Page 58 of A Murder in Trinity Lane
“Yes, sir. That’s the Arcendale crest. Belongs to the Vale family.”
I angled my head. “Members?”
“Only one we see with any regularity—Doctor Nathaniel Vale. Botanist, if I’m not mistaken. He’s the middle son. Comes in once or twice a month. Keeps to himself. Polite, quiet. Never lingers overlong. Resides at Park Crescent.”
“You say the middle son? Who are the others?”
Gibbons handed back the drawing and folded his hands neatly behind his back. “There are three brothers in all. The eldest, Algernon Vale, is the current title holder. Lives down in Sussex. Never comes to Town. Bit of a recluse and rumored to be in delicate health. Hasn’t been seen at the club in a decade, not since his Cambridge days.”
“And the youngest?”
Gibbons sniffed faintly. “Henry Vale. No official connection to the club, sir. From all accounts, quite the opposite of his brothers. Loud. Impetuous. Fond of gambling, drink, and . . . certain company best left unmentioned.”
He paused, then added with a hint of caution, “Rumor has it he’s shown a bit too much interest in his household staff, if you take my meaning. Not the sort of behavior one expects from a gentleman—particularly not one said to be on the cusp of anengagement to a very proper young lady. Her family, I imagine, would be horrified.”
I lifted a brow. “Do you happen to know the lady’s name?”
Gibbons shook his head. “No, Your Grace. That detail hasn’t reached the card tables. Only that her father is a member of the Society for Civic Morality, devoted to stamping out vice and elevating public virtue, or so they claim.” He gave a faint twitch of a smile. Just short of amusement.
I returned it, grimly. “I imagine he’d be less than thrilled to learn his future son-in-law has a fondness for the help.”
“Indeed, Your Grace.”
I reached into my coat and drew out a sovereign, letting it catch the light for a moment before passing it discreetly to Gibbons across the counter. “For your troubles.”
He accepted it without looking, folding it into his palm with practiced ease. “Always a pleasure to be of service, Your Grace.”
“You’ve been most helpful.” With that, I turned on my heel and made for the club’s exit. We had a name in hand. Now all we needed to do was connect it to the murder. Nathaniel Vale, being a botanist, might be known to Rosalynd’s brother. So that would be the most logical place to start.
On the street, I hailed a hansom cab to take me to her. We needed to have a proper conversation, not only about the botanist, but everything we’d left unsaid.
Rosehaven House stood as statelyand composed as ever, but the moment the butler opened the front door, I sensed something was off.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” he said with a dignified nod.
“Is Lady Rosalynd receiving?”
“The ladies are in the drawing room,” he replied.
Which, of course, didn’t answer the question at all.
I passed him my hat and gloves and braced myself. “No need to show me in. I know the way.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” The small twitch at the corner of Honeycutt’s mouth should have warned me.
As I walked into the drawing room, a dozen women turned as one—fans fluttering, curls bobbing, eyes sharp with curiosity. The air shimmered with pastel silks, perfume, and the scent of scandal in the making.
In the midst of it all, Lady Chrysanthemum held court, a cluster of young gentlemen buzzing around her like moths to a particularly captivating flame.
Off to the side, apart from the fray, stood Sefton. One arm draped casually along the mantelpiece, the other lifting a glass of sherry to his lips, he watched the girl with an expression of idle amusement and quiet certainty. He knew better than to join the crowd. He was waiting for her to come to him.
But where the devil was Rosalynd?
I scanned the room again, more carefully this time. She wasn’t here.
The knowledge landed with a quiet thud somewhere in my chest. Too late to retreat. Far too late. I was in it now—up to my cravat.
Help came from an unsuspected source. Lady Edmunds. All lazy grace and mischievous amusement, she rose from her seat near the hearth. An excellent vantage point to keep an eye not only on Rosalynd’s sister but Sefton as well.
