Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six)

by Driscoll, Maureen

  The rest of the ride passed with no further demonstrations of Kensington’s alleged shooting skills. He did, however, do his best to ride next to Evelyn. While Joseph would have liked to have ridden on the lady’s other side, he kept to the rear – the better to keep an eye on Kensington.

  “Evelyn, my dear,” said Kensington. “I was hoping to have the first dance with you at the assembly. Do say you will pencil me in.”

  There was the briefest of pauses before Evelyn responded. “Thank you, I will.”

  “Perhaps you will allow me the honor of escorting you there, as well.”

  Lady Evelyn hesitated enough that Joseph felt it was only proper for him to step in. “I am afraid that will not be possible, since I am escorting her.” He was only doing it for her protection, of course. Until he ascertained Kensington’s suitability, he did not want to leave them alone at night, even with a chaperone. He would not put it past the clod to compromise Lady Evelyn and force her into marriage.

  Kensington looked none too happy. “I was unaware you’d been invited. Or will you be attending with the servants?”

  Lady Evelyn moved her horse away from Kensington, falling back so she was riding next to Joseph. “Inspector Stapleton is my guest. I am looking forward to introducing him to the people of Caversham. Ah, we are nearly home. Do not worry about escorting me up the drive, Mr. Kensington. The Inspector shall see me safely home. Thank you for a lovely ride.”

  Without giving Kensington the chance to respond, Evelyn cantered down the drive, with Rocinante automatically keeping pace with her horse.

  “Would you like to come in for tea?” she asked Joseph once they’d reached the house.

  “I would like to very much, but I thought to go into the village. There are a few items I forgot to pack.”

  “If you would like an escort, I can accompany you.”

  That was not a good idea. He was all too aware of the odd twinges he’d been feeling about her. Twinges that went beyond his physical attraction to her. “I would not wish to keep you out in the cold.”

  “I am country-bred, Inspector. I am used to the cold.”

  It was not lost on Joseph that despite his misgivings, he was happy he could continue to be in her presence. “Then by all means, my lady, let us be off.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Joseph had asked whether she was too chilled to accompany him. But though the weather was quite cold, Evelyn was becoming warmer by the minute. How could she not be, riding next to the quiet, imposing and devastatingly handsome Inspector?

  He rode his horse well and she wondered whether it was his natural athleticism that enabled him to do so. For on the few times she’d been to London she’d done no real riding to speak of. She imagined his work at Bow Street involved more foot chases than long gallops on a horse. Yet he rode Rocinante as if born to it.

  She thought about their outing with Kensington. She’d felt sorry for Joseph making his way through deep snow drifts that were probably unfamiliar to him as a city dweller. She’d also been impressed by how well he’d held his tongue with Mr. Kensington. She really should find a way to dissuade the young man from his suit. She’d had serious doubts about their compatibility previously, but his shortcomings were particularly evident when measured against Inspector Stapleton. And Kensington’s shortcomings were hardly just physical, though the height disparity had been rather evident. Kensington’s callous attitude toward hunting had sickened her and his ineptitude with a rifle made her frightened for whomever had the misfortune to go hunting with him in the future.

  Evelyn and Joseph – she’d said his name in the privacy of her bedchamber the night before and found it to her liking – made their way to the village in companionable silence, until they finally reached its center.

  “Here we are,” she said.

  He looked around. “Here we are…where?”

  “Caversham.”

  “The outskirts?”

  She laughed. “The exact center of it, I am afraid.”

  He looked around again. “But there’s nothing here.”

  “My good sir!” she playfully admonished. “There is the church, the tavern, the shop and the general assembly room. The smithy is up the road a bit and there is an inn of sorts another mile from that. But this is Caversham in all its glory. What else could one wish for?”

  “A town,” he said, as he dismounted

  She laughed. “Inspector, I am not bamming you. This is our village. There are other towns of considerable size within a few miles of here. We are, after all, quite close to Oxford. But as for Caversham, this is the business district. And good Mrs. Trowbridge is here to welcome you.”

