by C. J. Archer
I arched a brow at Orwell. He merely shrugged. "This is where I belong. It'll be mine one day, and I can't imagine working anywhere else."
"What about Ronnie?" I asked.
"He's too young," Mr. Mason said.
"And hopeless," Orwell muttered.
I sighed. "Very well. Thank you for listening to me."
"Good day, India," Orwell said.
"If you're still interested in selling the stock at cost, let me know," Mr. Mason said.
"It won't be cost price," I said. "That was only for someone who agrees to lease the shop as well."
He grunted and returned to the clock.
The shop was still empty of customers, and Catherine and Ronnie both stood behind the counter, side by side, very close to the workshop door. Orwell asked his sister to see us out before retreating into the workshop again.
"Well?" Catherine pressed as she walked with us to the front door. "How did it go?"
"You know very well," I teased. "Since you were both listening in."
Ronnie stopped pretending to polish a watch face and threw his cloth on the counter. "I am not hopeless."
Catherine escorted us to the carriage, where I made her promise to have tea with us soon. "I feel as though I've hardly seen you of late," I said.
"I've been busy here, and you've been busy with your wedding plans and investigations. But I promise to visit in—"
"Don't tell me when!" I cut in. I didn't want Cyclops to be absent at that very date and time. "Send me a message beforehand."
She gave me a curious look. "Very well. I hope to see you there too, Nate."
"A pleasure," he said in an odd mix of his own accent and an English one. "I mean, it will be a pleasure to see you. Again. Because it's always a pleasure to see you." He hurriedly opened the carriage door and put out his hand to assist me.
Once inside, he leaned his head back against the wall and expelled a long breath.
I patted his arm. "It's all right, Cyclops. We've all made fools of ourselves in front of someone we're infatuated with."
His head jerked up. "I ain't a boy, India, and it ain't infatuation."
"No. Of course not."
He leaned his head back again and closed his eyes. I bit my tongue to stop myself telling him that what he felt for Catherine was love.
Matt awoke shortly after we arrived home. He asked us to join him in the dining room, where Peter was setting out toast, eggs and coffee for a late breakfast.
"May I have some tea, please?" I asked the footman as he went to leave.
"And more toast," Cyclops said. "And an egg if there's any to spare."
"You already ate," Willie said, helping herself to a slice of bacon.
Duke slapped her wrist. "That's Matt's. You already ate too."
Willie shoved the bacon into her mouth and chewed in his face. He rolled his eyes.
Cyclops looked longingly at the bacon. "I'm still hungry."
"That's because you didn't eat enough at breakfast," Duke said. "You know you won't lose weight if you have two breakfasts."
"What will Catherine think?" Willie teased. "You got to watch how much you eat, Cyclops. Maybe you shouldn't have more toast and eggs. I'll eat anything Fossett brings back for you, since I'm such a good friend."
Cyclops crossed his arms and scowled at her.
"I'm looking out for your health and love life," she added.
"I don't have a love life," he growled.
"You will once you lose a few pounds." She patted his belly, which wasn't at all large, and poured herself a cup of coffee.
I headed to the sideboard too, but I got only as far as Matt. He hooked me around the waist and planted a passionate kiss on my mouth. "Good morning, India. You look ravishing today."
I patted his waistcoat at his chest and adjusted his tie so I could stay in his arms. "So do you."
He smiled and kissed me again.
"Cut it out," Willie whined. "Or I'll throw up my first and second breakfast."
Peter returned with tea and more food. He left again, passing Miss Glass on her way in.
"What a lovely morning," she said, cheerfully. "What an excellent notion to have breakfast together, although I have already eaten. India, pour me a cup of tea, will you?"
Matt kissed her cheek, earning a smile. "You are looking handsome today, Matthew. Did you have a good night's sleep?"
"No. I was out investigating."
"The pending nuptials must be agreeing with you, then."
"I think you're right." He held out a chair for her while I set a cup of tea and a newspaper in front of her.
