The Wedding Night Affair--An Historical Mystery by L.C. Sharp (i have read the book .TXT) 📗

“I believe that many of the names are prospective partners. The ones crossed out have no amounts next to their names, so they likely refused,” she said.

“Useful to be able to call on a duke’s brother and find him at home,” Henry commented. He read down the list again, pronouncing each name with relish. “Some high-ranking people here. You would think they would be enough to scare off a mere criminal.”

Ash’s mouth flattened. “The Raven is already much more than that, and you know it. We won’t solve anything by pretending his influence doesn’t exist. We don’t know who he is or where he comes from. Nothing.”

Fielding cleared his throat. “Harrumph. We have seen people like him before. They rarely last more than a few years. We’ll catch him.”

“Or her.”

“As if a woman could do such a thing!”

The Fieldings laughed uproariously, as if Ash had just made a good joke. Wisely, Juliana kept her thoughts to herself, but indignation made her shift in her chair. The women she’d met, especially La Senza, did not strike her as particularly weaker than their male counterparts. La Senza could easily manage an organization like the one the Raven ran. Except she was Ash’s sister, and possessed a fundamental integrity that ran deep in his family. A whore she might be, but a thief she was not.

Ash merely shrugged. “If I learn anything useful from the duke or his brother, I will let you know.” The corner of his mouth turned up. He drummed his fingers on his knee, and as if catching himself up, stopped and curled his hand into a loose fist instead. “Your conclusion, gentlemen?”

Henry Fielding touched his brother’s arm. John leaned his head toward him and nodded. Henry would speak for them both. “Considering the new evidence, particularly the evidence of the laudanum and the maid’s confession, we are minded to believe Lady Uppingham’s assertion that she did not murder her husband. In fact, we do not believe that it was possible for her to plan and execute it.”

Juliana caught her breath, swallowing her initial reaction to scream her joy to the heavens. She’d do that later. If Ash ever let her go back into the garden. But Henry Fielding had not finished.

“However, she might have killed him in a drugged stupor, or from defending herself against his attack. We think that her ladyship could have been out of her senses at the time of the incident. If that is so, it is not a crime we consider merits the death penalty.”

From murder to incident. How were the mighty fallen!

Relentlessly, Henry continued. “This is not a hanging offense, in our opinion. But there might still be a case to answer.” He cleared his throat again. “If Lady Uppingham did not commit the crime, there is still a crime to answer. Two, in fact. We must not forget that.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Part relieved, part anxious, Ash and Juliana left the magistrate’s house to meet bright sunshine. The uncertain weather of recent weeks had finally gone, and summer was here. Ignoring all her mother’s advice, Juliana tipped her head back and let the warmth bathe her face. It felt good. She was alive, and she wasn’t about to die. For now, that was enough.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I’m not going to die next month.”

“No, you are not.”

“Even if they find me guilty of killing Godfrey, they won’t condemn me to death. They believe me.”

He inclined his head. “Indeed. But we can do better than that. I want to ensure you won’t have to face a trial of any kind. I will find the person who murdered your husband, and the person who had the audacity to murder someone under my care, in my household.”

That was the only way for her to avoid an appearance in court, to find out the true murderer, and prove it beyond doubt. “If Wood had lived, she could have identified her lover.”

“I am aware.”

He hailed a cab, but she put her hand on his arm. “Can we walk? It’s not far, is it?”

“No.” Glancing behind him, he nodded at Freeman, standing stoically behind them. “We can’t be sure that you’re not in danger.”

“Why? The assassin didn’t kill me. Didn’t take the opportunity, when he could have. Both on my wedding night and in the garden.”

He stopped, turned to face her. “Good Lord, you’re right. Twice he could have done it, and twice he did not.”

“Who?”

“The Raven. Whether he did it personally or commissioned someone else to do it, he is to blame, I’m sure of it. You were so insensible when your husband was murdered, that the killer could have done the same to you, but made it look as if you had killed him, and then yourself, perhaps in remorse.”

“A sobering thought. But I’m here, and I’m alive. And I intend to continue that way.”

They gazed at each other. His face broke into an unexpected smile. “Your insights are invaluable. You pointed out the simple fact that you were not the target, either on your wedding night or in the garden. I could use an assistant like you. If I could, I would marry you to keep you close.”

His laugh told her he wasn’t serious, but for a breathless moment she’d thought he was. And her heart leaped at the prospect.

How could that be? She’d vowed never to allow a man to touch her again. She was only just getting used to doing the touching. As she did now, when he offered her the support of his arm and she looped her hand through it.

They strolled in the direction of Queen Street, passing the usual mix of people, and none stared after them. None paid them special attention. Juliana leaned on Ash’s arm, enjoying the sunshine and the life that surged around her, and in every nook and cranny of London. They were middling folk, by their appearance, with one unliveried attendant.

As they rounded a corner, Ash finally spoke. “But that