for a moment since he left for battle. I know this is all implausible and you probably think I should be committed. But Luke is alive,” Kat said.
“You could be right,” Geoff answered.
Chapter Eight
‡
T his was going to be a long ride through Hyde Park. They scarcely left the gates of her home when Jessica Grier launched into a critique of every guest at the ball. Pennington was right about her ability for inane chatter.
Geoff could not believe the capacity she had to remember precisely the color of every lady’s evening gown and the number of petit fours each guest consumed. Ironically, her talent for details could be a significant advantage were she to pursue his line of work. Instead, she used it to recount the fashion elite’s every move. Wickham would be so disappointed.
“Mr. Blanc obviously thinks purple is still in fashion. Can you imagine,” she asked, cackling.
“I’m honored you agreed to come for a ride with me this afternoon, Ms. Grier.” Geoff forced a change of subject. If he had to talk about clothing for one more second, he might expire.
“I have to admit, I wasn’t at all surprised when I received your invitation this morning, Your Grace.”
She wiggled in her seat, scooting closer to him on the cushioned bench.
“No?”
“Although we barely had the pleasure of an introduction last evening, I could tell you were a man who appreciated quality,” she said in a not-so-veiled reference to herself. Jessica was obviously no stranger to the art of flirtation. Good. Women always gave away the most while trying to be coy.
“Yes, well, that’s exactly why I insisted upon taking a turn with you this morning. After all, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“So it’s true what I’ve always suspected,” she cooed.
“What is, my lady?”
“Gentleman gossip as much as gentlewomen,” she giggled.
He forced a polite chuckle in return. “Actually, I learned of you first from your brother.” It wasn’t accurate, but Geoff decided at the moment Pennington’s suggestion to pretend a friendship with Ms. Grier’s brother was probably the quickest way to get her to divulge information. Pennington did have a knack for interrogation, even if the old dog was no good at seduction himself.
“Rafe?” she asked incredulously. “How do you know my brother?”
“We served together during the war,” he lied. “A capital fellow.”
“Yes, he is,” Jessica answered.
“Do you have any news from him? I haven’t heard from Rafe since Corunna.”
Jessica shifted in the phaeton seat. “Yes, he’s… away.” It did not escape Geoff this chatterbox was suddenly brief with her words.
“Did he go on holiday?” Geoff pried a little more, still attempting to sound casual.
“He went… to visit family.”
“In the countryside?”
“No, in, in, in… Germany.”
“Germany? Do you have some German in your lineage then?”
“No. No,” Jessica quickly denied his question as if she would prefer to have typhoid rather than be part German. “No, we have…” She was very obviously making this up as she went and not doing a great job at it. “No, a third cousin on my father’s side immigrated to Germany to… well who knows why, but regardless, Rafe is there.”
“I hope he won’t be gone long. I am so looking forward to catching up with him soon,” Geoff hinted.
“Oh, you know Rafe. He does as he pleases. There is really no telling when he will come back,” Jessica said.
A curious answer. This whole mission was getting more mysterious as the days went on. First the prime suspect, Luke Dubois, was missing. Then Geoff caught the suspect’s sister sneaking around his office and home. Now the accuser was also missing, or at least reportedly visiting family out of town somewhere. Something was definitely not as it seemed.
“Are you close with your brother?” He needed to get more information about this man if he had any chance of unearthing the truth.
“Yoo-hoo,” Jessica
“You could be right,” Geoff answered.
Chapter Eight
‡
T his was going to be a long ride through Hyde Park. They scarcely left the gates of her home when Jessica Grier launched into a critique of every guest at the ball. Pennington was right about her ability for inane chatter.
Geoff could not believe the capacity she had to remember precisely the color of every lady’s evening gown and the number of petit fours each guest consumed. Ironically, her talent for details could be a significant advantage were she to pursue his line of work. Instead, she used it to recount the fashion elite’s every move. Wickham would be so disappointed.
“Mr. Blanc obviously thinks purple is still in fashion. Can you imagine,” she asked, cackling.
“I’m honored you agreed to come for a ride with me this afternoon, Ms. Grier.” Geoff forced a change of subject. If he had to talk about clothing for one more second, he might expire.
“I have to admit, I wasn’t at all surprised when I received your invitation this morning, Your Grace.”
She wiggled in her seat, scooting closer to him on the cushioned bench.
“No?”
“Although we barely had the pleasure of an introduction last evening, I could tell you were a man who appreciated quality,” she said in a not-so-veiled reference to herself. Jessica was obviously no stranger to the art of flirtation. Good. Women always gave away the most while trying to be coy.
“Yes, well, that’s exactly why I insisted upon taking a turn with you this morning. After all, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“So it’s true what I’ve always suspected,” she cooed.
“What is, my lady?”
“Gentleman gossip as much as gentlewomen,” she giggled.
He forced a polite chuckle in return. “Actually, I learned of you first from your brother.” It wasn’t accurate, but Geoff decided at the moment Pennington’s suggestion to pretend a friendship with Ms. Grier’s brother was probably the quickest way to get her to divulge information. Pennington did have a knack for interrogation, even if the old dog was no good at seduction himself.
“Rafe?” she asked incredulously. “How do you know my brother?”
“We served together during the war,” he lied. “A capital fellow.”
“Yes, he is,” Jessica answered.
“Do you have any news from him? I haven’t heard from Rafe since Corunna.”
Jessica shifted in the phaeton seat. “Yes, he’s… away.” It did not escape Geoff this chatterbox was suddenly brief with her words.
“Did he go on holiday?” Geoff pried a little more, still attempting to sound casual.
“He went… to visit family.”
“In the countryside?”
“No, in, in, in… Germany.”
“Germany? Do you have some German in your lineage then?”
“No. No,” Jessica quickly denied his question as if she would prefer to have typhoid rather than be part German. “No, we have…” She was very obviously making this up as she went and not doing a great job at it. “No, a third cousin on my father’s side immigrated to Germany to… well who knows why, but regardless, Rafe is there.”
“I hope he won’t be gone long. I am so looking forward to catching up with him soon,” Geoff hinted.
“Oh, you know Rafe. He does as he pleases. There is really no telling when he will come back,” Jessica said.
A curious answer. This whole mission was getting more mysterious as the days went on. First the prime suspect, Luke Dubois, was missing. Then Geoff caught the suspect’s sister sneaking around his office and home. Now the accuser was also missing, or at least reportedly visiting family out of town somewhere. Something was definitely not as it seemed.
“Are you close with your brother?” He needed to get more information about this man if he had any chance of unearthing the truth.
“Yoo-hoo,” Jessica