Page 3 of With Good Grace
‘They are not interested.’ Margaret flapped a hand, a flash of her usual arrogance evident in her expression. ‘Because Hubert’s business affairs often take him away from home for a week or two at a time, they refuse to take my report seriously.’
Business affairs! Olivia was obliged to hold back a derisive snort. The only affairs that took Hubert away from his Surrey household were of a more intimate nature. Indeed, when Olivia was not convicted of murdering his brother—a very real possibility that Hubert did little to try and prevent—he had the audacity to approach Olivia with a view to managing her finances…and her. As far as Olivia was concerned, Margaret and Hubert were cut from the same cloth and thoroughly deserved to be stuck with one another. She wanted nothing more to do with either of them.
‘Then I fail to imagine what you suppose I can do.’ Olivia lifted her shoulders, furious because she felt a twinge of sympathy for the other woman. Margaret was well aware of her husband’s peccadillos but, providing he was discreet and she could still hold her head up in front of her society friends, she chose to turn a blind eye. So, to be fair, did many of the friends in question. It was not unusual for gentlemen to take their pleasures where they could find them and expect their wives to tolerate the situation. ‘The last time I saw Hubert I made it very clear that I had no wish ever to do so again. That was almost two years ago and I have not seen or heard from him since.’
‘I understand you are associated with Lord Torbay.’
Olivia stiffened. ‘What has that to do with your husband’s disappearance? I hope you are not going to tell me whom I can or cannot have as a friend.’
‘Not in the least. But I do know that Torbay helped to prove your own innocence.’
Olivia made no attempt to hide her disdain. ‘That must have come as a grave disappointment for you,’ she said.
‘Please, Olivia.’ Margaret twisted her fingers together, clearly agitated. ‘I know I have no right to ask, but would you please mention Hubert’s disappearance to his lordship. He has connections…he might be able to…to find out where he has gone. And why.’
Dear God, Margaret’s shoulders were shaking. She was actually crying. That was a sight Olivia had never imagined she would see. In spite of her low opinion of the woman, her heart melted at the sight, even though she knew Margaret’s feelings were affected as much by the possible scandal that would be created if Hubert had deserted her as they were for his welfare. She would probably prefer to see him dead than enjoying the society of a younger woman who had been attracted by Hubert’s unquestionable good looks, mercurial charm and title.
‘When did you last see Hubert?’ she asked as Margaret dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
‘Two weeks ago. He told me he would be staying overnight at his club here in town. He often does that when he has business that brings him into London, but if he is delayed for any reason, he always sends word to prevent me from worrying.’
‘Have you made enquiries at his club?’
‘Yes, but they have not seen him for over a month.’
‘I see.’ Olivia drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair, deep in thought. ‘There have been no reported accidents in your district?’
‘No. He travelled into London on the train.’ She spread her hands. ‘He has disappeared into thin air and I have no idea where to start looking for him. I am, as you can imagine, at my wits end.’
No, Olivia thought, you are not. Being at one’s wits ends is being confined to a prison cell for a crime one did not commit.
‘You have spoken to his friends?’ When Margaret hesitated, Olivia nodded her understanding. ‘How silly of me to suggest something so obvious. Of course you have not. If you had done so, you would have to admit that your husband had disappeared; possibly deserted you.’
‘I dare say you are enjoying this.’ Margaret gathered up her stocking purse. ‘I should not have come.’
‘I will speak with Lord Torbay, but that is all I can promise you,’ Olivia said, standing when Margaret did.
‘Thank you, at least for that.’
‘Go home, compile a list of Hubert’s closest friends and send it to me. Check his appointment book and see if he had any engagements during the days that he has been missing. Send me anything that you think relevant. Check his clothing, see if anything is missing that might imply he intended all along not to return.’
‘He would not…’
‘But he has, and you must have accepted at least that much, otherwise desperation would not have brought you to my door.’
Margaret shuffled her feet. ‘As you say…’
Olivia rang the bell and Green appeared to show Margaret out. Olivia resumed her seat and stared through the window, watching as Margaret climbed into the waiting Hansom and headed off, presumably towards the station. Damn it, now she wanted to know what had happened to Hubert almost as much as Margaret did. Her nemesis was right about one thing. Hubert might be a scoundrel but hewasmindful of his wife’s finer feelings and would not disappear in such a fashion without good reason.
So what had become of him, and why?
Chapter Two
White’s was comparatively quiet during the late afternoon, which was why Jake had chosen to entertain his guest at that elite establishment. The fact that politicians formed only a minority of the membership had further influenced his decision. Even so, Jake did not delude himself into thinking that his meeting with a Scotland Yard detective would not reach the ears of his political masters that same night.
Henderson had asked to see him; Jake had no idea why, but presumed the matter was of a delicate nature. Scotland Yard, from which confidential information leaked more freely than the rusting barges moored on the Thames, was most emphatically not the place to discuss anything of a sensitive nature. Jake sat in a secluded corner, well away from the bow window that overlooked St. James’s Street and the prying eyes of any passer-by who might peer in through it. He produced a half-hunter from his waistcoat pocket to check the time. His guest should arrive at any moment, giving them sufficient time to transact their business before Jake kept his engagement to dine with Olivia.
He took a sip of his burgundy and shifted his position as he thought of that commitment; one that he had managed to avoid for the past two months on various pretexts.Coward!He recalled just how beguiling Olivia had looked at Isaac’s wedding the previous day and knew then that his noble self-restraint had got him precisely nowhere. He could no more get the lady out of his system than he could reinvent the wheel. She had crept beneath his defences and installed herself directly in his heart, his soul. The futility of trying to deny the fact had been brought home to him yesterday when he noticed some ambitious young buck trying to make himself agreeable to her during Isaac’s wedding breakfast. Fury ripped through Jake and he had wanted to detach the assumptive cove’s head from his body with his bare hands, simply for engaging her in conversation.
