“Any particular reason?”Though he didn’t want to deny her outright, he hoped to find a way to dissuade her.
These brief meetings between them were one thing.Working in close proximity for an entire day would be a distraction.For reasons he could not explain, the annoying woman muddled his head.As such, he feared she might also cloud his judgement.
“Maybe I’ll notice something important.”She worried her lip, then added, “I just think I’ll be more useful on the scene than if I remain here.”
He ought to have known she’d make another great point.Convincing her she was wrong would only make him look like a fool.Or like the sort of man who dismissed smart individuals on account of their sex.
Since he didn’t want her to think he was either of those things, and possibly because he agreed with her reasoning, he nodded.“Be ready to leave here by eight.”
* * *
Gabriella Hastings left Chief Constable Kendrick’s office and walked the short distance back to her desk near the front of the Bow Street Magistrate’s Court.An odd sensation accompanied her.It wasn’t merely the buoyant feeling of being acknowledged for her capabilities or of gaining her superior’s agreement.There was something more to it than that.Something new and unfamiliar she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
What she did know was that she found Chief Constable Kendrick’s manner incredibly vexing.Ordinarily, she prided herself on being non-confrontational and calm.Not even with her siblings did she enter into heated discussions.Feelings of frustration and anger were best avoided in her opinion, but Kendrick seemed determined to rile her.
The man made her fingers twitch with a deep desire to snatch his blasted cheroot from between his lips and stomp it out.
She reached her desk, her cheeks still hot and the skin beneath her dress prickly.Yet despite her best efforts, she could not blame it on his smoking alone.Or on the praise he’d offered by agreeing with her opinion.Indeed, her real discomfort had started when he’d brushed his arm against hers as he’d turned to close the window.
The action had thrown her completely off balance.She’d scarcely been able to master her thoughts in the moments immediately after.Even now, the reminder caused her stomach to churn in the same way it tended to do whenever she faced a new challenge.
Intent on regaining control of her body, she grabbed her notebook.Jotting down everything she recalled from Doctor Wentworth’s testimony while it was still fresh in her mind would provide her with her own record.A valuable tool she could build on later while trying to make her own deductions regarding the crime.
For although clues pointed to Wentworth, Gabriella was not yet convinced he’d done it.And if she was right, then the killer not only remained on the loose, but there was a chance he might strike again.
18
After enjoying a lovely dinner together, Adrian and Samantha removed to his study.He needed to review the work Mr.Baker had done on the ledgers.The secretary had updated them yesterday, but with everything else that had happened lately, Adrian hadn’t had time to get to them.
Choosing to keep him company, Samantha presently lounged in one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk, her legs propped on the other while she readGlenarvon.Taking a brief reprieve from the various household purchases and costs, Adrian raised his gaze and smiled as he studied her profile.The oil lamp standing near her right shoulder cast a luminous glow upon her unblemished skin.Concentration produced slight creases across her brow and intensified her gaze.
His chest tightened with the awareness of his good fortune.Not only was Samantha his wife, making him the luckiest man in creation, but she was here, with him.
More than once he’d feared for her life.More than once she could have been taken from him by some horrid twist of fate.Yet there she sat, the very image of domestic intimacy – utterly unpretentious and relaxed.
Though he’d meant to start reviewing the Croft files Mr.Baker had started recompiling, Adrian now wondered if they might wait.He glanced toward the stack of card folders containing various papers – an attempt at reconstructing the detailed information on upper-class members of Society.
A small portion of them had been handed over to Kendrick by Samantha when the chief constable still believed she worked against Adrian.The rest were given to the prime minister in exchange for Adrian’s pardon.Some of what they contained could be re-written from memory and with the use of Debrett’s, but the majority of it required meticulous research.
It was an arduous job and Adrian knew he owed it to Mr.Baker to review his efforts thus far.But when he looked at his wife, all he wanted to do was abandon work and engage her in conversation.
Reluctantly, he returned his attention to his ledger and made a slight adjustment to one of the items listed.A knock at the door distracted him once again.“Enter.”
Elks stepped into the room.“Chief Constable Kendrick just arrived.He’d like a word with you if possible.”
Adrian sent a quick look toward the longcase clock that stood by the wall.It was almost nine.A bit late to stop by anyone’s home without good reason.
“Please show him in right away.”
Samantha, having set her book aside and put her legs down while Elks spoke, raised a brow.“Must be urgent since he’s here this late in the day.Do you think he’s come to share what he’s learned after questioning Wentworth?”
“Probably.”
They didn’t have time for further discussion before Kendrick appeared.Seeing that Adrian wasn’t alone, he sent Samantha a nod by way of greeting.“I hope you’ll forgive the late hour.My reason for calling pertains to the case.As a courtesy, I’d like to inform you of the updates, since you did provide me with Wentworth.”
Adrian was tempted to suggest Kendrick owed him not only for steering him in Wentworth’s direction but also for catching two murderers who had eluded the constable.Hell, he’d nearly been hanged for his trouble.
Instead, he sent the man a tight smile.“Much obliged, Kendrick.May I offer you a glass of brandy?”