"You might want to read that," I said. "We're going to be discussing the investigation and I know how you dislike such talk at the table. The newspaper will distract you."
"It's not altogether too vulgar over breakfast. Dinner is quite another matter." She picked up the newspaper in one hand and the cup in the other. "Is this about India's evening or yours, Matthew?"
Matt looked up from the sideboard, his brows raised. "You went out, India?"
"Chronos was here. He insisted." I picked up my teacup. "Tell us your news first. Did you speak with the other resident of the building?"
"His name is Hadley." Matt sat beside me and sliced the top off his boiled egg. "He was out on the night of Emmett's murder and didn't arrive back until well after the Drapers. Apparently he was with a woman he met three weeks ago. He was at her home all evening but left just before sunrise to avoid notice."
"Why?" I asked.
"Let me guess," Willie said. "She's a respectable woman?"
"A widow," he said, "so Hadley finally admitted after much cajoling and a little threatening."
Miss Glass snapped the newspaper to straighten it.
"He told me he'd marry her if he could," Matt went on, "but he's already married. His wife lives in New Mexico."
"Ah," Duke said. "S'pose that's why he didn't tell Brockwell about being out that night. You believe him, Matt?"
Matt lifted a shoulder. "I can easily check by asking the other members of the show's cast. He claimed a select few of them know about his affair, including the Drapers. He's sorry for not admitting it to the police."
"Not sorry enough to be honest with them."
"Hadley argued there was no reason to be honest since it wouldn't bring back Emmett."
"Good grief," I muttered into my teacup.
Miss Glass snapped the newspaper again but apparently it wasn't straight enough because she did it a third time.
Matt finished the egg before continuing on. "Hadley says May Draper saw him leave The Prince of Wales with his lover the night of the murder and would have known he wasn't at home."
"So?" Willie asked.
"Aside from the Drapers, the house was empty. If she or Danny returned the gun to Emmett's room, there was no one to hear them going up the stairs. Except each other, of course."
"So they're in it together. Makes sense."
"We need evidence, though." He rubbed his temples. "I'm not sure what our next step should be."
"Confront them?" Cyclops asked.
"They'll deny it," Matt said. "We need something more solid, as well as a motive. Let me think about it."
Miss Glass folded up the newspaper. "That's settled. Now, can we talk about our day, India?"
"I seem to be free for the afternoon," I said. "What did you have in mind? A stroll in the park? Call on a friend?"
"Not a friend. I'd like to visit my sister-in-law, if she's back in London."
My body deflated.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Matt said. "Why do you want to see her?"
"Now that Patience is safely married to a highly respected gentleman, and you two are engaged, it's time to bury the hatchet," Miss Glass said. "We'll start with a brief visit, while you ought to think about seeing your uncle at his club, Matthew. A public place is best."
Matt picked up a slice of toast and pointed it at his aunt. "You do remember that they
don't like me."
"That's irrelevant. You're family, and family should be on the same side, no matter how much they dislike one another."
"You wouldn't think that if you'd met my American family."
Miss Glass's gaze slid to Willie, who was too busy inspecting the leftover bacon on the sideboard to notice. "All the more reason to get along with your English relatives. Richard is well connected, and you're going to need those connections one day."
"I can get along fine without him."
"This is England, Matthew." She sounded exasperated—and quite serious. "Affairs are conducted differently here. Business is conducted between acquaintances of certain circles, and unless you want to lose what you have, you'll need to get a foot in the door now. Your uncle can offer you that. Believe it or not, he doesn't want the Rycroft title ruined after he's gone."
"It won't be ruined," Matt said, equally exasperated.
"You may not think you need a foot in the door now, but one day you might. Think of your children."
Matt sighed.
I touched his hand. "I'll go with you, Miss Glass."
"But you'll leave if they insult you," Matt added.
"I'm not certain that Beatrice has returned to London yet," Miss Glass said. "But it won't hurt to check."
