Page 59 of Dead Beside the Thames
Horatia confided, “We’re hoping to convince Georgina Hale that she should join us in London more often.”
Relieved that, on the social front, all was well, Penelope and Barnaby moved on.
The strains of a waltz rose over the guests’ heads, and after exchanging a glance, they made their way to the dance floor.
Once they were revolving, circling the cleared space, Barnaby surveyed the other dancers, then dipped his head to tell Penelope, “Look ahead. Three couples on.”
He waited for her reaction and wasn’t disappointed.
“Great heavens!” She leaned back in his arms to peer around the intervening pairs at the couple in question. “That really isCharlie! He’s waltzing! I’ve never been sure he could, much less would.”
“It seems,” Barnaby said, equally amused by her comments and by seeing his friend circling rather carefully with Claudia, “that he merely needed the right encouragement.”
“I did wonder.” Penelope settled in Barnaby’s arms and fixed her gaze on his face. “Do you think he’s truly taken with Claudia? Because she’s so…well, managing, I wasn’t sure that she hadn’t merely conscripted Charlie for the duration, as it were, so that via him, she could remain involved in the investigation, and that once we solved the case, she would calmly bid him goodbye, and that would be the end of it.”
His gaze returning to Charlie and Claudia, Barnaby smiled. “That doesn’t appear to be the case. If anything, they seem equally smitten. I believe we can reasonably expect an invitation in due course.”
Penelope beamed. “Wonderful! And for once, I didn’t have to prod anyone.” She glanced at the crowd around them. “Lady Conningham will be ecstatic, and so will Mrs. Hastings! They’re quite good friends, which is another nice touch.”
“Indeed.” Barnaby gathered his wife closer as they went through the turn and, knowing her as he did, wondered what she would do next regarding Charlie and Claudia.
Sure enough, when the music ended and the dancers halted, Penelope all but towed him across to where Charlie and Claudia stood.
They exchanged delighted greetings, then supper was announced, and with the bulk of the guests, the four of them moved into the supper room. By dint of superior strategy, they secured a table for four in one corner and settled to nibble on the delicacies provided, sip champagne, and catch up with the ramifications of the revelations gained at the Drunken Duck.
“I cannot adequately describe,” Claudia said, “the depth of the relief that everyone in the family is feeling. Aunt Patricia was so affected, she actually cried. What with being constantly in town, I believe she’d sensed for longer than anyone that Sedbury had gone quite beyond the pale, and she’d been so worried he would do something that would bring the entire family down, but of course, she felt helpless to do anything about it.”
Charlie put in, “Even your uncle described the event—Sedbury’s death without any ensuing scandal—as having lifted a pall from not just your family but his household as well.”
“I think,” Claudia said, “that we’d all grown so accustomed to the pressure, to the weight of Sedbury’s threat, that having that suddenly removed has left us all feeling light and airy and rather giddy.” She smiled at Charlie. “You know what I mean.”
Penelope watched Charlie readily nod and smiled to herself. Barnaby had been right in thinking wedding bells featured in Claudia and Charlie’s future.
Charlie turned to Penelope and Barnaby. “Here, I say, as the original prime suspect, I want to thank you both for steering our ship through this case. I’m truly grateful you were there for me to appeal to. I don’t know what I—or Stokes, for that matter—would have done without you.”
Penelope smiled, and smiling, too, Barnaby replied, “You’re very welcome, and we enjoyed the challenge.”
Penelope quipped, “Do feel free to bring any future accusations and crimes to our door.”
Claudia shuddered. “I sincerely hope to never be involved in a murder investigation again.”
Penelope shared a smile with Barnaby and made no comment.
Charlie said, “I was talking with Napier earlier, and he, too, was hugely relieved to learn that the Sedbury case is closed. He pointed out that there’s no saying how many Sedburyblackmailed over the years and knowing that the threat of his continued malevolence has been permanently removed will, in all likelihood, be a huge blessing to a large number of our peers.”
With a proud smile for Charlie, Claudia said, “Lord Napier and Charlie have suggested that the family consider donating Sedbury’s whip collection to a museum.”
“Or perhaps the Jockey Club,” Charlie said, faintly coloring under Claudia’s regard. “Some place like that where the collection will be appreciated.”
“Given the collection is of whips, the Jockey Club might be best.” Penelope looked at Barnaby.
He nodded. “And if you do decide on approaching the Jockey Club or the British Museum, do remember we have connections at both, which might be of some help.”
“Thank you.” Claudia looked a touch relieved. “We’ll likely take you up on that. I’ll tell Jonathon—Papa put him in charge of the dispersal of Sedbury’s possessions.”
With supper consumed, they rose and strolled back into the ballroom. At Penelope’s suggestion, she and Claudia parted from the men and went in search of the ladies’ withdrawing room.
Once in the corridor and away from any interested ears, Penelope asked, “What are your plans? Will you remain in London or accompany your parents on their return to Rattenby?”
