
“Investigating crime is not always a pleasant thing.”
“I never thought it was. Certainly nothing for a gentleman or a lady who knows better. But that is why you interest me, Lacey. You never do what you ought.”
“Nor do you.”
The look she gave me was measuring. “But I am an aristocrat and have the excuse of being removed from my fellow beings. You must strive to be utterly respectable, and yet, you do not always bother. I believe that is why I like you.”
“I am obliged to you for that liking.”
She regarded me for one more moment, her expression unreadable. “I can never decide, Lacey, whether you are complimenting me or mocking me, but it is no matter. I see that Lady Clifford has cornered an admiral. I am afraid I must rescue him. Good night, Captain.”
I bowed. “My lady.”
She sashayed away, throwing that sincere smile over her shoulder, and I stood for a moment, enjoying watching her go.
**
