A Forgotten Murder (Medlar Mystery 3)

“She had on makeup today?”

“Aren’t you funny,” Sara said. “Go change into your tux.” She smoothed his shirt collar. “Drive Byon crazy with the beauty of you.”

Laughing, Jack kissed her cheek. “I’ll be down as soon as I can.”

“I forgot to ask what you thought of Nadine’s daughter.”

“Gorgeous. She rides horses like her father and drives cars like her mother.”

“Oh.” Sara’s face fell. “She is quite pretty.”

“And spoiled and demanding and doesn’t appreciate what she has.”

Sara cheered up. “Ah, too bad.”

Jack shook his head, then started down the hall. “But exciting,” he said over his shoulder. “She could give a man a good run. While it lasted. Short-term heaven.”

Grimacing, Sara went down to the drawing room. Nadine and Byon were sitting together on the couch, their heads close, and talking privately. Wonder if I could have the room bugged? she thought. I’d like to hear what they’re saying. They nodded to Sara but didn’t stop their conversation.

Like Byon, Clive was wearing a tuxedo. He was at the drinks table and she went to him.

“Nothing has changed,” Clive said. “The top echelon is together and I’m the butler. What would you like to have?”

“Gin and tonic,” she said.

“How English. Sure you don’t want an appletini?”

“Don’t make me gag.” She was looking at Nadine and Byon. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Money, probably.”

“Then they should include you, the banker,” Sara said.

Clive smiled. “Thank you.” He handed her a drink. “It feels odd after all these years of working with people to suddenly be excluded. And worse, it’s making anger and resentment rise up inside me. I want to pour bourbon over Byon’s head.”

“And light it on fire?”

“Of course not,” Clive said, but he was laughing.

“Have you met Nadine’s daughter or seen her father?”

“No.” They were at the far side of the room, their voices quiet. “Mr. Howland! He was sanity in the midst of chaos. The earl was spending madly, and Nicky was brooding over the futility of his life, then here came Mr. Howland, loud and giving orders.”

“Did you know that he paid Bertie’s bills?”

Clive nearly choked on his drink. “I knew money came from somewhere but...” He paused. “Mr. Howland wanted to buy Oxley for Nadine. He probably thought Nicky and his title came with it.”

“Spot on!” Sara said.

“Didn’t get it, did he? So what’s he trying to rule now?”

“Nothing,” she said. “He’s as daffy as a drunken bullfrog.”

“Odd phrase but descriptive. Probably wore his mind out with his schemes. Back then, there were whole minutes when I felt sorry for Nadine. What’s her daughter like?”

“Jack spent time with her, says she rides as well as her father.”

“Must have come from the viscount as Nadine hated horses. I still remember her complaints about Thorpe. She despised him! At the time, I thought her treatment of him was part of why he ran away. If he did. Maybe she...”