He wiped his hands on the back of his trousers and went to undo the latch.Beyond was a narrow alleyway where the tavern kept its rubbish.It was no more than a couple of arms lengths wide, but it did provide a walkway between the tavern and the next building.One that led straight to Kennington Lane.
Adrian blinked.Walker could theoretically have left his friends inside, come through here, returned to Vauxhall wearing a mask, then rejoined his friends after killing Miss Irvine.
Could he have accomplished the feat without his friends questioning what would have been a lengthy absence?
Possibly, if they’d been as foxed as the barkeep suggested.
But what about bloodstains?The murder had been messy.If Walker had done it he would most likely have needed to clean up afterward, perhaps change his clothes, before returning to the tavern.
Unless he’d been calculating enough to remove his jacket and shirt first so he’d only had to wash the blood off his hands.That could have been done with the very same pump Adrian just used.
He pondered all this for a moment, then shut the gate and returned the way he’d come.His theory, while a stretch, did mean that Walker’s alibi didn’t hold up as well as Kendrick might think.The opportunity, however cumbersome, was there and as such, it could not be fully dismissed.
27
Samantha chose a light blue day dress for Croft’s visit.According to her lady’s maid, it complimented her fair features and accentuated the color of her eyes.A useful thing when she meant not only to gain the man’s interest but keep it.
If only it would serve as a form of armor and shield her against the effect he’d begun to have upon her.She had to stay strong in his presence, focused and on target.Allowing herself to lose sight of the mission would be a disaster.Failure would follow and that was not an option she would allow.
She reminded herself of this as she stood by the drawing room window, watching the gardeners cut the grass next to the driveway while she waited for Croft’s arrival.The three men swung their sickles with practiced skill, leaving a neat and uniform blanket of green in their wake.
Harlowe and Hazel, who sat behind her, occupied the armchair and the sofa, respectively.Harlowe with that day’s newspaper and Hazel with some knitting.Tara and Holly had not come to join them, though they were expected to put in appearances during luncheon.
A movement out of the corner of Samantha’s eye made her shift her gaze sideways.It looked like one of the Clearview House cats had disrupted a group of pigeons.By the time Samantha spotted the birds they’d already taken flight, their wings wildly flapping while the cat stared after them from below.
She shook her head and returned her attention to the front of the drive just as Croft came into view.Seated upon a gleaming black horse, he sent the gardeners a nod in greeting as he trotted past them on his way to the front door.
The gesture left Samantha slightly dismayed.Not only because most members of the upper class strove to ignore servants, but also because of the visceral effect it had upon her.Once again, she found a reason to like something about him.Which complicated matters since it made her job so much harder to do.
Unhappy with the soft spot she seemed to be developing for him, she stiffened her spine and clenched her jaw to steel her resolve, then announced to Harlowe and Hazel, “He’s here.”
“We’d best go greet him then,” Harlowe said, folding away the paper and rising while Hazel returned her knitting supplies to a nearby basket.
Together, the trio entered the hallway, arriving there at the same time as their butler opened the door, allowing them to watch Croft dismount and hand the reins to a stable boy.
Harlowe stepped forward onto the front step.“Welcome to Clearview, Mr.Croft.I’m glad you were able to come.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Croft said, extending his hand so he could shake the one Harlowe offered.“Having never been here before I really must say that you have an admirable property.It’s close to the City while offering all the benefits of a country estate.I can’t deny I’m a little bit envious of you.”
Harlowe grinned in response to Croft’s wry smile and ushered him into the house.“You could have a place just like it.There’s plenty of land for sale in these parts though it’s likely a great deal pricier now than when I purchased mine some twenty to thirty years ago.”
“Nevertheless, it could be worth it.”Croft, who’d removed his hat and gloves while Harlowe spoke, handed the items to Branton, the butler, and directed his gaze toward Samantha and Hazel.“It’s lovely to see you again, Miss Carmichael.And you, Miss Stevens.I trust you are both well?”
“Indeed,” Samantha said, a funny sensation gripping her heart when she noted the pleasure with which he watched her.“And you?”
He dipped his head, the corner of his mouth dimpling slightly due to the smile he gave her.“Much improved, now that I’m here.”
“I hope you brought your appetite with you,” Harlowe said.He turned to Branton and asked him to have someone fetch Tara and Holly before saying, “From what I gather, Cook has prepared quite a feast.But perhaps you’d like a drink to start?”
They removed themselves to the parlor where Croft requested a glass of port instead of the brandy Samantha would have expected.Sitting on the sofa next to Hazel, she held her tongue while the men discussed the upcoming elections.Although she had strong opinions on the subject and favored Lord Grey, she knew it wasn’t a young lady’s place to comment on such matters.Best say nothing at all then, lest she raise Croft’s suspicions.
But when they were finally seated at the dining room table and the first dish – a seafood terrine – was served, providing a lull in the conversation, she decided to ask, “Have you settled on what to read next, Mr.Croft?After finishingHerakles?”
The sound of cutlery clinking against everyone’s plates was incredibly loud in the brief pause that followed.Until he said, “Perhaps something lighter.One of Shakespeare’s comedies could be refreshing.”
“Another play,” Tara remarked, voicing Samantha’s thought.“Do you generally favor them?”
“Not especially.”A soft crease appeared on Croft’s brow as he seemed to consider the bite-sized piece of terrine suspended on the end of his fork.His eyebrows rose as if to suggest he’d just had a moment of realization.“I’ve little preference in the type of material I read.My only requirement is that it be thought-provoking.It ought to leave me with a feeling of personal growth upon completion.”
