Kissing Cousins (26 page)

Darren felt that all of London was after him. It was some sort of trap. Bow Street had discovered that Salverton was his cousin, and figured out that he
’
d go to Cousin Edward for help. It was all over, but at least he
’
d try to make it to Salverton
’
s door. His cousin might hire him a lawyer. But which house was it? There! The yellow brick one, the biggest, grandest house on the street.

He went, gasping, up to it. As he reached the steps leading to the door, Fletcher tackled him. He caught him by the ankles and brought him to the ground just at the foot of a plane tree. At the same moment, the door flew open and Cousin Edward came out, brandishing a pistol. A swarm of footmen, postmen, and gardeners rolled about on the grass. Curses and imprecations rang on the air.

“
I arrest you, Mortimer Fletcher, in the name of the law,
”
the postman declared.

“
Here, that
’
s my ankle, ninnyhammer!
”
a gardener exclaimed, shaking his foot free of the postman
’
s clutches.

“
Hands off, Williams. He
’
s mine!
”
the footman said.
“
I get the reward for this one!
”
The footman clamped a set of manacles on Fletcher and said,
“
He
’
s mine, lads. You can run along now.
”

“
Bring him inside. Townsend is waiting,
”
Edward said, then he turned to Darren.
“
Oakleigh? Yes, I recognize you. You
’
d best come in as well.
”

“
Cousin Edward?
”
Darren asked in a trembling voice. He rose, brushing dirt and grass from his trousers.
“
I say, I
’
m sorry about all the commotion. I
’
m in a spot of trouble. You wouldn
’
t happen to know a good lawyer ...
”

Salverton had intended to ring a peal over Oakleigh, but when he saw the fear and shame on his youthful face, he remembered that long-ago spring of his own folly, and his heart softened.
“
We'll speak about this inside,
”
he said, and accompanied Darren to the door.

Samantha ran to greet them. She threw her arms around her brother. With tears streaming down her cheeks she said,
“
Darren, you gudgeon! We
’
ve been looking all over for you! Where have you been?
”

“
Sam, what are you doing here?
”

“
Where else should I go for help but to Edward? Are you all right?
”

Edward smiled ruefully at them, then went to join Townsend.

“
I will be when I
’
ve caught my breath,
”
Darren replied.

“
Where have you been all these days, and what have you been doing?
”

“
Hiding, of course. That brute, Fletcher, has been looking for me. He
’
s Wanda
’
s
husband,
Sam. Can you beat that? She was married all the time. What a take-in. No wonder she wouldn
’
t go to Gretna Green with me.
”
He peered into the saloon that would have held a couple of his tenant cottages had it not been full of well-polished furniture.
“
I say! Cousin Edward does pretty well for himself, don
’
t he?
”

“
We should have come to him in the beginning. He
’
s really very nice.
”

“
More civil than I expected. But tell me what you
’
re doing here.
”

“
First I must let Miss Donny know we found you, I expect she
’
ll want to come here.
”

Samantha sent the message to Upper Grosvenor Square, then she led her brother to the morning parlor. While Salverton arranged matters with Townsend, Darren and his sister brought each other up-to-date. Salverton joined them half an hour later.

“
You
’
ll have to come down to Bow Street with us to answer some questions, Oakleigh,
”
he said.

“
If it
’
s about the thousand pounds, I swear I had no notion it was stolen, Cousin.
”

“
It
’
s not about that. That charge will be dropped now that Sir Geoffrey is dead.
”

“
I hope they don
’
t think I killed him!
”

“
We
’
ll get the whole story from Fletcher. You
’
d best come along.
”

Darren rose reluctantly and went toward the door. Salverton turned to Samantha.
“
You notified Miss Donny?
”

“
Yes, she should be here soon. Thank you, dear Edward, for everything.
”
She stood on her tiptoes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

He smiled at her, rubbing the back of his fingers along her cheek. It was a small gesture, but intimate, the sort of thing a lover might do without even realizing he was doing it. She wondered if he had ever done it to Louise.

“
I
’
ll put in a word for Darren at Bow Street,
”
he said.
“
If we could find Wanda, it would help clear his name. About the murder, I mean. Townsend will send men out looking for her.
”

“
Did they not find Sir Geoffrey
’
s watch and ring on Fletcher?
”
she asked in alarm.

“
No, but perhaps they
’
re at whatever hole he spent the night in. He
’
s a tough bird. The questioning will take some time. Don
’
t worry, my dear. Things will work out.
”

“
How long will you be gone?
”
she asked with a woebegone look.

“
I
’
ll be back as soon as I can. You
’
ll stay here?
”

“
Yes, I
’
ll wait for you.
”

A small, satisfied smile curved his lips.
“
Good.
”
Then he left.

At Berkeley Square, the ladies were served tea in the morning parlor to ease their vigil. Noon came and went and still there was no sign of Darren and Salverton returning. There was a deal of hand wringing and worrying about what would befall Darren.

