“Your consideration is much appreciated,” he eventually told her.“Evelyn was happy to make your acquaintance and looked forward to having you visit for tea.”
Samantha considered asking if he had any leads that might help find the killer, but decided against it.Now was not the time to address such a distasteful subject.
With that in mind, she simply told him, “Thank you, Mr.Croft.I shall carry that sentiment with me forever.”
She started to turn away.
“Miss Carmichael,” he said, almost with a hint of warning.“Whoever did this has yet to be caught.I urge you to be careful.”
He gave his attention to someone else before she was able to thank him, his manner suggesting he’d already dismissed her from his mind.
13
Although Adrian spoke to several other friends and acquaintances who came to impart their regrets, his attention remained on Miss Carmichael’s retreating figure.
Why had she come?
Although she had been invited to join Evie for tea, the two hadn’t met more than once, and even then only briefly.It seemed odd that a young lady such as Miss Carmichael would choose to spend a miserable Sunday morning attending the funeral of someone she barely knew.
He could think of only two reasons.She was either goodness personified or in possession of an ulterior motive.
“Anything on her yet?”he asked Murry as soon as the last well-wishers had taken their leave.
“Not much,” Murry told him.“According to the records I’ve found, Mr.Harlowe raised her and four other girls as though they were his own.One of the others is right over there – Lady Heathbrooke’s companion, Miss Melody Roberts.I see nothing suspicious yet, though one might imagine he’s trying to find a place for Miss Carmichael next.Either as governess or companion.She is of an age.”
“How old is she,” Adrian asked.He sent Murry a sideways glance.“Do you know?”
“Four and twenty.”
Well beyond debutante age then.What most would think of as firmly on the shelf.“I’m surprised he’s waited this long.”
Another aspect that made little sense.
“They’re a very private family, that much is clear,” Murry said.“Finding out precisely why she’s starting to make a regular appearance will likely take time.”
“Thank you, Murry.”Adrian straightened his spine when he saw Mr.Harlowe approach.“Please keep digging.”
The order was possibly moot, for the first thing Mr.Harlowe said when Adrian mentioned the lovely words Miss Carmichael had imparted was that he thanked his good fortune for her and her sisters’ daily assistance.
“My sight is not what it once was,” Mr.Harlowe explained.“And I find myself becoming increasingly forgetful.Were it not for Miss Carmichael’s help, I’d be utterly lost.”
Adrian studied the older man.He appeared as friendly and pleasant as when they’d last met, but Adrian knew all too well that this could be a façade.As such, he rarely trusted anyone who smiled too easily.Trouble was Harlowe had the sort of genuine demeanor that invited people to like him.It was difficult not to, Adrian realized.
Still, he did what he could to keep up his guard.“My father spoke highly of you, Mr.Harlowe.I appreciate your coming.”
“It would have weighed heavily on my heart if I hadn’t,” Mr.Harlowe informed him.
The sentiment was welcome – so much so it made Adrian’s eyes sting a little.His throat tightened, and for a moment, he found himself struggling to keep his composure under control.By the time he’d collected himself to some degree of satisfaction, the man was gone, along with most of the other mourners.
Adrian gulped down a breath and crossed to where Edward stood, alone in grim contemplation.“Will you return to the house with me for a drink?”
Edward dragged his gaze away from Evie’s grave.Unlike Adrian, he failed to hide his emotions.The heartbreak he felt over Evie’s death was etched in every aspect of his appearance, from the slightly untidy clothes that looked as though they’d been slept in to the watery brightness of his moss-green eyes.
He swallowed hard before nodding.Moments later, he fell into step at Adrian’s side as they left the churchyard behind.
“I realize this is a difficult subject,” Adrian said once they were alone in his study.All his life, this room had belonged to his father.It was the place from which he’d conducted his business and as such, Adrian hadn’t set foot in it since he’d died.
Until three days prior when he had accepted his lot and, in so doing, realized he needed a place from which to run his own operations.The first meeting with him as head of the Croft business had since taken place in this room.Now that he’d settled upon his purpose, the space from which deadly orders had always been given suited his mood immensely.