  Before the middle-aged woman came within earshot, Evelyn quickly explained that Mrs. Trowbridge managed the local shop while her husband had similar duties at the tavern across the lane. She was also an infamous gossip.

  “Lady Evelyn, what are you doing in town?” Mrs. Trowbridge may have addressed the question to Evelyn, but had eyes only for Joseph. There was nothing lustful in the gaze, only the appraising look perfected by mamas in search of husbands for daughters.

  “Mrs. Trowbridge, may I present Inspector Joseph Stapleton? He is a friend of…” Evelyn had to suppress a gasp as Joseph reached up and helped her dismount. “He is a friend of the Duke of Lynwood’s.”

  Mrs. Trowbridge was now even more interested in Joseph. “I saw the carriage come through town yesterday, of course, but the servants at Nodgley are ever so tight-lipped about anything having to do with the Kellingtons. Welcome, sir. What kind of an inspector are you?”

  “A good one.”

  Mrs. Trowbridge’s girlish laughter was almost frightening in its volume. “Sir, you are a quick wit. But, truly, what kind of an inspector are you and what brings you to Caversham? Is it true his grace has married? I never knew why he had to look so far afield for a wife when there were so many eligible ladies here.”

  As if on cue, both of the Trowbridge girls, Anna and Merida, joined their mother. They ogled Joseph as if he were a particularly tasty dessert. Which, Evelyn was forced to admit to herself, was how she ogled him as well. But certainly not in public and with such little tact.

  “I am a Bow Street Inspector on holiday in Caversham for a few days. And it is true that his grace has married. He and his duchess are on their wedding trip as we speak.”

  “That is a pity,” said Mrs. Trowbridge, who quickly added, “Not that he doesn’t deserve a nice trip, of course. Just…it is a pity. Will you be attending the assembly, Inspector? I am sure you would enjoy it.”

  “Thank you, madam, I look forward to it.”

  “You must dance with my girls. Anna is nineteen and Merida seventeen, both nearly on the shelf.” Her eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth – just like the mama in the melodrama that had played Caversham the previous year. She turned toward Evelyn. “No offense, dear.”

  “None taken, Mrs. Trowbridge. I am perfectly happy not being nineteen or seventeen anymore.”

  “But that is not…” Mrs. Trowbridge stopped herself just in time from telling Evelyn she had misunderstood the insult. But wanting to make the most of her opportunity, she turned back to Joseph. “They are the prettiest girls in the county with no shortage of dance partners, of course. But we shall be sure to fit you in. There is even to be a waltz and I know Anna….”

  “I will be dancing the waltz with Lady Evelyn,” said Joseph smoothly. “Though I look forward to dancing with both Miss Trowbridge and Miss Merida.”

  Mrs. Trowbridge cast an irritated look at Evelyn, before continuing to describe the upcoming assembly in such glowing terms that she declared even those in London would regret missing it. Evelyn heard hardly anything the woman said, for all she could think about was that Joseph had said they would waltz. It might not mean he wanted to waltz with her, of course. It might just have been his way of escaping a waltz with either Anna or Merida or, if their mama could somehow arrange it, both.

  But she was to waltz
with him. And suddenly she felt as anxious as a girl before her come-out ball.

  Interesting, that.

  She realized she should say something or they would spend the rest of the day in the village lane, while Mrs. Trowbridge searched for a way to have Joseph as a son-in-law.

  “Inspector Stapleton wanted to come to the village to pick up a few items he had neglected to bring with him from London,” said Evelyn. “But perhaps we should come back another day.”

  “Nonsense!” said Mrs. Trowbridge, as she ushered them inside. “You will see that my shop compares to any establishment in London.”

  Evelyn smiled at Joseph. “I am sure you will find it to be a unique experience.”

  * * *

  Joseph entered the one-room shop and stared in amazement. It was stocked floor to ceiling with various foodstuffs, as well as bolts of fabric, rows of ribbons and sewing supplies. There were bonnets trimmed with all manner of oddities, suggesting either a terrible lack of taste or a wonderful sense of humor. There was a small collection of scents, though none could be mistaken for the expensive perfumes from the parfumeries of London. There were small leather goods at outrageous prices. And there was an apothecary station.

