‘You never wear anything but black,’ Flynn said bitterly. ‘What would you know?’
‘There is no need to jump down my throat,’ Jared said mildly. ‘I bow to your exquisite taste, but don’t ask me to cross Cal this evening. I have come to ask him a favour. I have one for you too, come to that.’
‘I will ring for tea,’ Sophie said, leaning over to tug at the bell pull. ‘I sense a story.’
Jared trusted these three people as he did himself and he respected their intelligence too. When they were settled with tea cups and jam tartlets he said, ‘Firstly I need the entré to Lady Fulborne’s ball this evening. I assume you are attending?’
‘We are. And I am wearing that waistcoat,’ Cal said, ignoring his valet’s snort. ‘Do you want to go alone, with someone else, or with us?’
‘With you, if you do not mind.’
‘That is no problem. I’ll send a note round to Amanda Fulborne,’ Sophie said. ‘I will tell her we have an unexpected guest and may I bring him? She won’t mind, she’s the most easy-going creature and another gentleman is always welcome.’ She got up, waving the men back into their seats, and perched at Cal’s desk in the corner to write. ‘What is after the firstly?’
‘This.’ Jared tossed the valise he had stuffed his rumpled evening suit into across to Flynn. ‘Can you rescue that for this evening?’
‘Of course.’ Flynn tipped it out onto the bed and clicked his tongue at the crumpled heap of black fabric. ‘I love a challenge. When are you going to get yourself a valet?’
‘Soon. I need a gentleman’s gentleman, I suppose. Someone to look after the apartment as well as my clothes, cook meals, supervise the cleaning. Going to the agency is high on my list of things to do.’
‘Anything else on the list of things you need from us?’ Cal asked. ‘You aren’t having Flynn, by the way.’
The valet grinned and batted his eyelashes stagily at Jared who, used to him, ignored the teasing.
‘I do not want him, thank you very much. But I need you to keep your ears peeled for anything you might hear about Lady Northam.’
‘The old Viscount’s young wife? A Spring and Winter match that one. What’s the problem? Is he afraid she’s misbehaving with some virile young stud?’
‘He is afraid someone is trying to kill her,’ Jared said.
‘Ah. Not so amusing then. How are you involved?’
‘Lord Northam has engaged me to find out who is behind it. This is strictly between us, of course.’ The others nodded.
Sophie held up a hand. ‘Just a moment while I send this. Ring the bell will you, Jared?’ A footman came and was despatched with the message and Sophie returned to curl up on the sofa. ‘Tell all.’
Jared described the incidents and attacks and the apparent lack of motive. ‘Does anything strike you?’
‘That is a very peculiar murderer,’ Cal observed.
‘And one with a weakness for novelty over efficiency,’ Sophie added.
‘They are trying to frighten and confuse, not kill,’ Flynn said.
‘Exactly what I concluded. So why? I am certain Lady Northam has not the faintest idea why someone should be doing this, so they cannot believe that they are punishing her for something and that she will know what that is.’
‘They could be thoroughly irrational and not care whether she realises or not,’ Sophie said. ‘They may hate her and wish to torment her for a reason we would consider trifling.’ She twisted round to frown at him. ‘That is going to make your task much harder.’
Jared nodded. ‘And what makes it harder still is that Lord Northam wishes me to escort his wife when she goes outside their home.’
‘Why is that a problem? I am sure he feels much better knowing you are protecting her.’
Flynn cleared his throat. ‘Er, as Cal said – virile young studs…’
Sophie snorted inelegantly. ‘Balderdash! Oh, I am sorry, Jared. I mean, not that you are not a… er… I am sure you are perfectly… Oh bother, you known what I mean. But Lord Northam himself is employing you.’
‘It is not what Lord Northam thinks that matters. It is what the more salacious-minded gossips might conclude, Sophie darling,’ Cal said.
‘Especially if she were to become pregnant,’ Flynn added. ‘Are she and her husband –’