by Robyn DeHart
Drew swallowed and the bite of quail he had just taken went down hard. “What about her?”
“She’s back in London,” Alex said.
“Here? With you and Mia?” That was surprising, considering Alex had sent the matriarch to the country because of her behavior toward Mia.
“Of course not.” Alex jabbed his quail with his knife. “She will not be welcomed into this house again until she sees fit to apologize to Mia.”
“Love, we’ve discussed this. That’s not necessary. I do not require she find me acceptable.” Mia shook her head and smiled gently. “We are married, you love me, that is enough.”
Alex exhaled slowly, his anger hissing through his teeth. “It is not enough for me.” Then he looked back at Drew. “In any case, no, she is not here. But a friend of hers invited her to stay at her townhome for the rest of the Season.”
“Splendid,” Drew said. “It is unlikely I shall run into her, but I do appreciate the warning.” His entire life he’d had a volatile relationship with his mother. It wasn’t until he’d overheard the conversation explaining the truth of his birth that he understood why she’d treated him so poorly when she doted on her other sons. Up until that point he’d merely assumed it was because she had her heir with Stephen and then Alex was second in line. Drew was unnecessary, at best.
Drew picked at his food, his appetite thin. In a few hours he would sneak Anna into the morgue at Scotland Yard so that she could examine the body. He supposed it was the thought of being in the same room as that woman again, her lifeless body pleading with him to find her killer. But Anna could help; Drew felt certain about that.
“Did you know Simon’s sister is studying to become a physician?” he asked suddenly.
Alex’s brows rose. “It must be his younger sister, as his older sister would not dare touch an ill person.”
“Indeed, I can not say that I’ve met his older sister. I meant his sister Annabelle,” Drew confirmed.
“That Jacobs family is quite bold,” Alex said. “I do believe that all of the children have completed education of some sort.”
“I think it’s splendid. We need more female doctors,” Mia said.
Alex tilted his head. “Perhaps. But it will be a long time before the general public accepts women as physicians.” Alex was nothing if not practical. The one deviation from that was Mia, his lovely and blind duchess.
“I met her recently, as I’ve been working at Simon’s residence studying his notes.” Drew swallowed. “I was hoping that perhaps you might have some of your notes from when you two were working on the investigation. I know Mia had some unique perspectives herself,” Drew said.
“Indeed. Tobacco,” she said in between bites. “Your tobacco, in fact. It is the main reason why I suspected you. You smelled like him.” She paused for a moment, then smiled. “Not tonight, though. Nor do you smell of alcohol.”
“And your eyes are clear,” Alex said. “First time in a long time.”
Drew gave him a weak smile. “It is not always easy to stay away from my preferred vices.” The words came out before he could stop them. It wasn’t something he readily discussed. “My tobacco of choice is not terribly common.”
“Indeed, we went to Rickman’s Tobacco and Supplies on Vine Street,” Alex said. “The shopkeeper gave us the customer list of the people who purchase that particular blend. There aren’t very many of you.”
“There is another shop that sells that blend as well. I only used it a handful of times because it’s not in the best part of town. I’ll look into it, though.”
“We do still have our notes,” Alex said. “You’re welcome to them if you think they would help.”
Drew nodded. “Right now I’m looking for all the information I can. I’m determined to catch this villain.”
“Do be careful, Drew. We have only now reunited as family; we don’t want to lose you again,” Mia said.
Chapter Six
After dinner, Drew still had an hour until it was time to retrieve Anna for their trip to Scotland Yard. He felt overwhelmed, if not slightly exhausted, from his dinner with his family. He hadn’t expected forgiveness and camaraderie to be given so easily.
He stepped through his front door and had no sooner removed his hat and overcoat than his housekeeper rushed to his side.
“She’s here. That nasty, horrible woman is here,” Mrs. Huddleston said.
“Calm yourself, Mrs. Huddleston. Precisely who is here?” Fatigue ate at him, though he had much of the evening left in front of him.
“Your mother, the dowager duchess.” Mrs. Huddleston twisted her hands into her apron and shook her head. “She demanded entrance and is waiting for you in the parlor.”
Ah. Nasty and horrible. Yes, that was the perfect description for the Dowager Duchess. Frankly, he was surprised she didn’t have N & H embroidered on all her handkerchiefs, since he was certain it was her personal motto. Then again, it might have tipped off members of polite society to her true nature. Most of her friends and companions found Lady Carrington to be perfectly delightful. Certainly, among her peers and equals she was. He was one of the lucky few who knew her true nature.
Somehow, it helped knowing that Mrs. Huddleston wasn’t fooled by the dowager’s performance. Mrs. Huddleston had been his housekeeper since he moved out of Alex’s townhome. Before that she’d worked in the Carrington household and Drew had somehow convinced her to move with him. He suspected that his brother had encouraged her to go to keep an eye on Drew in his new living arrangement.
He bent and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Go and make yourself a pot of tea and do not fret. I shall handle the dowager.”
