“That’s a very odd thing to suggest.” A crease appeared on Samantha’s brow.
Adrian wanted nothing more than to soothe it away with a tender caress. Later, he decided. “It almost seems as though Lady Eleanor and Rawlings might have beenengaged first, but if that were the case, her family would have remarked upon it.”
“Unless it was a secret engagement. Or…just an understanding?”
“That still makes no sense. As the son of a baron, Rawlings is aristocracy, so Orendel should have approved the match had his daughter asked him to.”
“I suppose.” They spun between a few other couples. “Is it possible Rawlings asked for her hand and she refused him? If that were the case, he might have felt slighted.”
“That’s not a bad theory, but where does that leave Mr. Hutchins?”
Samantha stared at Adrian as the music started to fade, drawing the dance to an end. “I’ve no idea.” They left the dance floor and started toward the refreshment table. “Maybe Lady Eleanor was carrying on with multiple men at the same time. Melody told me she picked up some gossip – that Lady Eleanor was…” she dropped her voice even lower… “seenwith the Earl of Chesterlyafterbecoming engaged to Mr. Lawrence.”
“Bloody hell,” Adrian muttered. “Is there no escaping scandalous women?”
Samantha halted and turned to him, brow arched in censure. “It’s funny how the women are the ones you choose to accuse when the men are equally bad if not worse.”
He huffed a breath, unwilling to engage in this particular discussion since he didn’t feel like explaining the differences between the sexes and why it was moreimportant for women to retain their innocence. “Newton went after precisely that sort of target. Maybe the killer we’re presently seeking was guided by the same motivation. If he found out he was sharing her, there’s a chance he might not have liked it.”
Samantha nodded and they continued their progress. “That would make a plausible motive. In which case we probably ought to consider both Rawlings and Chesterly.”
Having reached the refreshment table, they each collected a plate and proceeded to fill them with a collection of triangle sandwiches, miniature tarts, and tiny frosted cakes.
“I spotted Chesterly earlier,” Adrian told her while craning his neck and scanning the room. “Don’t see him now though, and according to Eldridge, Rawlings is not in attendance. I already asked.”
“Let’s see if we can find Chesterly then,” Samantha suggested. She bit into one of her sandwiches. Adrian handed her a napkin so she could wipe the leftover crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
The earl, they discovered some fifteen minutes later, was playing bridge in the gaming room. They approached the table and watched until the current round had been completed, at which point Adrian leaned over so he could whisper in Chesterly’s ear, “There’s a delicate subject I’d like to address with you right away.”
The earl kept his attention on his partner, who shuffled the cards in preparation for the next round, beforedeigning Adrian with a sharp look. “As you can see, I’m busy, Mr. Croft.”
“Too busy to speak about your indiscretions with Lady Eleanor? Doesn’t exactly paint you in a positive light, all things considered.”
Adrian leaned back and waited, acutely aware that his words had caught Chesterly by surprise. His body had stiffened, the edge of his jaw tightly clenched with what appeared to be quiet rage.
He gave the other players a thin smile. “My apologies, but it would seem there’s an urgent matter I need to attend to.” He pushed back his chair and stood, despite his partner’s protests. “I’m sure someone else will take my place. Walker looks rather eager.”
Chesterly straightened his jacket and strode from the room. Adrian and Samantha followed him into an empty hallway where the earl rounded on them with a snarl. “What the hell do you want?”
“To understand what happened to Lady Eleanor,” Adrian drawled. He wasn’t the least bit bothered by the earl’s anger. When it came to exerting power or issuing threats, there would be no contest. “You were seen with her shortly before she was killed.”
“Many people were,” Chesterly said with a furious glare.
“Don’t pretend ignorance. You know I’m referring to a particular indiscreet moment between the two of you.” Adrian shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step forward. “Was it a one-time occurrence?”
Chesterly’s chest rose and fell with vigorousmovements. He glanced at Samantha, his nostrils flaring. “This isn’t the sort of thing one ought to discuss with a lady present.”
“You’re absolutely correct.” Adrian caught Samantha’s gaze, saw the demand there, but still chose to say, “I’ll find you later. This shouldn’t take long.”
She didn’t smile or nod, but kept her expression completely impassive while staring back at him with pure defiance. No doubt about it, she wanted to stay and hear what Chesterly had to say, but Adrian also knew the earl was far more likely to be frank about it if she weren’t there.
It took a moment before she did as he asked, disappearing back into the ballroom without glancing back. Adrian tamped down the unease of knowing he might have wounded her pride and arched an eyebrow at the earl. “Well?”
Chesterly’s shoulders slumped, removing all traces of his previous aggression. He raked his fingers through his hair, the gesture appearing almost desperate. “Lady Eleanor was sweet, funny, and kind. She needs to be remembered that way.”
“Might have been easier if you’d kept your distance from her.”
“As if I could have predicted this would happen?” Chesterly dropped his hands, arms spread out wide in a helpless gesture.
