Page 56 of Marriage and Murder
The words sent a chill through Monty, and he vowed, “I have no intention of going anywhere. Fate, fickle female, has finally deigned to smile on me again, and for me, the fruit is lying on the ground here, not anywhere else.”
Johnson nodded his large head. “Just remember that.” He heaved his bulk from the bench and stood.
Monty followed suit, and side by side, they walked toward the park’s gate.
As they reached the gate, which was heavily shaded by the park’s trees, Johnson’s gaze locked on the church’s lychgate, directly across the road.
Monty noticed and looked that way and saw what Johnson was watching so intently.
The pair of them paused just inside the park as the lychgate opened, and Madeline stepped through. Whoever held the gate for her was obscured from view by the roof of the lychgate.
“Here.” Johnson tipped his head toward Madeline. “Isn’t that the lady you’re thinking to wed now? The younger sister?”
Monty’s blood chilled at the evidence that Johnson had been checking up on him enough to recognize his mark. “Yes,” he replied, wondering what to do even as, instinctively, he donned his most charming smile.
Then his heart leapt and started to pound as the man who’d held the gate for Madeline followed her onto the street. Madeline didn’t wait for Lord Glossup to offer his arm but looped her arm in his, and together, they walked rapidly toward the center of town, then his lordship gestured, and they crossed the road and continued walking together away from the park.
Monty stood frozen just inside the park gate. Madeline and his lordship were walking so close…just like a couple.
Johnson was regarding Monty through narrowed eyes. “That didn’t look to me as if she was waiting to be swept off her feet. I thought you told me there was no competition for her hand, so are you going to tell me that’s her brother?”
Fleetingly, Monty met Johnson’s gaze. Fear rose up and choked him, then he hauled in a breath, and desperation welled and hardened his features. “No—she doesn’t have a brother. But he’s no one special.” Monty didn’t have a choice. “Here.” He stepped out of the gate. “I’ll show you.”
Driven, determined, and desperate, he strode rapidly after Madeline.
With Madeline on his arm, Henry walked quickly along Bedwin Street, making for the intersection with Endless Street and the police station closer to the square.
Madeline kept pace, equally eager to take their news to Stokes and the Adairs.
Then firm footsteps coming up behind them had them exchanging a glance and slowing.
The man following reached them and impudently seized Madeline’s free hand. “Madeline, my dear! What a delightful surprise to find you here.”
Henry and Madeline halted. For an instant, Henry stared, astonished, at the tall, lean, dark-haired gentleman bowing over Madeline’s hand, then he realized who the man must be.
From the startled expression on Madeline’s face and the way she instinctively edged closer to Henry, she was equally stunned. This was the man she believed had killed her sister. Henry sensed the battle she was waging not to let that show in her face as Pincer—it had to be him—straightened.
“I was just up the road”—Pincer waved vaguely in the direction from which they’d come—“and saw you walking along. Naturally, I came to offer my escort.”
Pincer directed a challenging look of dismissal at Henry.
To buy Madeline time to come to grips with the outlandish situation, Henry pretended to have misinterpreted Pincer’s glare and, reaching across Madeline, held out his hand. “Good afternoon. I’m Lord Glossup. Friend of Madeline’s family. And I believe you’re Montgomery Pincer. Madeline has mentioned you.”
The approach threw Pincer off his stride, and ingrained manners had him grasping Henry’s hand.
They shook hands, and Henry could almost see Pincer’s brain working through Henry’s words and concluding that he might not pose any real threat to Pincer’s plans after all.
The hardness in Pincer’s face dissolved into charming cordiality, then Henry saw him direct a swift glance across the street. Following it, Henry saw a large man ambling slowly along and patently observing them.
Henry’s intervention had allowed Madeline time to gather her wits. She smiled at Monty. “Dear Monty, I didn’t expect to come across you here, either.” She waved ahead. “We were just heading for Endless Street.”
Henry, bless him, realized her intention and stated, “I have an appointment with my solicitor in his offices along there.”
As well as the police station, Endless Street played host to several of the larger legal chambers.
“Perhaps,” Henry went on, looking from Madeline to Pincer, “you might accompany us, Pincer, and keep Miss Huntingdon company while I’m closeted with my man.”
“I would be delighted.” Monty’s expression matched his words. He was beaming as he waved them onward. “Shall we?”
