Page 75 of His Improper Lady

“I can’t imagine why Alistair let the fellow hang about,” Paxton said in a confiding tone. “He wasn’t there often—he was never received, naturally—but every once in a while, I’d see him lurking around the place.” He shrugged. “Perhaps he was a friend of the housekeeper.”

Tom contemplated the idea of Falk turning up once again, but Desiree had obviously been caught by something else Paxton had said. “You said ‘Alistair.’ Was Alistair Moreland our father?”

“Yes, of course.” Paxton’s brows shot up in surprise. “Didn’t you know? Surely Bruna must have told you.”

“No. She said my mother wanted to keep it a secret. Bruna had promised her not to say a word.”

“Well, of course, Alistair didn’t want it spread around. He was cousin to a duke, after all. And he didn’t want his wife to find out. There would have been the very devil to pay with Tabitha, and, more than that, he didn’t want to embarrass the woman. I found Tabitha a dead bore, and I suspect Alistair did as well, but she was his wife and the mother of his son.”

“Could you tell me a bit about Alistair?” Desiree smiled sweetly at the man.

Paxton apparently had as little ability to resist Desiree’s smile as any other man, for he beamed and said, “Of course. I actually met your mother first, you know. Pursued her like mad, but she chose Alistair instead. I couldn’t even be angry. Alistair was a splendid chap. We were friends since childhood. He was loyal. Honorable. A good man and a true friend.” His eyes glistened, and he blinked, offering them a crooked smile. “He was a bit too bookish for me, of course.”

“Did you know about their plans to run away?” Tom asked.

“No. I was completely surprised. I had just seen Alistair the night before, and he didn’t say a word about it. We had plans to meet that evening at Stella’s house, but when I went there, the housekeeper said they’d left. Of course, we thought they’d only gone to his cottage in Dorset and would be back in a few days. They’d visited there before. But I began to worry when they didn’t return the next week. I couldn’t believe that they left you children behind. Stella was so over-the-moon happy when you were born. She was devoted to her children. Alistair, too. He positively doted on you.”

“Did you make inquiries when they didn’t come back?” Tom asked.

“Well, it was a bit delicate, you see,” Paxton said uncomfortably. “I couldn’t reveal Alistair’s secret. I could hardly ask Tabitha if she’d heard from him. But I was at the point of going to the cottage myself to inquire. Then I got Alistair’s letter telling me they’d taken off to the States.” He looked suddenly older, his affable expression falling away.

“Do you have the letter?” Desiree asked eagerly.

Paxton shook his head. “Goodness, no, child. Got rid of it years ago. After Alistair left, well, I went through a bad period. I was angry with him, you see, for leaving and not even telling me goodbye. A letter! As if I were a mere acquaintance or one of his relatives! Somewhere in there, I tossed the note. Regretted it after I settled down, but...” He shrugged, staring off into the distance for a moment. “Well, there you have it. I’m afraid that’s all I know. If you don’t have any other questions...” He started to stand up.

“I do have one other question,” Tom told him, his gaze fixed on the other man’s face. “I’m wondering why you’ve been watching Miss Malone’s house. Why did you have us followed?”

“What?” Paxton looked at him blankly. “What are you talking about?” He glanced over at Desiree. “I had no idea you were even in London until today.” His tone turned indignant. “I can’t imagine why you would accuse me of such a thing.”

“Because,” Tom said, reaching into his pocket. He opened his hand and held it out, showing Paxton two gold cuff links engraved with Pax. “Your man left these behind.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

PAXTON’S FACE WAS as astonished as Tom could have hoped. What he hadn’t expected was that the older man’s eyes would fill with tears. “My studs!”

Tom and Desiree glanced at each other as Paxton picked up the engraved jewelry and examined it more closely. Tom felt that he had somehow lost the advantage here, but he went on, “So you admit those are yours?”

“Yes, of course they’re mine, though I don’t understand how you came to have them.”

“They were in the pocket of the man you had follow us.”

“Yes, you said that, but that doesn’t make it any clearer. I don’t know what man you’re talking about, and I’ve certainly never asked someone to follow you.” Paxton looked at Tom as if Tom had lost his wits. “These weren’t even in my possession. I haven’t seen them in years and years.”

“If you didn’t have them, who did?”

“I lent them to Alistair one evening when one of his broke, and he forgot to give them back. This wasn’t long, you see, before he and Stella left. After that, I never felt comfortable asking Tabitha to return them. Alistair’s wife and I...well, we didn’t have the best relationship. But I’m surprised she got rid of them. They say she kept everything of Alistair’s. But I suppose his jewelry and such would be his son’s now. Gregory might have sold the set when he saw it wasn’t his father’s. Though it does seem to me he might have had the decency to return these to me, since they had my name on it. I hope you don’t mind if I keep them.” His hand curled around the cuff links, rendering his question moot. “I’ll pay you for them.”

Tom looked over at Desiree, his brows lifting in question. She nodded slightly, and Tom knew she was signaling that Paxton was telling the truth. Tom’s instinct was to keep them as evidence, but since he didn’t see how they could be used against anyone other than Paxton, he shook his head. “No, they aren’t ours. We didn’t pay anything for them.”

Paxton smiled faintly. “I’d say not, if you took them from somebody.” He looked at Desiree, frowning a little. “Why would anyone be following you?”

“That’s what we’re trying to discover,” Tom replied.

“Hmm. Well. It seems very odd,” Paxton went on. “I hope you will be careful, my dear.” He paused. “Um...any other questions you have for me?”

Tom could think of nothing else to ask, and a glance at Desiree told him she couldn’t, either. “No, sir. You’ve been most kind.”

“Yes, thank you,” Desiree said, rising.