‘No-one. I told the man I’d come here and consult you. Fortunately he was in no state to deal with things and he kept repeating that there would be dreadful scandals and he would be in trouble with important people if information about Doctor Talbot’s patients got out. I told him to lock up again, make himself a strong cup of tea and I’d come back with help. In fact I’ve got the key, although it probably isn’t the only one. He’ll sit tight and keep quiet and let us handle this, I hope – he’s in a state of virtual collapse with the shock.’
‘What scandals?’ I asked, confused. I salved my conscience over being part of covering up a murder with the thought that we’d solve it later, find out who killed the doctor – and just pray it didn’t involve friends of James.
‘He was a man-midwife. An accoucheur,’ Lucian said. ‘He dealt with pregnancies amongst the ton, the wealthy, the influential.’
‘Plus abortions, illegitimate babies, nasty diseases and births where the dates don’t quite add up,’ I said, catching on. ‘Of course.’
‘We need to search the house,’ Lucian said. ‘Even if it has nothing to do with his death, there might be evidence there that could ruin lives. Garrick, we’ll need you too.’
‘Sandwiches,’ I said plaintively, as we went in search of the outdoor clothing we had only just removed. ‘Please? We need to take food with us or I am going to drop in my tracks.’
‘I have a basket, Miss Lawrence.’ Garrick, already in hat and caped driving coat, passed me as I came out of my bed chamber. ‘Fortunately there were pies and fruit to hand. My lord, I will fetch the carriage, you will not wish to rely on hackneys, I believe.’
Luc, who had stopped in front of me, grunted an acknowledgement as Garrick opened the front door. ‘I shouldn’t allow you come with us.’
‘You take me to see one corpse, but not another?’ Allow me? We’ll see about that…
‘I was taken by surprise by you arriving. I shouldn’t have even considered it this morning.’
‘Luc, I have expertise that you lack, simply because forensic science has developed a great deal by my time,’ I said, hanging on to my temper. It wasn’t his fault, I reminded myself and tried to imagine interacting with someone from two hundred years in my future in the middle of a crime scene. ‘I am just going to have to ask you to deal with me on my terms, not yours, and I realise that isn’t easy.’ Lucian had been raised to be a Gentleman (capital G) and in the belief that Ladies (capital L) were fragile creatures to be respected, sheltered and looked after – not educated, employed for their talents and respected for their independence. I suspect that he was still reeling from my revelation last time that we’d had two female Prime Ministers.
‘Seeing justice done, protecting James and his friends – ’ I could only hope those two things weren’t mutually exclusive ‘– that’s what is important,’ I persisted. He nodded sharply, reluctantly, and we turned for the door that James had left open behind him. ‘I’m far from an expert, but I’m the best you’ve got.’
Luc cupped one big hand against my cheek. ‘Yes. You are the best I have got.’ His eyes, usually so bright, were seagreen-mysterious and dark now. ‘The very best.’
I put up my own hand to cover his. ‘After my father you are the most important man in my world. Either world.’ And that scared me. What did I see in those intense eyes? Desire, certainly. I had no idea how to cope with anything else.
‘Tonight,’ Luc said. Then, before I could respond, ‘The carriage will be here now.’
Tonight, what? I wondered as we rattled off, Garrick at the reins, the three of us inside passing meat pies and the men trying not to wince when I swigged from my bottle of ale. Tonight we make love? Tonight we discuss making love? Tonight…
‘Have a curd tart,’ James said, effectively squelching the erotic thoughts breaking through my defences.
I was brushing off the crumbs from the second tart by the time we drew up in front of an elegant Town house. It was double fronted with a narrow alleyway to the side and an even narrower sunken area in front that was more a light-well behind iron railings than a service area.
‘That’s the patients’ entrance.’ James pointed to the side. ‘We will go in the front door.’ He led the way up the steps, rapped on the knocker and used a key without waiting for it to be answered. ‘Don’t want to give the poor devil a heart attack.’ He raised his voice. ‘Bromley
!’
A door creaked open and a man stepped out. ‘Yes, sir.’ The manservant was short, perhaps five foot six, dark and dapper, although now, even without a hair out of place, he looked somehow dishevelled. His narrow face was pale and his mouth worked a little, as though he had something stuck in a tooth and was trying to dislodge it discreetly. ‘No-one has called since you left, sir.’ There was a tremor in his voice and now I saw him more closely I suspected he’d been crying.
‘And you have stayed where I left you?’
‘Yes, Mr Franklin. I took the liberty of pouring myself a small brandy to steady my nerves.’ The dark, red-rimmed eyes darted to Lucian and me standing at the front door.
‘This is the Earl of Radcliffe and you have no need to know the lady’s name.’ James turned to his brother. ‘Where do you want to start?’
‘With the body,’ Luc said as he put hat and gloves on the hall table and shrugged out of his coat. The manservant moved automatically to take it. ‘Bromley, are you expecting any other staff today? Cleaning maids? The cook?’
‘No, my lord. I cook – cooked – for Doctor Talbot. The cleaning women come in every other morning and that was yesterday.’
‘Right. Give us all the keys you know about, then go to the kitchen, get yourself something to eat and make me a list of everyone you can remember calling here in the past three months.’
The man swallowed visibly. ‘Tradesmen as well, my lord?’
‘Everyone.’ Lucian took the bunch of keys he was handed, then watched Bromley out of sight. ‘That will keep him quiet and help him calm down. Lead the way, Jas.’
A door from the hall opened onto a tiny lobby with two doors. James opened the one directly ahead and we found ourselves in what looked like a small but fashionable drawing room, albeit one with a desk. There were unchallenging paintings on the wall, tasteful drapes drawn across the window, a chaise longue and several upholstered, but upright, chairs. It was not until I looked closely and saw the pretty screen to one side, the height of the chaise, that I realised that this room would also function for examinations.