the altercation.
“I do, sir, I do.” The reply came in a heavy, German accent.
“For what?”
“Your infamous affairs.”
Everyone in the room was aware of Mr. Croft’s reputation. He was something of a dandy and would have made Casanova feel ashamed of his comparatively small success with the ladies. But his charm and good nature kept him in society’s good graces. After all, at least a third of its members were in love with him.
“There’s nothing infamous about my affairs,” Croft said. “Step away from me while I’m still willing to let you save face.”
“There will be no stepping away. I’d fight you now if I could. No decent person would forgive you for what you’ve done.”
“Enlighten me.” Croft folded his arms. “My sins are no greater than any gentleman’s, my affairs no better or worse.”
“I speak of your lovers, Mr. Croft.”
If silence could become louder, it did in that moment.
“You know to what I refer, don’t you?”
Croft shook his head. “How dare you address me in such a manner! My personal relationships are no business of yours.”
“Your personal relationships are insignificant to other gentlemen, perhaps. But I should think the ladies involved would feel otherwise.”
“That’s quite enough,” Croft said.
“What kind of man turns into rivals two such dear friends?”
Now the eyes of the observers in the room began to dart around, and a soft murmur rippled through the crowd.
“You will stop there.” Color drained from Croft’s face. “I accept your challenge. There’s no more to be said in the current company.”
“I don’t agree.” The officer turned, searching the crowd around him. “Where is our inestimable hostess?”
Mr. Fanning pushed his way to the man. “Remove yourself from my house at once.” He stood tall, his stout frame rigid with dignity, not the sort to be daunted by any controversy.
“You should have this one ejected instead.” He glared at Croft, then raised his voice louder. “Lady Althway, how do you feel to learn the object of your affection is shared by your dearest friend?”
“Get out now!” Mr. Fanning balled his hands into fists as his wife came to his side, her hands trembling.
“Please, sir, please,” Mrs. Fanning said, in a voice so small only those closest to her could hear. “You’ve already done your worst.”
“I have?” The man balked. “Where is Lady Althway? Surely neither of you can think I err in calling out this profligate?”
“There’s some misunderstanding,” Mrs. Fanning said. “Mr. Croft would never have…”
Now Lady Althway appeared, her face redder than the darkest of the roses, and stormed towards Mrs. Fanning. “You knew I loved him.”
“My dear, I had no idea it was
“What would you have me do, pull out letters to prove my claim?” Lady Althway thrust herself at Mrs. Fanning.
Colin stepped between the two ladies. “This is hardly a conversation to be had in such a forum. Control yourselves.” He spun on his heels to grab the officer, who had turned as if to leave the room. “You, sir, are coming with me.” The man did not protest. Colin kept a tight hold on him, but paused and spoke to Mr. Fanning. “Leave this to me.”
Our host stood, immobile, his eyes tight with pain. I heard Lord Althway’s voice booming from the back of the room, but I could not make out his words.
“Emily,” Colin looked back at me. “Bring them.”
I put a gentle hand on each lady’s arm. “Let’s remove you from this spectacle.” We followed him through a series of brightly colored sitting rooms into a much smaller salon furnished in the Georgian style. Lady Althway tugged her arm away from me.
“I won’t stand for this,” she said. “I—”
“Lady Althway, now is not the time.” Colin’s voice, simultaneously firm and soothing, was impossible to ignore. Quieted, she took a seat on a chair in the corner, as far away from Mrs. Fanning as possible. “At the moment, I want to focus on you, sir.”
The officer threw his hands in the air, a lopsided grin on his face. “I thought it was a fantastic performance. I do hope you’re as pleased as I am.” The German accent had vanished in favor of a thick Northern English one.
“Pardon?” Colin asked.
“I was afraid for a minute I’d come on rather too strong, but the boss insisted I not hold back. Who am I to argue?” He tugged at the jagged dueling scar on his cheek, pulling it right off.
“You’re an actor?” I asked, my mouth hanging open.
“As you see,” he said. “But good lady, you can’t say this surprises you?”
“Indeed I can,” I said.
The actor laughed. “My performance must have been even better than I thought. You didn’t think the accent was too coarse?”
Colin turned to the ladies. “Were either of you involved in the planning of this?”
“What an outrageous suggestion!” Lady Althway snapped open her huge, painted fan and waved it with vigor in front of her face.
“You can’t possibly think we would involve ourselves in such a scheme,” Mrs. Fanning said.
“Who are you?” Colin asked, his attention back on the actor. “And who hired you?”
“Timothy Blake,” he said with a bow. “Ordinarily I perform with a troupe of players based in York, but work’s been scarce of late, so I agreed to a solo performance.”
“Who hired—”
He didn’t let Colin ask again. “Don’t bother,” he said. “I have no details that would interest you. I received a letter from a Mr. Hopworth-Smythe, asking me to assist in the entertainments he’d been hired to organize for an upcoming party in London. I’d been told all the guests had been given parts to play, along with a handful of professional actors. That we were to stage a murder mystery of sorts and the assembled crowd would attempt to solve the crime. Rather a diverting concept, don’t you think?”
“Who are the other actors?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I’m afraid I haven’t the slightest idea. We weren’t to be able to identify each other—it was to add to the verisimilitude of the event.”
“Have you ever heard of a Mr. Hopworth-Smythe, Mrs. Fanning?” I asked.
“I can assure you I absolutely have not. We hadn’t planned any such entertainment, though I confess to finding the concept an excellent idea.”
“You shouldn’t find it so when it destroys the happiness of your dearest friend.” Lady Althway sniffed.
“In other circumstances, obviously.” Mrs. Fanning sat up straighter.
“What did Hopworth-Smythe do to convince you he was legitimate?” Colin asked.
“Paid me in advance at three times the rate I usually receive for the entire run of a play,” Mr. Blake said.
“And you didn’t find that suspicious?” I asked.
“Why should I?” He threw his hands in the air. “You aristocrats are wont to waste more money in a single night than I’m like to see in five lifetimes. Who am I to judge when some of the excess benefits me?”
“How many times did you meet Hopworth-Smythe? Can you give me a description of him?” Colin asked.