“
If only we could find Wanda,
”
Miss Donaldson said not for the first time.
“
She need not fear coming forward now. She could say Sir Geoffrey gave her the thousand pounds, and who is to say he didn
’
t, when the man
’
s dead.
”

“
We can
’
t ask her to lie, Miss Donny.
”

“
Much it would bother her. When did the hussy ever tell the truth? We don
’
t want any cloud hanging over Darren
’
s head. There will always be rumors if this matter is not cleared up.
”

“
I
’
m more concerned they
’
ll try to involve him in the murder. Pity they hadn
’
t found the watch and ring in Fletcher
’
s pocket. She could prove Darren was with her when Sir Geoffrey was killed. I could go and visit some of her friends. If I tell them Fletcher is arrested, they might talk to me.
”

“
Stay away from that crew.
”
After a moment
’
s consideration she added,
“
What you might do, however, is drop a line to that Liz Eaton that Wanda was so close to and ask her if she has any idea where Wanda is.
”

As Samantha didn
’
t really want to leave the house, she wrote the note and had one of Salverton
’
s footmen deliver it. Another hour passed. Fresh tea and sandwiches were brought to the morning parlor. At two o
’
clock there was a sound at the front door. Samantha pelted into the hall just as Salverton and Darren came in. She knew by their smiles, and, of course, by Darren
’
s being here and not in jail, that things had gone well.

“
What happened?
”
she asked.

“
They found the watch and ring in Fletcher
’
s coat,
”
Darren said.
“
He had them in the pocket of his greatcoat, which he left in the hackney when he chased me. One of the Bow Street officers thought to quiz the driver. That pretty well convicts Fletcher. Townsend says they
’
ve got him right and tight this time. And with Sir Geoffrey dead, the other charge will be dropped, so I am free.
”

“
Oh, thank God!
”
Samantha said, and threw her arms around her brother. In an excess of relief, she also hugged Edward. His arms closed tightly around her, but as Miss Donaldson chose that moment to come into the hall, he couldn
’
t take full advantage of the situation.

“
What news?
”
Miss Donaldson demanded, and was told. There were tears of joy in her eyes as they all went into the saloon to celebrate with champagne.

They were enjoying a celebratory drink when the door knocker sounded again.
“
That might be Liz
—
or even Wanda,
”
Samantha said.
“
I dropped Liz a note before I knew you had found the watch and ring, Edward. I asked her to send Wanda here if she could find her. I hope you don
’
t mind.
”

Salverton nodded his approval.
“
Show the caller in here, Luten,
”
he said to his butler, who had come to inquire whether his lordship was
“
at home
”
to callers.

Edward looked with considerable interest to see Wanda
—
or even Liz, if that was who was calling. He was shocked to look up and see Lady Louise staring at him from her icy blue eyes.

“
I see you
’
re busy, Salverton,
”
she said, her gaze sweeping across his company in a condemnatory way.
“
I should have dropped a note before calling. Did you realize the prime minister
’
s been trying to get hold of you? He
’
s awaiting some important report. I expect it was the commotion here that caused the delay. I heard from Shelburne, your neighbor, there were some strange goings-on here this morning. An arrest, was it? I hope you weren
’
t burgled.
”

“
No. Bow Street used my house as a base of operation to catch a murderer.
”

Lady Louise
’
s pinched nostrils made clear she disapproved, but she didn
’
t say so. Her steely gaze turned to Samantha.
“
Mrs. Oakleigh, is it not? I believe we
’
ve met before.
”

“
Delighted to meet you again, Lady Louise,
”
Samantha lied. Lady Louise had been much on her mind the past days. Examining her now, Samantha felt she would be the worst thing that could happen to Edward. With this ice maiden by his side, he would revert to his stiff-rumped ways, and forget to enjoy life.

Miss Donaldson opened her lips to correct the impression that Sam was Mrs. Oakleigh. Seeing her, Salverton leapt into the breach.

“
My manners are gone begging,
”
he said.
“
You
’
ve already met Mrs. Oakleigh, Louise. Allow me to present her chaperon, Miss Donaldson, and her husband, Mr. Oakleigh. I would like you all to meet Lady Louise St. John.
”

Darren frowned and said,
“
Eh?
”
as he looked around for Mrs. Oakleigh, his wife.

Lady Louise had not the keenest nose in London, but she smelled something fishy here. Everyone in the room save herself seemed to be on nettles.

It was Miss Donaldson who said,
“
This is Miss Oakleigh, milady. Samantha isn
’
t married. She
’
s Darren
’
s sister.
”

Salverton received a cool stare from Lady Louise,
“
Indeed!
”
she said.

Before she could say more, there was another clatter at the front door. The butler, knowing his lordship was
“
at home,
”
decided to show the young female in. He would not normally have admitted a female of this sort by the front door, but today was not an ordinary day. She said she had been sent for. The butler assumed she was involved in young Oakleigh
’
s fracas, and accompanied her to the saloon.

“
Miss Claridge,
”
he announced.

Salverton stared at a female who could not possibly be younger than thirty-five, though a quantity of rouge and powder lent her cheeks a more youthful hue. She was attractive in a vulgar way, with flashing brown eyes and full lips. Her shapely figure was encased in a lutestring gown of peacock blue and a bonnet trimmed with enough feathers to outfit a whole aviary.