Page 21 of One Last Smile

“And cost-effective,” Eliza says. “Your wealth isn’t unlimited, Alistair.”

“Nonsense!” Alistair says. “Oliver’s paying for it. He owes me for talking him out of drastic measures when Minnie broke his heart.”

The blood flees my face, but thankfully no one notices. Oliver, rather than reacting with the horror I expect him to, or the anger I suspect might follow, laughs and says, “It’s true. You rescued me from making decisions I would certainly have regretted.” He gestures to Sebastian, who wears a dark frown. “Although it might be best if we save that conversation for later.”

“Quite right, quite right,” Alistair says, lifting his hands placatingly. “Just imagine if you had sent that letter, though. You’d be the laughingstock of all of Eton.”

“Alistair,” Sebastian says warningly.

“Of course, of course. Anyway, I’ll have them only for a night or two. Perhaps three. I promise I’ll return Lucas safe, sound, and at least free of disease if not entirely pure.” Lucas blushes beet-red at that. “It won’t affect his education.”

“Well…” Veronica says. Good God, can she be bending? What power does Alistair have over this family that he can convince her to allow Lucas to leave to a foreign country for three nights? And I am certain Alistair fully intends for him to drink and to spend his nights with a girl. Perhaps more than one.

“If Mary thinks it will be all right.”

All eyes turn to me. Alistair clasps his hands in mock begging. I stare from face to face and wonder what power I have that twice now, I’ve managed to become a voice of authority in two families whose combined wealth eclipses that of some nations.

“I… well, I suppose—”

“Wonderful!” Alistair interrupts. “Children! Pack your bags and prepare for debauchery! Eliza, you may wish to call your husband and tell him that you’ll be out of work for a few. God knows he’ll get grouchy if he doesn’t know where you are.”

And that last comment is the only one to provoke tension. Veronica’s smile fades, and Eliza flinches. “Dr. Chalmers will survive without me for a few days, Alistair,” she says brittlely.

“Of course, of course,” Alistair says. “What are you waiting for? Adventure awaits!”

The four of them leave the table, leaving two slightly exasperated parents and a very stunned governess.

As the shock wears off, suspicion grows. Alistair acts like a carefree soul, but between the intentionally slovenly dress, the aggressive cheer, and the almost taunting knowledge of family secrets, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a reason they tolerate him that goes beyond affection.

It seems I’ve stumbled on yet another layer to the web of deception in which the Carltons reside.

CHAPTER TEN

I wake the next morning still reeling from the events of the previous day. If breakfast hadn’t arrived with no sign of the children, I might have believed I’d hallucinated Alistair’s appearance. But he did arrive, and against all odds, he took the three younger Carltons away like a genie sweeping into the household to grant the wishes of every young spirit oppressed by the obligations of wealth and breeding.

One of those young spirits, of course, being the author of a letter that suggested a desire to murder a missing girl. Their brief conversation indicated that Alistair talked him out of drastic action, but was that drastic action the sending of the letter or acting out its intent? And if the family permitted all of those excesses Alistair roped their children into, then why would Sebastian still react so furiously to the mention of a simple letter?

I’m missing something. Perhaps, with the children gone and Sebastian at work, I might learn from Veronica what that missing piece is.

I begin by asking about Alistair as soon as Sebastian leaves. “Ma’am, I don’t mean to pry, but who exactly is Alistair? He introduced himself as Sebastian’s second cousin, but he looks… well…”

She smiles slightly. “Young?”

“Well… yes. Among other things.”

She laughs. “Yes, Alistair is both Sebastian’s second cousin and other things. I’m afraid that Harriet Carlton ignored the well-meaning advice of Sir Robert Carlton back in the day and chose to marry an air force pilot by the name of Garth Finchley. The Finchleys and the Carltons have retained close ties, but the Finchleys, needless to say, did not inherit the Carltons’ love of dignity and tradition. Still, it’s refreshing to have someone in the family who doesn’t feel a need to be bound by rules.”

“Yes. I suppose so.”

She arches her eyebrow at me. “You’re wondering why I allowed Lucas to join him.”

“Oh, that’s not my place, ma’am. I’m sure you’d never allow him to be unsafe.”

“No,” she says, a touch of steel hardening her voice. “I wouldn’t.” Her voice softens again. “In any case, Alistair, as I’m sure you inferred, has a flair for the dramatic. He won’t actually push Lucas into bed with strange girls, and if Lucas drinks any alcohol, it will be one mild cocktail and monitored closely by Alistair himself. Oliver and Eliza are of age, and there’s little I can do to stop them from doing what they will, but they’re smart enough to know their limits. It will be a few days of harmless fun, and then they’ll be back home. Alistair will be on his way, and things will return to normal.”

I decide to probe a little further. “Does Alistair drop in like this often?”

She chuckled. “Well, he used to, but it’s been several years since the last time. He actually found some success with an investment venture and moved to Japan with his own money. I’ll admit I’m surprised he stayed away as long as he did, but I suppose his luck finally did run out.”

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