He gave Peg a pleased nod before holding his hands out to Liv. ‘Darling.’
‘Alister,’ she replied with a surprised smile, as if she had not believed that their plan would work.
He looked back to Peg. ‘You are all right returning to your home unescorted.’ The lack of question in his tone implied that the answer had best be yes, since he was not interested in being her escort or having her accompany them.
‘I will be fine,’ she said, smiling as if she had not noticed the dismissal. Hopefully, she was telling the truth. As yet, she had seen no sign of David. She would feel a total fool if he had led her on some goose chase, stranding her on a side street without a maid to guide her home.
Her answer seemed to satisfy Alister, for he turned back to her sister without waiting for further confirmation. ‘Let us be off.’ Without another thought for her, they disappeared out the front door of the shop and set off down the street, hands clasped and heads dipped in intimate conversation.
Peg felt a moment of envy, followed by a profound feeling of loneliness. She still had the memory of David’s kisses, his passionate words, and the way he looked at her when no one else was around. But it would be foolish in the extreme to fall in love with someone who was an enemy to her family. It was even worse that he seemed to be just as attracted to her. There should be at least one sane head in the relationship to call a halt to what they were doing before they did something they’d be sorry for.
But for now, her only regret was that she was alone in the shop. Where was he?
When she was almost ready to give up and find her own way home, a hired carriage pulled up on the street outside. The door opened and David hopped to the ground. When he spied her through the window, his face lit with a smile and he gestured to her to come out and join him.
‘You got us transport,’ she said, wondering where they were going.
‘It seemed like the sensible thing to do. Your brother’s men were following close behind you when I distracted them and I did not want to risk their guessing our direction and rounding the corner to catch you before we could make away.’
‘You handled that well,’ she said with a smile.
He gave a brief bow of thanks as he helped her up into the carriage. Then he gave an address to the driver and they set out.
‘So, you had a destination in mind,’ she said, watching the streets pass by outside.
‘Indeed. And it is a place no lady should go,’ he said with a leer.
‘A special treat, then,’ she said, hiding her smile with a glove.
He shrugged. ‘Not so very shocking, really. But I am sure that your brother would be appalled to find you have learned of the place.’ They had turned off into a quiet residential square. They stopped in front of a small town house. She could see nothing about it that should be too very shocking so she looked to David for explanation.
He grinned. ‘We are going to visit the pied-à-terre that your brother keeps for his mistresses.’
Her eyes went wide. ‘My brother has mistresses?’
‘Not currently,’ David allowed. ‘But we will be meeting with one of his previous ladybirds, who should be full of information.’
She could understand why he had said no lady should be here. She had already learned things that Hugh would not want her to know. But seeing an actual member of the demi-monde would be as exciting as going to the Tower of London to see the lions and bears. If she had wanted an adventure, this surely was one.
David reached into his pocket and produced a key, turning it in the lock and opening the door, looking both ways to be sure they were not observed before ushering her into the foyer and closing it behind them.
‘How did you get that?’ she said, pointing to the key in his hand.
‘From the lady in question. She had a copy made while living here and neglected to return it to your brother.’
‘And she gave it to you instead,’ Peg said, with a raise of her eyebrow.
He replied with a shrug. ‘I might have given her a small financial incentive.’
‘You bribed her?’ she said, surprised.
‘Money is the best way to communicate with courtesans,’ he said with a smile. ‘Or so I am told.’ He led her further into the house, to the sitting room, keeping the curtains drawn against intrusive gazes of neighbours and lighting candles to disburse the gloom. Then they waited.
* * *
A short time later, they heard the unlocked front door open and a woman walked into the room.
She was not at all what Peg had expected. She was strikingly pretty, with dark red hair pulled smooth away from her pale face. But she was dressed in a fashionable and modest walking ensemble, decorated with a single cameo brooch and not the flamboyant satins and jewels Peg had expected. Everything about this woman was subdued and ladylike. If she had been Hugh’s mistress, Peg had to admire his taste.
‘Miss Devereaux,’ David said, rising to greet her. ‘It is so kind of you to take the time to speak with us today.’
The woman took a moment before responding, looking around the room with fond remembrance. Finally, her eyes fell on Peg and she started in surprise. She looked away again, as if acknowledging the invisible distance between their ranks, before turning back to David. ‘It was no trouble, Mr Castell. Although it was most bold of you to choose this particular meeting place.’
‘I thought I would choose a space I knew to be both discreet and unoccupied,’ he said.
Miss Devereaux went to a chair by the fire and sat, steepling her fingers and staring back at them. ‘I assume you want to know the details of my relationship with the Duke of Scofield.’
David settled in his chair again and nodded. ‘Your parting from him, most specifically. But anything you wish to tell us will be most illuminating.’
She glanced at Peg again. ‘He will be most unhappy with me if he finds out I have spoken to you. But he will be absolutely livid should he find that Lady Margaret was present for the conversation.’
‘He will never find out from me,’ Peg said hurriedly.
