Page 121 of From Rakes to Riches

“Sofia.” Lola reached across the table and clasped her friend’s hand, offering her a warm, comforting squeeze. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“How could you?” Sofia answered, her expression more composed now. “I never told you. Although, I’m certain everyone at Vauxhall has secrets they keep hidden. Many of us are misfits, but we’re also talented performers in more ways than one.”

“I have an idea,” Lola said, allowing a spoonful of sweet citrus to melt on her tongue before she continued. “If you ever write to him again, you should tell him to send his return letter to my address. After I pick up my post, I’ll deliver his letter to you when we’re alone. You won’t have to worry about your brothers finding out.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Of course,,” Lola said, pleased Sofia’s face had brightened.

“Thank you.” Sofia nodded. “If I ever decide to write to him again, I’ll do that.”

A couple walked by their table. A demure young woman in a pale pink day gown held fast to the elbow of her dashing gentleman escort. Lola watched them cross the square and whenshe turned back to Sofia, her friend had a knowing smile on her face.

“You care about Lord Essex,” Sofia said in a hushed whisper. “Very much, I think.”

“Yes, I do,” Lola answered. “I thought I could control how much I allowed myself to feel. But now, I’m not sure.”

“Does he feel the same way about you?”

“I think so,” Lola said, a frown turning her lips. “But nothing can come of it, so I’m a fool.”

“Don’t say that, Lola. You’re anything but a fool and besides, love doesn’t pay attention to the rules,” Sofia insisted with a sigh of frustration.

“But the rest of the world does,” Lola replied. “I would never bring disgrace to Lord Essex’s doorstep.”

She swallowed another spoonful of ice, her thoughts returning to whether or not at this very moment Theodore was in Ipswich asking questions about her. Would it be possible for him to discover her family and the scandal that occurred with the Duke of Leinster? She’d adopted a different last name when she’d arrived in London, but that didn’t mean the truth wasn’t there right under the surface waiting to be exposed. Theodore was intelligent. It wouldn’t be hard for him to put the pieces together if he learned a few curious facts. The way he pursued the cause of Lord Fremont’s death was an example of his clever mind and determination.

“Happiness is almost as elusive as love,” Sofia said to break the silence. “Don’t make any decisions until you’re absolutely sure of what you want. Sometimes I wonder if things might have turned out better for me if I’d chosen differently.”

Lola looked at Sofia across the table, feeling very much in kind. “Sadly, that’s another thing we have in common.”

Theodore arrivedin Ipswich the next morning with every intention of visiting Timmons straightaway. The second day of travel had gone smoothly and he’d broken his fast at the only lodging house in town where he’d secured a room for himself, as well as his valet and driver. The lodging house was a large two-story building with at least a dozen rooms and a cozy sitting area in addition to the modest dining room where meals were served. The keeper of the establishment, an older man with only a small patch of gray hair left on his head, boasted to Theodore upon his arrival that the lodging house was the oldest building in all of Ipswich. Additionally, he shared how he’d worked most of his sixty years in the lodging business, the inn having been passed down through his family for generations.

Honored to have an earl taking a room, the vociferous innkeeper was eager to assure Theodore the accommodations included the most modern conveniences and that any special requests would be met with the utmost expediency. Because of the innkeeper’s lengthy descriptions, Theodore didn’t extricate himself from the conversation and travel by horse to Timmons’ mother’s home until almost eleven o’clock.

The address was easy to locate and when he knocked on the door of the quaint countryside cottage, Theodore was pleased when Timmons answered the door. Having written to the valet beforehand, Timmons knew of the reason behind Theodore’s visit and they fell into conversation quite readily.

“It was a pleasure and an honor to serve Lord Fremont,” Timmons began once they were seated in ladder-backed chairs near the fireplace. “He embraced life in every way. It saddens me to learn he met such a tragic end and I deeply regret not being able to pay my respects to Lady Margaret more formally. My mother is getting on in years and while her health has taken a turn for the better, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone for very long.”

“I’m certain Lady Margaret understands,” Theodore said. “I’m also at a loss for what happened to Fremont and hope by talking to you today I can learn something that will help in finding out what happened.”

“Yes, I’m happy to assist any way that I can.”

“Did Fremont’s mood change during the last few weeks you served him? Do you know of any meetings or confrontations that may have occurred?” Theodore asked.

“Lord Fremont was always the jolly sort. Even when things went wrong, he’d find a way to brighten the mood.” Timmons paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I recall the week before his death, he was distracted and unusually tense. I know that because he snapped at me a few times during morning dressing and he didn’t often do that.”

“Did he mention anything out of the ordinary or tell you why he was upset?”

“No, but I assumed he was angry over another argument with Viscount Sidmouth. Lord Fremont didn’t see eye to eye with the viscount and with Margaret excited about the wedding and badgering his lordship about plans, Viscount Sidmouth was often caught in the middle of it.”

“In what way, Timmons?” Theodore asked, anxious to gain a better understanding. “Lady Margaret implied that her brother was happy with the match.”

“I can’t speak to that, my lord, but Lady Margaret was anxious to move ahead with wedding plans and Lord Fremont wanted his sister to wait. Viscount Sidmouth appealed to him several times on Lady Margaret’s behalf and it always ended in a row.”

“Why would that be?” Theodore murmured under his breath.

“I cannot say for sure, but I suspect it was due to a financial issue,” Timmons replied, though he sounded uncomfortable with the admission.

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