Page 36 of Schemes & Scandals

“Quite so. It is a delicate situation, and I understand why he did not wish to give your name, but I hope you recognize why we needed to find and speak to you.”

“Of course.”

“It is even more delicate because the item stolen belonged to another woman of Lord Simpson’s acquaintance.”

“Lady Inglis?” At my expression, she laughs. “That is the only other woman of his acquaintance at the moment, at least in the manner in which I presume you mean. I can certainly see why you would need to speak to me, though. If a man’s... womanly friend loses an object at his home, his other womanly friend would be the primary suspect.”

“Whoever this other woman is, she did not give your name, either.”

A soft, trilling laugh. “You do not need to be quite so discreet, lass, but I understand why you feel the need. I am glad to hear that this other lady did not name me as a suspect. She is truly lovely, is she not?”

The genuine warmth in her voice gives me pause.

“Oh, apologies,” she says with a sidelong grin. “Should I hiss and show my claws at the mention of the other woman in Charlie’s life? I am sorry to disappoint you, but the situation is far less dramatic. This other lady being in Charlie’s life is a blessing. It means I can rest confident that I am getting exactly what I want, a companion for when I wish companionship. Nothing more.”

When I don’t respond immediately, she says, “That is not what you expect, either, is it? After all, I am an actress, only on the stage in hopes of securing a wealthy man to whisk me off it.”

She grins. “If that were the case, I have chosen very poorly. No, I realize that is what people expect of actresses, but sadly, it is also what men expect. They fall in love with us on the stage, but to them, it is like seeing a pretty doll in a window. They do not wish us to stay on the stage. That is only the display case. Once they choose us, we are to give it up and live tucked away in comfort.” She glances at me. “Comfort and abject boredom.”

I smile. “It does sound rather dull.”

“It would be. I will admit, I do not always intend to be a seamstress, but only because I aspire to make a proper career as an actress, which will not happen if I am a kept woman.”

“Or a wife.”

Another trilled laugh. “Heavens, no. Fortunately, I do not need to worry about either of those things with Charlie. If he wanted a wife, he’d marry the woman whose name we are not saying.” She purses her lips. “If she’d have him, which she will not. But he would not marry me, and he cannot afford to keep me, so I am free to enjoy what he does offer.”

I consider which avenue to pursue first. “You said his other lady friend will not have him?”

“Sadly, no. Sadly for poor Charlie, that is. Not sadly for the lady in question, as I do not blame her for not wanting another husband. If I were a widow with money, I would never marry again. I would simply take lovers.”

“You are under the impression that Lord Simpson would like to marry her?”

Here, Miss Howell loses a little of her sparkle, retreating into a solemn, “That is not for me to say, miss, and as I cannot see how it relates to any missing item, I should not speculate.”

“Understood and, as you say, inconsequential. You also said he cannot afford to keep you.” I smile at her. “I presume you would be expensive.”

Her good nature returns at that. “Dreadfullyexpensive. I would require oranges and strawberries year round.”

“Which is more than Lord Simpson could afford?”

She sighs. “The poor fellow. I am only glad that he is still able to go abroad, as he planned. I had begun to worry he would need to cancel the trip. But the situation seems not as dire as he feared.”

“Are you going abroad with him?”

“Heavens, no. That he couldcertainlynot afford. Nor could I afford the time away from either of my jobs. No, I will travel one day, lass, but it will be to step on the stages of the world.”

“Sounds lovely,” I say. “Where would you most like to visit?”

She answers, and we finish our walk in amicable discussion of the places we’d love to travel.

“I do not like the sound of that,” Gray says morosely as I tell him about the interview.

“Yep.”

“We had contradictory accounts of Lord Simpson’s finances from his brother and the valet. I was inclined to believe his brother was mistaken.”

“That Lord Simpson was just crying poor to keep his money from Arthur? That’s what I hoped.”

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