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each other. “I agree,” Angelina said slowly. “It is kind of you to help me.”
    “I rather savor the challenge.”
    At one time, she’d smiled often. Freely, with genuine warmth and giving. Now smiling was rare, so when she found her lips curving, it surprised her. “I think you do.”
    “Besides, I believe you,” Alicia Wallace said with conviction. “That is actually why I came here, risking my husband’s censure over my actions. I wanted to speak with you myself and see if I thought you were telling the truth.”
    “And?”
    “You are.”
    It had been a long time since she’d had a friend. Or at least a new one. Most of her self-proclaimed friends had deserted her long ago and only a few remained loyal during those nightmarish months. Up until now, Angelina hadn’t even realized how much she missed the sense of camaraderie. However, friends could be shallow,
and
friends could be deep. She’d an overabundance of the former and not enough of the latter.
    Her guest rose then, nodding, all elegance and poise in her beautiful gown. “I believe you don’t have any more of an idea who did this than I do at this time. However, my husband will find out, so there is no need to worry, and you have already given me some valuable information. I will be sure to pass it on.”
    “What information?” Angelina stood also, blinking.
    “About the kitchen staff, for one. I assume you also had different maids and housekeepers.”
    “We did.”
    “But there has to be a link between the two deaths.”
    Find it. Please find it
.
    Alicia Wallace said, “I am sorry to be abrupt, but please excuse me. We have an engagement and I’m going to be late if I do not hurry. Thank you for seeing me.”
    “Of course.”
    Lady Heathton left in an eddy of expensive perfume and Angelina stood there, more than a little moody. Once upon a time she received coveted invitations to various functions on a daily basis. She’d been lauded, feted, and desired.
    Look what it had gotten her.
    Nothing. A wasteland of sorrow and disgrace and abhorrence in the aftermath. Two dead husbands, a notoriously scandalous trial, and one elusive deadly enemy. Her own family hadn’t stood by her, nor did they deign to contact her other than through a few obligatory letters now and then. Her newfound happiness was so tenuous that of course she hadn’t told them she’d finally met the right man—the perfect man—and had fallen in love, nor did she intend to do so.
    Ever.
    She’d keep her lover’s identity a secret to her grave if need be.
    Hopefully that would not come to pass.

Chapter 5
    I t was not a perfect time to get into an argument, but, then again, did such a thing exist?
    There
was
no good time. Alicia knew it, and to that end she’d avoided Ben that morning, but unfortunately, though he didn’t normally join her for luncheon, he was there at the table when she entered the room, rising politely, a perfunctory smile on his mouth.
    Well, if it was really a smile. His glittering gaze indicated otherwise. To someone else, he might have seemed congenial and welcoming, but she knew him better than that.
    Oh dear
. She was caught out.
    Alicia settled into her chair with seeming nonchalance and accepted her napkin from the footman. “My lord. How lovely to see you at this time of day. Usually you are far too busy to join me.”
    “A man needs to eat, and sometimes to speak with his wife, so combining the two seemed to be fortuitous.”
    Drat
. Truly caught out. How the devil could he know she’d visited Lady DeBrooke?
    Yet it seemed he did. “Speak with his wife?” She declined a glass of wine because she had no stomach for it lately and took a goblet of water instead, giving him a hopefully guiltless inquiring look.
    Which did not work.
    “From your expression you know precisely why I wish to have a conversation. Do not immerse yourself in this investigation, madam.”
    And here she thought she’d done innocent quite well.
Madam
. Whenever