I didn't think they would have returned so soon after the wedding either, although according to Miss Glass, her sister-in-law preferred the city, even in the summertime. Both the younger Glass girls did too.
"Before you go, India, tell me what Chronos wanted," Matt said.
"He gave me the shop." The other reason for Chronos's visit could wait until we were alone. "Cyclops and I visited the Masons this morning, to offer the lease and contents to Orwell Mason, but he didn't want it. He prefers to stay apprenticed to his father. I'll lease it out to another shopkeeper, I suppose."
"Our lawyer will take care of it."
"I also want the rent directed to Chronos for the remainder of his life."
"Send an instruction to our lawyer."
"Our lawyer?"
"He's at your disposal too now, since you are a businesswoman in your own right. The deeds are in your name, aren't they? And Chronos did make sure I couldn't take the shop from you, didn't he? I'd expect nothing less from him."
Miss Glass made a miffed sound. "Trust that mad old goat to do the unconventional thing. I know he's your family, India, but there are holes up here." She tapped her head. "He ought not be left alone."
We all stared at her, and Willie snorted with laughter. Duke thumped her shoulder and she pressed her lips together to smother her grin.
Bristow entered and announced the arrival of Catherine and Ronnie Mason to see me. "They're in the drawing room, madam."
"I'll have to put off the visit to Lady Rycroft," I said to Miss Glass. "Perhaps tomorrow. Cyclops, will you accompany me?" I asked before Miss Glass suggested we put off our visit only so far as the afternoon.
"No," Cyclops said flatly. "I'm busy."
Willie grabbed his hand. "No you ain't."
She dragged him to the door while Duke pushed from behind. Cyclops could have thwarted their attempts, but he put up a lackluster show of resistance.
"Come along, Matt, you too," I said, holding out my hand.
He took it. "I don't intend to miss this."
Chapter 9
If Catherine had visited alone, I would have assumed it was to pass the time with me, or an excuse to see Cyclops, but the presence of Ronnie made it more serious.
"I suspect you know why we're here," Catherine said after introductions were made.
"We want to take you up on your offer," Ronnie blurted out.
Catherine sighed. "We had agreed that I would do the talking. What he says is true. We'd like to lease the shop from you, India, and buy the stock, too."
"At cost price," Ronnie added. He looked like a puppy presented with a new toy, all eager bounciness as he sat on the edge of the sofa.
Catherine looked far more composed, except for the frequent glances she cast in Cyclops's direction. Cyclops simply sat in the chair and ignored her. He looked everywhere but at her. Poor Catherine.
"This is wonderful news," I said. "I'd much prefer to rent it to someone I know. But…are you prepared to be shopkeepers?"
"We're already shopkeepers," Catherine said.
"But do you have enough experience in watchmaking and repairs to operate a business?"
"Ronnie is very good. He might not have as much experience as Father, but he's better than Orwell, although Orwell hates admitting it."
"I'm not as stupid as I look," Ronnie said, laughing.
Catherine sighed. "Do stop talking, Ronnie."
Ronnie's mouth twisted, and he sat back with a huff.
"He's right," Catherine said. "He's very clever and has a knack for watches and clocks. Not the same kind of knack as you, India, obviously, but he's been helping in the shop and workshop ever since he was small. I wasn't allowed in the workshop much, but he was. All that time spent back there must have seeped in, because he can repair almost anything that comes across the counter."
Ronnie's cheeks flushed, and he looked at his sister in surprise, as if he'd never received a compliment from her before.
"You've been learning too," Cyclops said to Catherine. "You've spent a lot of time reading books and tinkering."
It was Catherine's turn to blush, and Ronnie's turn to sit forward again and frown at Cyclops.
"While Ronnie will do all the repairs," Catherine went on, "I feel as though I should know enough about them so that I can talk knowledgeably to the customer and charge the right amount for the task."
"You've certainly thought about it," Matt said. "Did you always plan to have your own shop?"