She gave him a weak smile and crossed herself, offering a silent prayer for Drew’s safety. Without another thought he left his housekeeper and stalked to the parlor. He had to admit he was surprised the dowager had come here. Yes, Alex had mentioned she was back in London, but she and Drew were not on the best of terms, and this was her first visit to his townhome.
After bracing himself for her “maternal affection,” he opened the door and found her standing by the front window. She did not bother to turn in his direction as he entered. “Andrew.” Her voice echoed through the room as she fingered the draperies. “These drapes are ugly.” She dropped the fabric and faced him.
“Do you require refreshments?” he asked. Though he already knew the answer: she would not sully herself to drink out of his china.
“No.” She motioned to the settee, her brows raised. “Offer me a seat.” Then she shook her head. “Honestly, it is as if you were raised in the horse stable instead of under my own roof and alongside my other sons.”
Her legitimate sons. The words hung in the air, unsaid, heavy as a dark storm cloud. “Sit,” he said.
She harrumphed, but did lower herself to the settee.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked. He wanted to get this visit over with as soon as possible.
“Your brother sent me to the countryside, as you probably know. But my dear friend Lady Mumford invited me to stay with her here in London so I could return for the remainder of the Season.” She was quiet a moment, her lips pinched, her eyes narrowed as they took in the sight of him.
He still stood, right where he’d stopped upon entering the room. There was no reason to pretend this was a civilized visit. She’d come to berate him about something and would be gone soon enough.
“I see you survived prison.” She inspected her fingernails. “I’m surprised they let you out, considering the other murders that have occurred.”
“One of which happened while I was still in custody,” Drew said. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that the ironclad alibi of prison was good enough for Scotland Yard, but not sufficient for the woman who had raised him.
Though that victim had disappeared and the authorities had been unable to loc
ate her to question her.
“I had hoped you were having the good sense to keep yourself out of proper Society for a while. Until this wretched situation is forgot. But I’m told you attended the theatre the other evening.”
“I like the theatre.”
“That is hardly the point. Is it not enough that you’ve already brought so much shame to this family? And yet I am the one Alex sent to the countryside.” She shook her head in disbelief.
“You’ve come only to berate me for my predilection for Shakespeare, then? Or is this another opportunity to blame me for being a bastard?” Drew asked.
“Don’t be smart with me, boy. I came here to try once again to get through that damned thick skull of yours. You either killed those girls or you were too drunk to know you didn’t. Either way, people in this town think you’re guilty and that reflects on your brother, myself and the auspicious Carrington name.”
“The auspicious Carrington name has survived a lot worse than my drunkenness.”
She ignored him, continuing her rant. “Lord knows your brother doesn’t need any more whispers about him now that he’s married to that blind girl.”
“That blind girl is the duchess now.” Drew couldn’t resist the dig. He had no doubt that the dowager despised that Mia now held the title that she herself had clung to so doggedly. “In any case, I’m working with Scotland Yard now. I’m in a unique position to help them catch this Jack the Ripper.” He knew telling her that was foolish the minute the words left his mouth. Nothing he ever did or said would make her proud of him, make her see him as anything but her husband’s indiscretion. It occurred to Drew that managing these moments with his mother might be far easier if he had an ally, a partner, a wife. But that was ridiculous as he had no intention of marrying. But the image of Anna giving his mother a tongue-lashing the way she’d done him at the theatre was a truly gratifying thought.
For a moment, Lady Carrington looked surprised. “You are working for Scotland Yard?” Her lips curved downward in disapproval.
“I am advising them on the case. They feel my insights into the Ripper’s habits will be useful.”
“You honestly believe that’s why they invited you to join them?” she asked, her tone bitter and sharp as a rusted blade.
“I know it’s why. The lead inspector asked me himself.”
She pursed her lips, shook her head. “It’s quite obvious they merely want to keep an eye on you. And what better way to do it? With you scampering about right under their noses and reporting to them, you’re saving them a lot of effort. Clever of them.”
“You are wrong about this. I do have good instincts. I am good at this.” He wasn’t certain he believed that, but he’d be damned if he’d let her see that she’d got to him. “Speaking of which, I have work to do. I trust you can see yourself out.” He didn’t give her time to answer, but he could hear her sputtering as he left her alone in the room.
He crossed the hall into his office and shut the door firmly behind him. Through the heavy oak door, he could hear the sounds of the dowager demanding her carriage be brought around. She couldn’t get out of his home fast enough. With any luck, he wouldn’t have to see her again for quite some time.
At his desk he flipped open the file where he’d been organizing his notes and stared blankly at the pages, the determination to help solve this case hardening in his belly. He would do every thing he could to catch this man. He would do it to protect the women of London. He would do it because no person—no matter how society viewed them—should die so horrible a death.
Yes, all of London was astir because the Ripper had moved out of Whitechapel, but it was the deaths there that spoke to him most of all. Society thought these women didn’t matter. That they had no worth. Their birth, their circumstances alone, had made them easy victims. That bothered him most of all.
