“Did either of her siblings see where she went?”
Mrs.Irvine shook her head.“No.”
“Were you familiar with any of the other spectators?Anyone we might be able to call upon and question?”
“I…I don’t recall,” Mr.Irvine muttered.He reached for his wife’s hand and clasped it tight.“The Marquess of Lundquist approached Alice earlier in the evening, at the cascade.They exchanged a few words before he strolled off.”
Peter made a note of it.“Are the two of them friends?”
“They’ve danced together a few times at various social events, but he’s never called on her or invited her out for a walk,” Mr.Irvine informed him.“I don’t believe they’re especially close.”
“So you would say it’s unlikely that the marquess convinced your daughter to meet him for a rendezvous while you were distracted by the ballet.”Peter kept his voice soft as he spoke, for he knew what he implied would not be well received.
Mrs.Irvine blanched.“Alice would never resort to such mischief.She’s a decent person, Mr.Kendrick, not the sort to be led astray by a man.Not even by a marquess.”
Apparently, Mrs.Irvine didn’t know her daughter well.Or maybe she did and the killer had made a mistake?Peter considered that possibility.It had been dark and Alice was wearing a mask when she met her fate between those trees.
“If anything,” Mr.Irvine said, his voice stiff, “she received word that one of her friends was in need of help and went to lend her assistance.”
An unrealistic theory, Peter decided, considering she had since failed to return.He glanced at his coffee and wished it were brandy, then folded his arms on the table.
“Mr.and Mrs.Irvine,” he began while doing his best to keep his voice level, “I regret to inform you that a young woman was found murdered at Vauxhall this morning.She matches your daughter’s description, though I cannot say for certain—”
Mrs.Irvine’s anguished cry cut him off.Her slender body doubled over in pain as she wept with heaving sobs.Mr.Irvine slid from his chair and crouched before her, his arms embracing her as best he could while tears slid down his cheeks.
He glanced at Peter.“It cannot be true.I want to see her.Just to be sure.”
“Of course.”Peter stood from behind his desk and crossed to the door.“Take as much time as you need.I’ll accompany you to the morgue when you’re ready.”
He left the office, closing the door on his way out.The Irvines still held on to some small sliver of hope, but Peter already knew this too would soon be gone.There was no doubt in his mind.The woman he’d seen in Vauxhall that morning would soon be identified as Alice Irvine.
3
Adrian Croft was still restless when he returned from his morning ride.He’d given the horse its head and savored the rush of cold air on his face while they’d galloped through Hyde Park.
The exercise usually helped clear his mind, but today was different.Uneasiness gripped his bones on account of the news that had reached him before he’d gone out.Another victim had just been named in what had become a horrific series of murders.Miss Alice Irvine was dead.
Knowing the villain remained at large increased his concerns for his sister’s security.His stomach clenched with the idea of her encountering any sort of danger when she ventured out of the house.
Setting his jaw, he climbed the stairs and entered his room.His valet, James Murry, was already there, waiting with a bath and a clean change of clothes.He greeted Adrian and proceeded to help him remove his jacket.
“Have my father and sister arisen?”Adrian asked while Murry began untying his cravat.He flexed his fingers, enjoying the strain the action produced in his joints and tendons.
“Your father is already in his study,” Murry informed him.“The bell from your sister’s room rang just before you arrived.I believe Emma is helping her dress as we speak.”
“Thank you, Murry.”The cravat was undone and unwound.Murry removed it, leaving Adrian to unbutton his forest green waistcoat.He started to shuck it.“I want a footman with her whenever she leaves the house.At least until the man who’s murdering upper-class women has been apprehended.”
“Perhaps it would be wise of you to warn her against going out,” Murry suggested.He’d been employed by Adrian ten years ago and had not only earned his master’s absolute trust in that time but had since become more than his job title claimed him to be.“At least for the foreseeable future.”
Adrian glanced at him.“She’ll never listen.”
Evelyn was stubborn that way, and who could blame her?She was eleven years younger than he and had recently made her debut.Of course she wished to go out and attend social functions.She wanted to dance and consider her marital options.
Adrian tensed on that thought.Did the world possess a man good enough for her?
His thoughts shifted to Edward, his closest friend, and the tension in Adrian’s body eased.Yes, he decided.Just the one.Provided Evelyn took the time to notice the admiration with which Edward watched her.
He shook his head and tugged at his shirt’s front closure, undoing the tie before pulling the garment free from his breeches.
