A Most Discreet Inquiry (The Regent Mysteries Book 2)
Page 20
“Where?” Daphne asked.
“They were tied with pink ribbon and placed in a dressing table drawer of the deceased Viscountess Lambeth.”
“You didn't find anything . . . else?” Jack asked, settling a possessive arm around Daphne.
“No.” Virginia turned back to her husband and lifted her face to his.
"Now, dearest," Sir Ronald said, "Mr. Martin and I must take these ruffians to prison."
"I'm not letting you out of my sight!"
"Very well, my love," Sir Ronald said. "You'll come with us."
While they were kissing, Daphne turned and gazed up adoringly at her own husband. “I am so proud of you, my love.”
“There's nothing to be proud of. I failed to get d'Arblier, and I couldn't save my own wife without assistance.” He hung his head. “Sir Ronald's the hero.”
“Sir Ronald did not have a useless shoulder, injured knee, or broken ribs! You were magnificent!” She reached up to tenderly stroke his cheek. “I know it wasn't easy for you to accept assistance from a man you did not admire. But you did so to save me.”
“I know no man whom I admire more than Sir Ronald.” Jack settled his arms around Daphne, drew her to him, and hungrily kissed her.
Afterward, with both of them unaccountably breathless, he spoke in a low, husky voice. “I noticed an inn, Feathers & Leather, just down the street. . .”
The sultry look she gave him sent vibrant life to his groin. “Where we can . . .?”
He nodded.
Epilogue
One week later. . .
She heard the front door open and raced down the stairs to greet her husband. “You must tell me everything,” Daphne said, throwing her arms around him.
His brows lowered, he eyed her. “Where, madam, are your spectacles?”
Uh oh. She had been married to him long enough to know that when he called her madam he was out of charity with her. “I left them off.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to be pretty.”
“You are prettiest when wearing spectacles.” He ran a finger along her nose. “They're part of you, and I like—no, love—everything about you.” Pressing a kiss onto her mass of hair, he then took her hand and strolled to the settee in the drawing room.
“Don't feel so badly about the duc getting away,” she consoled. “You couldn't have done anything to prevent it.”
“More than that, I just don't understand why we cannot find Heff's list.”
“I imagine Lord Lambeth threw it away, not knowing its value.”
“But Braithwite—the blackguard—confirmed that Lambeth contacted him and told him of its existence.”
Mrs. MacInnes entered the chamber to announce the Duchess of Lankersham, but before half the words were out of her mouth, Cornelia swept into the room like a royal personage.
Jack stood and offered her the seat where he had been.
“No. You go ahead and sit by your disgustingly besotted wife.” Cornelia moved to an armed chair and elegantly lowered herself into it. Daphne was certain Cornelia had selected that chair because with its high back and arms, it resembled a throne.
This visit was very unusual. Cornelia rarely came to her. She preferred sitting back at her palatial Lankersham House and summoning others to pay her court. “To what do we owe the pleasure?” Daphne asked.
“I was going through the letters. . .”
“The ones to Major Styles?” Daphne asked, her voice low.
There was a forlorn look on Cornelia's face when she answered. “I really was in love with him, you know.”
Daphne nodded somberly. “I thought you were.”
Cornelia opened her reticule and withdrew a slip of paper. “Before I throw it away, I thought to ask you if this is important. It has the names of six men in government.”
Jack leaped up and snatched away the list. His eyes greedily perused the names, and a smile slowly lifted the corners of his mouth. “You, your grace, have performed a great service to your country.” He met Daphne's gaze. “I must go to Carlton House at once.”
Daphne popped up. “You're not going to see the Regent without me!”
He stopped and smiled down at her. “Our success—Britain's success—would not have been possible without you, Madam Schemer.” He eyed the pouting duchess. “The former Chalmers sisters are proving to be invaluable to the crown.”
Cornelia, too, rose, her face brightening. “There is one other matter I wished to discuss. To demonstrate the depth of my gratitude to you both, I've bought you a coach. It's outside. I have arranged that the bills for the livery stable be sent to me.”
“Oh, your grace,” Jack said, “we couldn't possibly--”
“-- not accept something so wonderful!” Daphne finished, moving to hug her sister. “There's nothing I could have either wanted or needed more.”
“I have also taken the liberty,” Cornelia added, “of engaging the services of that lad the two of you are so excessively fond of. He will remain your coachman.”
