Page 24 of The Moonstone Pirate
“Which made you barely fifteen when Nolan died,” Draco muttered. “How do you know about opium and copper hells?”
“I read all the gossip rags. Besides, my friends have older siblings who tell them things… Well, they are not always aware their little sisters are listening in. But we hear things. Lady Trewick, it is said, went mad with grief after Nolan died. She was at Driscoll’s house party with Nolan at the time. I do not know what has happened to her since, but it cannot be too difficult to ask around London. Perhaps some of Imogen’s connections will know more.”
She turned to Imogen. “Your Aunt Phoebe’s sisters are Duchess Henley and Viscountess Chloe. Maybe they heard something while in London. Even Phoebe might know something, since she and the Marquess of Burness must spend some time there whenever Parliament is in session.”
Imogen pursed her lips. “I live in London most of the year and should have been the one most likely to hear gossip about Lady Trewick. Of course, I was so distracted by the flurry of hateful rumors spread about Ella at the time, I probably missed everything else. Also, I am not out in Society yet, so I was not privy to all that was whispered at parties. I could write to mysister and mother to ask them what they know.” She turned to Draco. “Would you allow me to do this? And have them ask their friends, too?”
“All right, but only ask them to tell you what they already know. Do not have them query their friends unless you trust their ability to be discreet.”
“They can be, especially Ella. She is very clever and can turn a conversation to get her answers without anyone realizing she is asking questions. I’ll write to her. Better leave my mother out of it.”
“As you think best,” he said, giving a nod of approval. “In no event is your sister to approach Lord Trewick or his wife. Those two cannot know they are suspects.”
“If Lady Trewick went mad with grief upon Nolan’s death, who knows if she ever came out of it?” Deandra mused. “That is terribly sad.”
“Do not turn her affair with Nolan into a romantic tragedy,” Draco warned his cousin. “She humiliated her husband, made a fool and a cuckold of him. Her actions were brainless and indiscreet. She might have blamed Driscoll all this time and finally decided to seek her revenge. I don’t see what interest Lord Trewick would have in killing Driscoll. He must have wanted my brother dead for stealing his wife, and would have been dancing a jig when it occurred. Why would he hatch plans to murder Nolan’s friend over something that served to his benefit?”
“Unless Nolan’s death was not an accident and Driscoll saw what really happened that day,” Imogen said. “What if Lord Trewick had been there and somehow tampered with Nolan’s saddle, or done something to knock Nolan off his horse at breakneck speed? A branch released to strike Nolan in the face? A rope stretched across the ground to trip his horse? Driscoll might have spotted Lord Trewick setting up a dirty trick and been blackmailing him ever since.”
Draco folded his arms over his chest. “So, Trewick now hatches a plan to attend my party and kill Driscoll?”
Imogen nodded. “Why not seize the opportunity? It was a costume ball. No one would know he was even there. All he had to do was steal someone’s invitation to use for himself, and send some fakes off to Driscoll and his crowd. Since we were all in masks, who was to know he was trespassing? Nor would he stay around for the unmasking. You are Nolan’s brother. What better way for Lord Trewick to exact revenge than kill his blackmailer and leave his body on the Woodley grounds?”
Draco liked the lively way Imogen’s mind worked. “So you have convicted Trewick?”
“All I am saying is that he is a suspect worth pursuing. I would put him at the top of my list, frankly. A gaming hell owner would not bother with anything so elaborate when he can send one of his men off to gut Driscoll on some foggy London street and toss his body into the murky Thames. You don’t seem to be suspicious of Driscoll’s friends, either. Why is that? They were at the top of my list of suspects until we came up with Lord Trewick just now.”
Draco shook his head. “These men are followers, not leaders. They have not had an independent thought in all their lives. I am not crossing them off my list yet, either. But I am ranking them low. They are too caught up in their own miserable lives to care about Driscoll beyond the drinks and opium he supplied them. Sorry, it is a very sordid side of life and not appropriate for gentle ears.”
“You are doing it again,” Imogen said with a chiding frown. “Don’t hide these truths from us. We do not wish to go through life ignorant.”
Deandra nodded. “Thank you, Imogen. I heartily agree. And I think it was quite splendid of you and your sister to visit the military hospitals and care for our wounded soldiers while youwere in London and England’s hero, Caden Seaton, was courting her. I read about your good deeds in the daily newspaper accounts. Of course, the gossip rags tried to turn your kindness and compassion into something sordid.”
Imogen nodded. “They were quite cruel to Ella, at times. She did not deserve any of their malice.”
“The truth ultimately won out,” Deandra said. “Your aunt mentioned that you also volunteer your time at Moonstone Landing’s army hospital.”
“Yes, Ella and I have done so ever since it opened. It isn’t something we played at just because reporters followed us around.”
“I never doubted your sincerity,” Deandra assured her. “Just the other day, I walked through the village and stopped in at several shops. Every time I mentioned I was new to the area, that shopkeeper or a customer would comment about you and tell me how wonderful you are, and suggest I get to know you. Everyone adores you.”
Imogen blushed. “They have always been kind to me and Ella.”
Draco expected it was more that Imogen and her sister always showed genuine kindness to the local villagers.
“Would I be permitted to join you on your hospital visits?” Deandra asked. “I would love to do something useful.”
“We’ll speak about it another time,” Draco said, now curious to find out all he could about Imogen. He already knew she was beautiful, clever, and now had confirmation she was compassionate. Well, he hadn’t needed confirmation, since her compassion was also obvious in her treatment of Parrot.
She also told him she was an artist. He was eager to see her work.
As the luncheon bell rang and everyone straggled into the dining room, Draco held Imogen back a moment. “Would you show me your drawings before I leave?”
“Yes, of course. How about right after we finish our meal?”
He shook his head. “I can’t stay. I have to get back to Woodley Lodge and question my footmen. Would you mind showing me some of your sketches right now?”
She ran upstairs and returned with a folio in hand. “Here, a few of these were done this morning.”
