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“There you all are,” Mama said, breezing into the room. “I have been looking for you. There was not a single one of you to dine with me this morning. What are you…” Mama glanced around at everyone, placing a hand over her bosom. “What are you all getting up to? If I did not know better, I should think you were planning some adventure.”

“No, of course not, Mama,” Orris said. She prayed her smile did not appear as forced as it felt around the tightness in her eyes and lips. “Samuel was just telling us of Baron Chesterfield and his intentions. He has asked for permission to call upon Violetta.”

“Oh,” Mama said, her voice lightening and ending on a flutter of laughter. “We shall certainly be happy to receive him. There, dearest, I told you your grace and congeniality precedes you.” She held out an arm to Violetta, waiting for her to grasp it.

Violetta stepped forward and allowed herself to be led away, only hazarding a glance over her shoulder and sticking her tongue out at Orris.

“Now, to just get the baron to agree to a visit,” Samuel muttered before taking Myrtle’s hand and whisking her from the room as well.

“That leaves us, Cousin,” Orris said to Gladys. “Shall we go?”

“I just want you to know, I think you are quite brave to help your friend. And it is quite a lofty decision. Are you sure your interests align with his?” Gladys asked. She stepped forward, reaching a hand out to cover Orris’s, grasping it as if it were dear to her. “Are you interested in more than friendship with this gentleman?”

“Oh, no. He is someone in need,” she said. Mentally, she focused on the image of him staring at her through the window on the street that day. She should not have been entranced. Not then. There were other things to fret over besides his soft lips and deep, intelligent eyes. There was a death and Orris had promised to help. He had seemed more interested in pushing her away, rightfully so. Courting was likely the least of his concerns.

He was indeed handsome, and somehow, he had managed to touch Orris’s heart. She did want to help him. Yet just in the corner of her mind, she could not ignore the callous lie he had told. Would he be as likely as Thomas to board a ship without even so much as a goodbye? Possibly… Was Gladys correct?

“I hope so, Orris. Because if he was willing to lead you astray about who he is, should you not be concerned over his morality? Or lack thereof? I should hate to see you brokenhearted. And so soon after this Thomas—”

The truth, as it was, stung in the center of her chest. “I have no interest in the gentleman beyond friendship,” she said, halting whatever statement Gladys was ready to make.

“Very well, Cousin. For your sake, I hope you know what you are doing.”

“I am sure, Gladys. I am painfully aware of how it feels for something… someone you care about to be taken from you. While my situation is remarkably different than Lord Abram’s, I am certain I can help him. I most ardently would like to assist him in his quest to find out who killed his friend.”

Gladys placed a hand over Orris’s as they walked out of the room hand in hand.

“You are good, Orris. I hope Lord Abram knows how lucky he is to have you at his side.” She offered a conspiratory wink.

Yes, Orris could agree that she would most certainly be of significant benefit to Abram’s quest. At least he would know someone in the city and have some form of assistance. The thought of whether or not she was being silly by placing herself at risk for a man she hardly knew remained to be seen.

Chapter Sixteen

Abram hated he’d had to admit his real name to Orris. And he now had to stand before Viscount Fredericks and admit the façade he had presented. Samuel paced back and forth, hands behind his back.

“Samuel—Lord Fredericks, what should I have done?” Abram asked. “Your sister-in-law turned up at quite a late hour, refusing to leave and unable to be reasoned with. She insisted on aiding me, and no matter my protest, she would not agree to me taking her home until I promised to let her help, with your permission. In all sincerity, I thought you had enough mettle to dissuade her.” He had not intended to insult the man’s grasp over the women in his life, but from the look on the viscount’s face, he had.

“Have you met the Gray sisters? I am afraid there is not a man on Earth who could tell one what to do, let alone a gaggle of them. I have no more ability to control them than anyone else. I am aggrieved for the bulls their father owned, for surely, his daughters tamed them as well.”

Abram cleared his throat to prevent the chuckle from spilling forth.

“I am deeply sorry for my part in all of this. Perhaps they will get distracted from the task at hand and forget about me entirely.” He wondered if Orris could be so callous. The thought twisted in his mind, the start of an ache in his head. Abram wanted to allow for a graceful exit, should Samuel believe it too dangerous for her to be involved. For, no matter how much he agreed with the viscount, Abram selfishly wanted to be near Orris.

“Again, have you been in the same room with them ever? They are not likely to forget a mystery. We may as well get on with it, while they are otherwise preoccupied. I have arranged for a suitor to occupy Violetta and apparently, Orris promised to sit with her as a chaperone of sorts.”

“Ah… I should hope the poor fellow is aware of their determination prior to their engagement. Such strong-willed ladies can be a shock to the senses,” Abram said.

“Yes, well… Even so, they are quite charming. Any suitor may find himself willing to deal with whatever inconvenience, if only to be in their company.”

Abram could agree with that. Considering the short time he had spent with Orris, he found himself utterly enamored. Even if his own life was at risk, he found himself thinking of her. And how very far away he wanted her from his current situation.

Rowan was indeed deceased. When he’d explained to the detective what had occurred, he had sworn to have been alone when he’d found the man. There was no way he would allow Orris to be implicated in this ordeal.

The silence between the men grew, with Samuel standing in the window with a pensive expression, his brows screwed down over his eyes and hands still at his hips, giving him an ever wider space. “Have you any enemies? Did your man argue with anyone in your presence?”

“No, unless you count my father, who is most displeased by my travels. I am sure my family would not have been involved. Further, the only man with whom I have ever seen Rowan quarrel has been the Earl of Brookshire.”

Samuel turned to face Abram, who was seated at the writing desk. “Yes, you mentioned that, though you said it was an inconsequential matter. When was the argument?”