Jack eyed Daphne, a smile on his face. “By the way, love, Andy said the boots fit perfectly. They're the nicest ones he's ever owned.”
Cornelia cleared her throat to command their attention. “Papa, you must know, wouldn't like it above half if you arrived at the Regent's house in a rented hack.” She turned up her perfectly shaped nose. “I daresay he'd have apoplexy—and I'm not sure if Lankersham wouldn't, too.”
“Papa I can understand,” Daphne said, “but I fail to see why it should matter to Lankersham---”
Jack drew his wife into his arms and silenced her with a kiss as Cornelia walked away muttering to herself about the impetuousness of newlyweds.
The End
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I hope you enjoyed A Most Discreet Inquiry (Book 2 of the Regent Mysteries series). If you did, would you please consider posting a review by the book's listing at Amazon.com, Google Play, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, or another site where you might have read it? If you do, please send me an email at Cheryl@cherylbolen.com and I will enter your name in one of my quarterly drawings for a $50 gift certificate to the eBook retailer of your choice. Each time you review one of my books, let me know, and you will get another entry for each review. There will be a drawing each quarter.
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The Regent Mysteries Series
If you enjoyed A Most Discreet Inquiry, you may also enjoy reading the other installments of the Regent Mysteries series featuring Captain Jack Dryden and Lady Daphne.
With His Lady's Assistance
(The Regent Mysteries, Book1)
(Humorous Regency Romance Mystery)
Finalist – Best Historical eBook, International Digital Awards
"With His Lady’s Assistance is a delightful blend of humor, romance, and mystery, a romp through Regency society, sprinkled with appealing characters and colorful figures from British history. Protecting the eccentric Prince Regent from an unknown assassin has never been so entertaining." – In Print
"A delightful Regency romance. . .The mystery is nicely done, the romance is enchanting, and the secondary character are enjoyable. 4 Stars. – Romantic Times
"Bolen is a masterful storyteller who brings us enchanting love stories that offer fresh outlooks on love, while combing humor and mystery." – Regency Inkwell on With His Lady's Assistance,
5-Star Hall of Fame book, With His Lady's Assistance. – Historical Romance Critic
* * *
To help him mingle in the highest echelons of English society to investigate threats on the Prince Regent's life, super spy Captain Jack Dryden must feign an engagement to the exceedingly plain spinster, Lady Daphne Chalmers. Together they embark on an investigation which brings them into grave peril—and makes the captain reevaluate the skinny maiden who has a most amorous effect upon him.
Available at Amazon.com.
The Theft Before Christmas
(The Regent Mysteries, Book 3)
> (Humorous Regency Romance Mystery)
"With her usual deft touch, Bolen mixes real historical figures with her own memorable cast of characters. Mix a locked room puzzle, a tour of Regency London, a murder, and a sweet romance between two friends thrown together by Daphne and Jack’s investigation, and you have another charming Regent Mystery for the holiday season."—In Print
* * *
When the theft of the Regent's Michelangelo has the potential to set off on international incident, he believes his best chance of recovering it before the donor's Christmas Eve visit is to bring in his favorite investigators: Captain Dryden and his wife Lady Daphne.
This fun mystery also offers an appealing sub-plot romance guaranteed to bring Christmas cheer.
Available at Amazon.com.
An Egyptian Affair
(The Regent Mysteries, Book 4)
(Humorous Regency Romance Mystery)
A fresh romance with each new mystery . . .
While Captain Jack Dryden would lay down his life for the Regent, he draws the line at endangering his wife in the dark alleyways of Cairo—the place where the Regent's friend and procurer of antiquities has gone missing.
But Lady Daphne Dryden will not be denied the opportunity to see swaying palms, crumbling pillars, and soaring pyramids in exotic Egypt. She even insists on bringing her youngest sister, Rosemary, who's enamored of all things Oriental. The Regent insists on sending Stanton Maxwell, England's most imminent expert on Egyptology, as their interpreter and his own soldiers as their protectors.
Once in Cairo, Jack and Daphne begin their inquiries, inquiries which almost certainly cause the murder of one woman and the abduction of Lady Rosemary. Will Jack's wits—and the unexpected bravery of Mr. Maxwell—be enough to extricate them from danger and unmask the evil-doers?