  “I am also the village apothecary,” said Mrs. Trowbridge, following his glance. “Girls, why don’t you select a new ribbon for the assembly?”

  Anna and Merida seemed torn between not wanting to desert the handsome visitor lest he make his escape and very much wanting to pick out new ribbons. Fashion won and they left the adults for the moment.

  Mrs. Trowbridge tapped Joseph on the arm. “Inspector, I daresay you have heard of my special talent with elixirs.”

  Joseph noticed that Evelyn suddenly froze.

  “I do not believe Inspector Stapleton was looking for an elixir. A coin purse, perhaps?” Evelyn picked up the item nearest to her. It was a coin purse fashioned by hand, with a cow painted on it.

  It was hideous.

  “I am sure the inspector already has a coin purse,” said Mrs. Trowbridge. “But he may want to try my special health elixir for gentlemen.”

  Joseph’s attention was once again drawn to Evelyn, which wasn’t that surprising, given he’d been staring at her most of the day. She was now an alarming shade of red. Had he kept her out in the cold too long? Was she coming down with the ague? Perhaps Mrs. Trowbridge had some type of tonic to help her.

  “My special elixir helps a man maintain his vitality,” said Mrs. Trowbridge, quietly enough that her daughters wouldn’t overhear.

  That finally got his attention. “My vitality?”

  “Yes. It is no secret among married couples that sometimes men lose their…vitality as they age.”

  The rest of Mrs. Trowbridge’s words were lost to Joseph as the pieces fell into place. Did the woman think he was impotent? And was that why Evelyn looked like she wanted to sink into the ground? And why the devil had Lynwood not warned him that, save Lady Evelyn, his neighbors were bloody Bedlamites?

  “Thank you, madam, but my vitality is in excellent shape.”

  “Are you sure, inspector? How recently has it been tested?”

  Now Evelyn’s red color was explained. He was perilously close to blushing himself. “I believe I would like to purchase that coin purse.”

  Anxious to change the subject, Evelyn wagged the hideous thing about as if it were the crown jewels. “This is a fine piece of artistry. Did Anna or Merida paint the cow?”

  “That, Lady Evelyn, is not a cow. It is my mother.”

  Evelyn was silent but a moment. “And how is Mrs. Dorsett? It seems like an age since she has visited.”

  Mrs. Trowbridge did not seem best pleased with Evelyn, yet somewhat graciously seized onto the subject of her mother while Joseph overpaid for the coin purse. By that time, the two girls had grown tired of selecting ribbons, so he escorted Evelyn from the shop as quickly as possible without being insufferably rude.

  He was willing to settle for being rude a smallish amount.

  But finally, he and Evelyn were on their horses and making their way back to her home.

  The silence was not quite as companionable as before and even seemed to be a bit awkward.

  “My vitality is in excellent shape,” he said. “I just wanted you to know that.”

  “I have no doubt your vitality is…vital and everything it should be,” she said. “Not that it is any concern of mine, of course.”

  “Certainly. I did not mean to imply…that is to say…” Yet he could think of nothing else to add. “Does Mrs. Dorsett resemble a cow?”

  “Very much so. Do you like your new coin purse?”

  “I believe you know the answer to that, my lady,” he said, noting that her lips were quivering to keep from laughing. “If you wish it, I can buy you a matching reticule.”

  “Alas, it would be most improper for me to accept a gift from a gentleman with whom I do not have an understanding.”

  “I believe we have an understanding about the artistic merits of this coin purse.”

  Now she laughed outright. “Perhaps, Inspector, you could gift it to one of your informants in London.”

  “That would only turn the man against me.”

  “What about a particular lady friend? You could always give it to her.”

  Joseph laughed at the very notion. He would never give such a gift to a lady. Then Lady Evelyn rephrased her question.

  “Do you have a particular lady friend to whom you could give the purse?”