‘Do you fear his response?’ David said, ignoring the social embarrassment.
‘Physically?’ The woman paused, as if considering. ‘No. He never gave me reason to worry on that account. But he is a very powerful man and we did not part under the best circumstances.’
‘And why, precisely, did you part?’ David asked.
‘I found another protector that I preferred,’ she said, with a faint blush.
‘And what was the name of that man?’ he prodded, gently.
‘Richard Sterling,’ she said.
‘And what happened after you told the Duke that your affections had waned?’
‘He requested that I leave his house,’ she said, giving another fond look at what had been her sitting room.
‘And did you move into rooms provided by Sterling?’ he asked.
She nodded. ‘He was most generous.’
‘And are you still with him?’ David asked.
‘You know I am not,’ she snapped, fishing in her reticule for a handkerchief to wipe away a tear. Once she had composed herself, she said, ‘Shortly after we came to our arrangement, he died.’
‘He was murdered,’ David corrected.
‘Must you make me go through the details that you already know?’ she said, her voice unsteady.
Peg reached out a hand and laid it on David’s in warning, then looked to the other woman. ‘We understand this is painful for you and we are sorry to be upsetting you.’
‘Thank you,’ Miss Devereaux said softly, giving her a damp smile and wiping her eyes again.
‘You know things that we do not,’ David reminded her. ‘Do you remember what you discussed the last time you saw him? Did he mention the Duke?’
She nodded. ‘The last night we were together, Richard had
just come from his club where he’d seen Hugh, who was exceptionally drunk. Threats were made.’
‘Exactly what kind of threats?’ David pushed.
‘Hugh threatened to kill him,’ she said with a sigh.
David turned to Peg with a triumphant smile, as if it was a surprise that her brother, when drunk or angry, would make wild statements. Instead, she turned to the courtesan and asked the question she wanted answered. ‘Why did you leave my brother?’
‘I preferred Richard Sterling,’ she said, with a gentle smile.
‘But why?’ Peg demanded. ‘I am sorry if I am speaking of something I should not, but I had always assumed that women of your profession preferred men of wealth and power. Surely a rich duke would be more reliable than a common gentleman.’
‘True,’ Miss Devereaux replied. ‘But there is a matter of personal pride, as well. If I am honest, Scofield was never particularly interested in me.’
‘Was he blind?’ David asked in surprise.
This made the other woman laugh. ‘To some things, perhaps he was. He gave me many gifts and made a generous settlement on me, even after I told him I was leaving. But it surprised me that he would argue with Richard over me, since, when I was his to command, his heart and mind always seemed to be engaged elsewhere.’ She smiled. ‘It was most refreshing to be with Richard, who was quite devoted to me.’
Peg cast a glance in David’s direction and saw a flash of surprise, followed by a look of deep cogitation.
When no further questions came from either of them, Miss Devereaux stood to go. ‘I hope that was sufficient, because I cannot think of another thing that I might share with you.’
David stood, offering her a bow. ‘You have answered anything I could think to ask. Thank you for your help.’ Then he escorted her to the door.
When he returned a short time later, Peg was ready for him. ‘I hope this has convinced you that my brother could not have killed your friend over that woman. We have already established that he was in love with someone else.’
‘Have we?’ he said, doubtful.
‘To my satisfaction, yes, we have,’ she said. ‘But Miss Devereaux is something else entirely. She admitted that he did not care enough to keep her. I doubt his apathy for her would extend to fatal violence towards the man who took her away.’
‘Perhaps not,’ David agreed, yielding far too easily. ‘But he had other reasons to argue with Sterling.’
‘I suppose you mean the fact that he denied Mr Sterling the opportunity to court Olivia,’ she said.
He nodded. ‘And Dick responded by taking his mistress away from him.’
The idea that a supposed gentleman could behave in such a way made her stomach churn. ‘Then Hugh was right to deny him access to Liv. He does not sound like a very nice person.’
‘He was my best friend,’ David reminded her.
‘Then I do not think too highly of your choice in companions,’ she said.
‘With your brother’s history, you cannot point fingers,’ he reminded her.
‘My brother’s alleged history,’ she replied, annoyed. ‘Whereas, your friend’s behaviour towards my sister is, at best, fickle, and, at worst, devious.’
‘He still did not deserve to be murdered,’ David countered.
‘And you still cannot prove that my brother had anything to do with his death,’ she finished. ‘He might have been set upon by footpads. Or perhaps he treated someone else as despicably as he did Liv.’
‘It was not your sister that he meant to spite,’ David said in a logical tone. ‘It was your brother. He could not have your sister, so he took Scofield’s woman away from him.’
She could not control her inarticulate cry of rage. ‘You speak of living, breathing women as if they are pawns on a chessboard to be moved and captured and easily replaced.’
David opened his mouth, then closed it again, as words failed. Then trying again, he began in a conciliatory tone, ‘Now, Peg...’
