‘How interesting. Well, that rules that out.’
‘You know all the ladies who might have been amongst his patients. Would you be able to ask around, see what gossip there might be? I really don’t know anyone well enough to ask such intimate questions.’
‘I can certainly do that. Best not to let anyone know that he was otherwise inclined, don’t you think?’
‘Definitely.’ I chased down a lobster patty with some champagne and began to feel rather more optimistic about that element of the investigation. Then a shadow fell across our little table and I looked up to see Luc looking decidedly like the Earl of Radcliffe and not at all like my lover.
‘Cousin Cassandra. I have been looking for you for some time.’
Oh hell. We had agreed to stay within sight of each other.
‘There is no need to worry, Lord Radcliffe,’ Chloe said with a bright smile. ‘Miss Lawrence is more than capable of seeing off rakes in the shrubbery – even without my assistance.’
‘What?’ Now Luc had gone from merely aristocratically frosty to positively volcanic.
Chapter Fourteen
‘Elliott Reece,’ I explained before Luc completely lost it.
‘In the shrubbery?’
‘I took a wrong turning, he followed me and it seemed like a good opportunity to have a chat.’
‘A chat.’ His gaze flickered to Chloe.
‘Lady Turnham knows we are investigating the two deaths and is going to help me by finding out if there is any gossip about Doctor Talbot. And, of course,’ I added hastily before Luc could spontaneously combust, ‘she won’t say anything about what we discovered from the Doctor’s valet, about his lack of interest in women.’
‘Do please join us, Lord Radcliffe.’ Chloe gestured towards a spare chair. That was good tactics, getting someone who is angry to sit down often helps diffuse the situation.
Luc was too much the gentleman to refuse. He took the chair with a half-bow of acknowledgment and accepted the glass of champagne I pushed towards him with a tight smile. ‘You were telling me about Reece.’
‘He became rather free with his hands. I hit him with my reticule, he fell off the bench and then Lady Turnham arrived and threatened him with her husband’s influence with the Administration if he spread any unpleasant gossip.’
‘I see. And where is he now?’
‘I have no idea – and don’t you dare rush off and challenge him to a duel. I absolutely will not forgive you if you get yourself killed.’
Chloe gave a small, but ladylike, snort of amusement, Luc narrowed his eyes at me. ‘Whatever gives you the idea that I would be the one who came off worst?’
‘Fine.’ I snapped back. ‘You will kill him and then where will we be?’
‘Your honour – ’
‘My honour does not depend on you risking your life or liberty. I knocked him to the ground in front of a witness. He’s been laughed at, humiliated and very effectively threatened.’
‘You are under my protection and my honour – ’
‘I will have to ask you to make that sacrifice for me,’ I said, looking him straight in the eye. ‘You recall what you were so concerned about the other evening? Do you want to risk that happening?’
I saw that sink in. Luc couldn’t be certain I could get home if he was not here at this end of whichever wormhole through time and space was pulling me back and forth. However good he was he could not be certain that an unlucky bullet might not take him, whatever the skill of his opponent.
‘Only for you,’ he said, then seemed to recall that we were not alone and turned to Chloe. ‘And I must thank you for assisting my cousin.’
‘She needed very little help.’ She looked across the lawn and waved. ‘And there is my husband wondering where I have got to. I will leave the remaining cheese puffs for you, Lord Radcliffe. If I should garner any useful gossip, how can I reach you, Cassandra?’
‘I have a house in Hill Street, but I am not properly moved in yet. Perhaps a note to Lord Radcliffe at Albany would be safest?’
‘Of course.’ I had a sneaking suspicion that she knew perfectly well where I was staying and that the relationship between Luc and myself was anything but cousinly, but she would not betray it, I was certain.