Damnation, but he wanted a drink.
Surprisingly enough, he wanted to see Anna even more.
***
Drew waited until the dowager’s carriage had driven off, then he stepped outside. Had he not required a carriage to take Anna to the Yard, he would have walked. The brisk night air did not completely strip his desire for a drink, but it did send enough shivers through his clothes to put other thoughts in his mind.
After walking the length of sidewalk in front of his townhome three times, he stepped into his carriage and headed in the direction of Viscount Wickersham’s. He had barely stepped out of the carriage when she slipped out her front door, a heavy cloak covering her. She walked over to him and silently held her hand out so he could assist her inside.
He followed her in and then shut the door. The small lantern hanging from the hook swung as the carriage lurched forward. It provided enough light for him to see his companion as she pushed the hood off her head.
“Am I to assume your mother would not approve of this little assignment?” he asked.
“I cannot be certain, for I did not actually seek out her approval.” She chewed at her lip, then grinned. “In any case, she goes to bed fairly early on the evenings when we don’t attend any functions. She suffers from headaches,” she said.
“I see.” They rode in silence for a few moments. He found himself wanting to tell her about his mother, but that of course, was ridiculous. It was annoying enough that she’d rattled him tonight; he certainly did not need to tell other people about it. They would never have a mother-son relationship. He’d come to realize that years ago.
“Now what is it I’m supposed to do with this woman’s body?” she asked. “I spoke with my professor, and he was able to give me some basic instruction on how autopsies are performed for investigative purposes, but I am not certain what it is you expect of me.”
“I merely want you to examine the body and give me your observations. I don’t want to give you too many details now because then your conclusions will either agree with mine because you’ll be looking for those assumptions or you’ll disagree because you think me a fool. Either way your observation will be tainted,” Drew said. “So for now, let us merely say that I want you to look at her injuries and make notes on your findings and we’ll go from there.”
She nodded and took a steadying breath. The warmth of her breath came out in a little puff of air.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“I suppose I am. I’ve never seen a murder victim before.”
“I hadn’t either. It’s not pretty; I won’t lie. It’s gruesome, though she has been cleaned up since we found her on the street. Aside from the injuries, I don’t think it’s much different than the bodies you work on at school,” he said.
She nodded again and clutched her cloak tighter around her. “Must we break into the morgue?”
“Yes, but I shall take all of the blame should we get caught. Although I can assure you we won’t.” He gave her a grin. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to slip through a locked door.”
“It is a miracle you had not been in prison before my brother arrested you.”
“Perhaps.” Their rig stopped and Drew assisted her down to the street. She smelled exotic and clean, like oranges and cloves. She was so rich in contradictions. The genteel lady doctor who smelled of foreign lands and spices. Suddenly he wanted to bury his face in the soft skin of her neck and really allow the scent to assail his senses.
But he wasn’t supposed to want her, let alone touch her. She was a lady. There were rules about that sort of thing. And even though he wasn’t one to follow rules, he knew these rules, if broken, came with stiff consequences. Like a special license and a quick marriage.
He desired Anna; he couldn’t deny that. He could even go so far as to admit that he wanted her more than he had ever wanted any other woman. Something in her called out to him and his body answered with a need to touch her. Somehow he knew that she could chase away the shadows that dogged him.
They crept in the darkness through the damp grass to the side entrance of the Metropolitan Police building. “I cannot believe you convinced me to do something criminal,” she said. Then she smiled. “In truth, I can’t even say I mind all that much.”
The large red and white brick building rose up from the bank of the Thames like a great dark shadow looming over London and promising it protection. Yet the world’s worst killer still roamed the streets, free to take whichever life he saw fit.
“Perhaps I should not have admitted that,” she said. “Don’t go assuming my admission means you may now teach me to steal.”
“That’s disappointing, as I had all manner of plans to teach you nefarious and illegal skills.”
She eyed him as they reached the door.
Before he retrieved his tools to unlock the door, he put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“It is not necessary to mock me,” she said.
He flashed her a smile. “My apologies.” He said the words right as the lock released, and he shoved the door open. He held it for her and then closed it once they were both inside.
“It’s so dark,” Anna said. She blew out her breath and the wisps of curled hair at her ears fluttered. “I do have a talent for stating the obvious.”
He chuckled. “I brought a lantern, but I’d prefer not to use it until we’re in the room with the body. Here where there are windows we could alert people to our presence. Do you think you can make it through without the added light?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course.” It made perfect sense. She took a shuddering breath. She didn’t know why she was so bloody nervous. Normally she wasn’t one to swear, but she certainly wasn’t accustomed to ignoring the law in such a flagrant fashion. Not only that, but she was about to examine a murdered woman’s body. Anna’s blood chilled and she shook off a shiver.
Both of those were enough to create a certain amount of nerve-rattling. But Anna couldn’t deny that Drew also played a role in her nervousness. It was bothersome. She had intended not to like Drew Foster in the least, yet she found him quite amiable, not to mention attractive.
