“I wish I knew,” she muttered. “I just don’t feel good about this.”
“You should rest assured that everything will go well tonight because your brother will be at the man’s house, sneaking around. All you have to do is keep everyone in the dining area for an hour, which will be easy since all of you will be eating.”
“Indeed, it does sound like a well-executed plan, but...” She shook her head. “I just can’t get rid of this knot in my stomach and the sinking feeling that something isn’t right.”
“What isn’t right?”
“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it.” But deep down inside, she knew the precise moment she started having a sick feeling about everything. Last night when the detectives had met together to go over their findings, Mrs. Phelps informed them about what Mrs. Merriweather had said. Her father informed them that he had gotten the same story from one local policeman when he questioned them about the railway robbery suspect.
Nicole hadn’t been able to sleep well last night. When she had fallen asleep, she dreamed about Ashton—about falling in love with him only to have her heart ripped from her chest when the police officers arrested him and hauled him to Newgate Prison.
Nicole heard her name being called, and she swung her gaze toward the front desk. A man and a woman stood at the counter. The clerk pointed in Nicole’s direction, and the other two turned their eyes to her.
Her heartbeat quickened. This was Glynn Nickerson. His square-shaped body and receding hairline gave him away. It was now time to start performing.
She tapped Angela on the knee. “They are here.”
Nicole stood and took a deep breath, mentally reminding herself that tonight wasn’t any different from when she had searched through Lord Reynolds’ study to find the journal. Then again, she wouldn’t be the one sneaking around the house tonight. It was up to her to make sure everyone stayed in the dining room for a good hour.
The middle-aged man’s smile widened the closer she came to him and his female companion. He didn’t resemble anyone she remembered from the masked ball, but it wasn’t Mr. Nickerson who made her nervous, either. It was the woman beside him.
Confusion creased the woman’s narrowed gaze as she switched her focus between Nicole and Angela. Nicole had learned by now to trust her first instincts, and they were currently telling her to be leery of this lady. For a moment, Nicole wondered if she felt that way because this whole situation bothered her or if there really was something to be worried about.
“You must be Miss Bastian,” Mr. Nickerson greeted in a cheerful voice.
“Yes, I’m Miss Bastian. Are you Mr. Nickerson?”
“That is correct.” He nodded. “And let me introduce you to my friend, Mrs. Browning.” He motioned toward the other woman.
Nicole smiled as sweetly as she could. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The tightness around Mrs. Browning’s smile relaxed a bit. “Indeed, it is a pleasure to meet the woman who has captured Ashton Lee’s attention.” She elbowed Glynn. “Isn’t it?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “It certainly is.”
Nicole motioned toward Angela. “And let me introduce you to my companion, Mrs. Phelps.”
Nickerson bowed slightly in greeting, but it was Mrs. Browning’s reaction that caused Nicole to wonder. The woman’s eyes widened as if she somehow recognized Angela or her name. Surely, Mrs. Browning would say something if she had known Angela...yet as the seconds ticked by, neither woman acknowledged the other.
“Shall we be off?” Mr. Nickerson asked.
“What time should I expect Miss Bastian to return?” Angela asked.
Nicole glanced at the other detective and crinkled her forehead. It was odd that Angela’s voice was so snippy with Mr. Nickerson.
“No later than eleven,” Nickerson answered decidedly.
“Thank you. I shall be down here waiting.” Angela met Nicole’s gaze. “Enjoy yourself tonight. I shall see you at eleven and not a minute later.”
Nicole gave her friend a nod before following Mr. Nickerson and Mrs. Browning out to their carriage. He assisted the other woman inside the vehicle before helping Nicole. She sat across from Mrs. Browning. Once Nickerson climbed inside, and the carriage jerked into action, Nicole breathed a little slower, trying to regulate the quick beat of her heart.
“Tell me, Miss Bastian,” Glynn began, “how long have you lived in Liverpool?”
They wouldn’t possibly understand that although she was born here, she was raised wherever her father’s assignment took him and his family. “It’s been about six months now.”
“Ashton mentioned he met you at Lord Reynolds’ ball a month ago. Might I ask what you were doing in Meols?”
Nicole explained about visiting her aunt and uncle, hoping she related the same story she had given Ashton.