‘That is what you have to offer?’ She laughed. ‘It sounds as if my understanding of the situation is accurate and you are about to explain to me that it is not as bad as it sounds.’
‘Well...’ he added and made a vaguely calming gesture with his hands that only made her angrier.
‘I should have known that a man who came to my house under a false name to manipulate me into giving him information would be surrounded by similar men who are equally horrible.’
‘I am horrible now, am I?’ he said in surprise. ‘You did not seem to think so yesterday, when I was kissing you.’
‘I was a fool,’ she said, appalled that her desire had been so easily aroused. ‘My brother is right to protect me from socialising with men, because it is clear that kisses and soft words are all it takes to turn me against my family.’
‘Stop pretending that you have no will of your own,’ he snapped. ‘You have been in control of this situation from the first and have changed the direction of my plans far more often than I have manipulated yours. I did not have to seduce you into helping me. You volunteered.’
‘And now I am leaving.’ She stood, wiping her hands down her skirts as if it were possible to get rid of the sordid nature of the things she had learned.
‘I am sorry if you do not like the things you have heard today,’ he said in a softer tone. ‘But you were the one who insisted on coming along. If you cannot steel yourself against unfortunate truths, then perhaps it is best we part. I guarantee you, there will be more of them before this is over.’
He was talking of Hugh again, still convinced of his guilt. It exhausted her to think about that. Life would be so much easier if she had never met David Castell. She shook her head, resisting the urge to cover her ears. ‘Send for the coach, please. I wish to go home.’
‘But, Peg...’ He sprang to his feet, as if ready to stop her, but on seeing her angry expression, took a step away. ‘I will signal the driver.’ He went to the door, leaning out to wave down the street to bring the equipage forward.
She went to his side without waiting to be retrieved, adjusting her bonnet and tugging at her gloves, so she would not have to look at him as they waited.
‘I do not want things between us to end this way,’ he said softly.
‘That is not for you to decide,’ she replied, staring past him at the closed door.
‘Whether we are together or apart, the question of your brother’s guilt or innocence remains.’
He was right. If she left him alone, he would report what he wanted and reject what he did not. Her brother needed her to support him, if no one else would. ‘I do not wish to discuss it now,’ she said. She was still far too angry to speak with him.
‘Here are the directions for tomorrow’s meeting,’ he said, pressing a folded sheet of paper into her hand. ‘You can decide before then if you are interested in seeing this through to the end. No matter what, know that I will be waiting for you.’
Chapter Eleven
To say he had handled the day badly was an understatement.
When he had planned for the interview in Scofield’s apartment, he’d had some hopes that the secluded location might give them time to explore something other than the mystery they were trying to solve. They would be totally alone with no chance of interruption and he had hoped to make good use of the time.
Instead, he had allowed her to think that he viewed women as a commodity to be swapped and traded between men, with no thought to their feelings. But it had not been his fault at all. He was not the one keeping a mistress, nor had he made advances on her sister only to turn his attentions to Miss Devereaux to spite the Duke.
It had been done by his best friend. And when the time came to deny that friendship and admit Sterling had been a cad, he’d baulked. When he’d been alive, Dick’s antics had been amusing. Neither of them had given a thought to whom he might have h
urt by them, until the day he had gone too far and got himself killed.
The fact that it was now easier for David to see the motive for Dick’s murder did not mean he was not deserving of justice. If behaving like a rogue with women was reason for an untimely death, half the men in London would be at risk. No, David was just as set as he ever was on proving that the Duke had killed his friend.
But it all became more complicated now that he’d found Peg. He did not want to lose her over today’s stupidity, but she had to know that, with each clue they found, she was coming closer to the day she would have to choose between her loyalty to Scofield and her own future.
It was unrealistic of him to see himself as part of that future, but he could not seem to help himself. After her brother’s downfall, everyone else might abandon her, but as he had told her when parting, even if she did not want him, he would still be waiting for her. Then, perhaps she would see his worth.
But the moment would never come if he could not persuade her to come back to him now. What could he do to help his case? When spoken words failed, he often did better with a written apology. But there was no way to get it to her, with the post watched by her brother and the servants. There was nothing to do but wait out the hours to see if she arrived at the appointed meeting place on the next day.
He got barely any sleep, anticipating the day to come, and rose in the middle of the night to write to her and unburden his feelings. Though it was possible that she might never see it, he had to hope that she would give him one more chance, if only to attempt to clear Scofield.
* * *
The next day, he went to Bond Street far earlier than was needed and wandered to the side-street shop where they were to meet. He should have kept to the original schedule for it gave him far too much time to think about the fact that she might not be coming at all. Perhaps he had already ruined his chances with her and would spend the day waiting in vain.
But shortly before the appointed time, Alister Clement appeared, loitering outside the shop as David was doing. It gave him hope, for he doubted that Peg would stay at home and send her sister out alone. A short time later, Clement snapped to attention and disappeared into the shop, returning with Lady Olivia on his arm.
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