"I was going to work in Father's," Ronnie said. "But Catherine told me there won't be much to do when Orwell's boys grow. He'll want them to work alongside him, and where will that leave me?"
"Gareth can help out in the shop until Orwell's boys are older," Catherine said. "It'll be good for Gareth. He needs more responsibility than simply doing deliveries. He's grown rather bored of late, and when Gareth is bored…well, let's just say he gets into trouble."
"What about your father?" I asked. "Have you spoken to him about it?"
Catherine and Ronnie exchanged grim glances. "We have. After you left this morning," Catherine said. "He was angry. He says we're too young to set out on our own, and too silly."
"That's Orwell's influence," Ronnie bit off. "He's jealous because I'm younger than him and better. He's been in Father's ear for years, sowing seeds against me."
"It's not quite as dramatic as that," Catherine said, earning a glare from her brother. "But neither Orwell nor Father think Ronnie can service watches on his own, yet he can. I know he can."
"And they don't think Catherine is capable of running the shop alone," Ronnie added. "But she's more than capable. She's a natural shopkeeper. The customers love her. Especially the men."
"Ronnie!" Catherine cried, blushing again. "You make me sound like a loose woman."
Ronnie chuckled. "Have you forgotten that foreman fellow?"
Catherine lowered her head and her shoulders rounded.
"She's friendly and kind," Cyclops said in a booming voice that echoed off the walls of the large drawing room and had everyone sitting up straighter. "She makes people feel comfortable. Because she's pretty, her friendliness gets mistaken for flirting. You should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting otherwise, you being her favorite brother and all."
Ronnie's face grew paler with every thunderous word. By the end, he was the color of Mr. Hendry's fine paper. "Right. Yes. Sorry, Cath." He did not take his eyes off Cyclops, and Cyclops did not take his eye off Ronnie. "You're nice and kind, and clever and…nice."
"Don't be scared of Cyclops," Willie said, smirking. "He won't hurt you. He's just keen to defend Catherine's honor. Real keen, on account of him being—"
"Is that the time?" Duke s
hot to his feet and grabbed Willie, hauling her to her feet. "We have to go."
Willie chuckled. Cyclops rose too.
"You're going?" Catherine asked. "Already?"
"I can't stay," Cyclops said. "I'm busy."
"No, he ain't," Willie cut in.
Duke scrunched her shirt sleeve in his fist and marched her to the door.
"Bye!" Willie called out over her shoulder. "Nice meeting you, Ronnie. Come visit any time. You and your sister."
"I can't stay," Cyclops said apologetically. "I—I just can't."
Catherine sighed. "I understand." She watched him go, sighing again.
Ronnie studied her from beneath half-closed eyelids. "What was that about?"
"Nothing."
"Is there something going on between you two?"
"No."
He eyed the door through which Cyclops had exited. "Just as well, because our parents wouldn't like it. He's…not the sort of husband they want for you."
"I know that," she spat. "That's precisely why I have no interest in marriage, right now. Perhaps ever. That's why I need to take this opportunity. I need employment outside Father's shop." She turned to me. I'd never seen her look so distressed, so earnest. "If I don't marry and have no means to support myself, I'll have to depend on my parents forever. I'll have nothing of my own and no money. I'll be reliant on them for the rest of their lives, then reliant on my brothers."
I understood all too well. My father had bequeathed the shop to Eddie, my fiancé at the time of Father's death. When Eddie ended our engagement, I had nothing, not even a roof over my head. If Matt hadn't offered me a house and employment when he did, I could have ended up in the workhouse. The workhouse was a fast way to an early grave.
"I'll put the lease in both your names," I told her. "Might I suggest that all business agreements are made up in both your names, too?"
"I'll be the one getting a license from the Watchmaker's Guild," Ronnie said. "I'm hardly going to cheat my sister."
"I think it's a good idea," Matt said in that open yet authoritative way he had that men often responded to. "Having both names on all agreements will mean you will both want the shop to succeed. You'll work equally hard as each other."