Page 29 of The Moonstone Pirate
Imogen stared at Draco in dismay. “Then we might never find out who killed him.”
“We will, Imogen. I am not letting the matter drop. Driscoll, as worthless a specimen as he was, still came from a well-to-dofamily. The London investigators may be slow to get on the task, but they will not dismiss our request for assistance.”
Imogen pursed her lips. “However, this crime may not be given the urgency it deserves.”
“That is a risk. I know of an excellent Bow Street man that I will also put on the task. He and his team of runners will dig up every dirty secret to be found on Driscoll and his friends. He’ll check with their bankers for any deposits that cannot be properly accounted for, follow them around, ask about bad blood possibly existing between them, or any disputes with others. If there is a hint of blackmail or other sordid activities going on, these runners will sniff it out.”
“What about the Trewicks?” Imogen asked.
“I haven’t forgotten them, either. I’ll have my Bow Street man look into them, too.”
Phoebe glanced at her husband, then turned to Draco. “Who is this investigator you plan to use? We know of an excellent man. His name is Homer Barrow.”
Draco chuckled. “One and the same. He is the one I had in mind.”
Imogen breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone spoke highly of Mr. Barrow, so she hoped he would be able to get to the bottom of this mystery and identify the killer. But her mind was also still racing about the wizards she had seen last night. The wizard who had handed Draco’s footman the note was not one of Driscoll’s friends, because none of them had worn that costume.
Perhaps she would make some sketches from memory for the footman to identify.
She offered, and Draco seemed pleased by the idea. “Yes, that would be very helpful. Do you think you might have a few drawn for me by noon tomorrow? Or is it too much to ask? I’m afraid I have no artistic inclinations and have no idea how long it would take you.”
He sounded quite sincere and not at all condescending or dismissive. “I’ll start on them tonight and finish them in the morning. They won’t be masterpieces, mind you. But you might notice something in them. I counted five wizards at your party. I think that was all of them, but it is very hard to be sure because there were so many people there. I suppose an unmarried earl is going to be quite popular and always draw a large crowd to any party he hosts.”
Deandra groaned. “My goodness, I hated that party. I’m so sorry I botched it so badly, Draco.”
He shook his head. “No, it was my fault entirely.”
“I’m sure it was mine,” Deandra insisted, and turned to Imogen. “You see, Draco left the planning to me and my father, but we had never planned a party of this importance before. So we turned to one of my father’s widowed cousins, Lady Claudia Needham, who married a baron and seemed to know about such things. She is quite prominent in Society and presently holding court in Bath.”
“She takes the waters there,” Albert explained.
Deandra nodded. “Before we knew what was happening, she had turned a simple welcome reception into an extravagant costume ball and sent invitations to every noble family within a day’s ride of Cornwall.”
“Oh, and well beyond a day’s ride, Deandra,” her father said. “We had well-heeled guests from as far as London. Many from Bath and Exeter, as well. If they had unmarried daughters, she invited them in the hope they would be introduced to our Draco.”
Deandra winced and then continued, “It was not what we intended at all. By the time we realized what she had done, it was too late to stop her. We were left scrambling to stock enough food and spirits, and hire a full orchestra and extra staff, especially bakers to prepare desserts for our Viennese table. Iwas certain Draco would disown me and my father. But he has been an angel about this disaster and does not blame us at all, not even after the added disaster of a murder.”
“Driscoll’s death was in no way your fault.” Draco cast his cousin a reassuring nod. “Nor was the matter of the party. The blame is mine entirely. I shoved the duty onto you when I should have attended to it myself. I meant to have a quiet affair to introduce myself to my neighbors and the Moonstone Landing village leaders. An afternoon tea in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoyable for us all.”
“But my cousin, Lady Claudia,” Albert intoned, “decided it was to betheparty of the summer, never mind that it was to be held in the wilds of Cornwall, and never mind that she had no intention of traveling here to attend.”
Deandra cast Draco another look of dismay. “I will never enlist her in anything again. What she did was awful, and she knew it.”
To Imogen’s surprise, Draco truly appeared to feel no anger toward anyone in his family, not even the high and mighty Lady Claudia. “She meant to show me off to the finest families, hoping I would impress everyone by holding this lavish affair and make an advantageous match for myself.”
A sudden thought crossed Imogen’s mind, and she turned to Draco in dismay. “Does this mean you will now return to London?”
“And go about in Society?” He laughed and shook his head. “No, I intend to remain right here. Making an impact on that aimless lot has never been my dream. Besides, if I return now, I shall be accosted by every scheming mother and unmarried daughter. I am in no rush to fall into their anxious hands. The last thing I wish to do is be caught in the parson’s mousetrap.”
“But you should consider marriage,” Deandra said in all solemnity. “The Woodley earldom is hanging by a slenderthread. If it snaps—meaning something happens to you—we are all doomed. You ought to marry right away and start siring sons. Don’t you think so, Imogen?”
“Oh, I doubt your cousin is interested in my opinion.”
“But he should be,” Deandra insisted. “You would make him a perfect wife. Don’t you think so, Lady Burness? Is it not obvious to everyone?”
Imogen had taken a sip of her tea and was now choking on it.
“Good grief,” Draco muttered. Since he was closest to her, he immediately knelt beside her to take the cup from her hands, and then grabbed a table linen to wipe the droplets of tea dribbling onto her chin. “Deandra, the ridiculous things you blurt. How did the topic turn to this? We were talking about a murder investigation.”