  Evelyn was bright red, her eyes fixed forward. Could it be possible that she was trying to find out if he was betrothed? Or had a mistress?

  “If I had a lady friend I would like to think she would have better taste than to accept that coin purse as a gift.”

  Was that relief he saw on her face?

  “But wouldn’t a lady friend of yours have questionable taste by definition?”

  She turned to him, grinning, and he could not prevent a bark of laughter from escaping. “If you do not watch yourself, my lady, I shall take a rope and tangle up every sheep you own, keeping you busy for the next fortnight at least.”

  “I should like to see you try,” she said. “I am certain you run villains to ground on a regular basis. But it is the ones on four legs that seem to be elusive.”

  “Elusive? Or tomorrow’s dinner?”

  They arrived back at her home and Joseph could not remember the last time he’d laughed so much. It was with great reluctance that he wished her good day and returned to Jasmine Manor.

  * * *

  He arrived at the house with a great deal to think about. He waved off the groom in order to curry Rocinante himself, an activity that always aided his ruminations, though the horse gave little advice.

  Lady Evelyn could not possibly marry that bumpkin Kensington. While he did not think she would be in any danger from the man – other than possibly dying from boredom – the match was so lopsided, he wondered about the men Evelyn had actually rejected. Lady Evelyn. He had to think of her as Lady Evelyn. No good could come of thinking of her as anything else.

  As he approached the house, Mr. Keegan held the door open for him. “Welcome home, Inspector. Did you have a pleasant day?”

  “Thank you, Mr. Keegan, I did. The weather was brisk but….” He looked up at the portrait of the duke and duchess. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was slightly different, almost as if they were sitting closer together than before. Perhaps it was a trick of the afternoon light.

  “Inspector? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, it’s just…never mind. What time will dinner be ready?”

  “As soon as you like it, sir. We tend to eat fairly early here, but Cook can serve you any time you wish.”

  “What time will the staff be eating?”

  “The staff, sir?”

  “Yes, Mr. Keegan. If it would not upset the routine terribly much, I should like to dine with all of you. I eat too many meals alone. I would be glad for the
company.” It would also give him the chance to learn more about Lady Evelyn.

  “But you are his grace’s guest, Inspector.”

  “I am also a man quite unused to the privileges of the peerage. Please.”

  Mr. Keegan shook his head, smiling. “As you wish, Inspector, but it won’t be fancy.”

  What the meal might have lacked in the opulence of ducal china, it certainly made up for in warmth. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Keegan, they were joined by Logan the underbutler, Oates the maid and Martha, the cook. The grooms had the night off and were at the tavern in town.

  It was readily apparent that the servants were utterly devoted to the Kellington family and that Logan and Oates were as much in love with each other as the Keegans were. Martha had grown up in Caversham and was widowed some twenty years. She and the Keegans had worked for the late duke and duchess.

  “A more devoted couple you could not find,” said Martha. “Very much in love. It was a tragedy to lose them so young, but it would have been so difficult to have one survive without the other.”

  “I don’t think they could have done it,” said Mrs. Keegan. “The other would have died of a broken heart. I believe they’ve looked after the young duke and the others from heaven. Sometimes you can even feel their presence.”

  “About that,” said Stapleton. “There is something quite extraordinary about the portrait.”

  “We were pleased to hear you commented on the duke and duchess,” said Oates. “Not many do.”

  “It is a very interesting composition. Why, just this afternoon I could have sworn…”

  “Would you like some more wine, Inspector?” asked Mr. Keegan. “His grace keeps an excellent wine cellar and instructs us to use enough so none goes bad. He’s such a good master.”

  “He always has been,” said Mrs. Keegan. “Even as a young lad. All the children were, though Master Hal was certainly a scamp. Did he ever outgrow his boisterousness, Inspector? I certainly hope not.”

  “Please call me Joseph. And Hal retained a certain ‘boisterousness’ until recently. But now that he is married, I believe he will be more sedate.” That was the most polite way he could think of to describe the former rake’s behavior.