“I am, too.” He’d instructed the coachman to take them to Camden Crescent where he and Dot could peruse Ellie’s papers in private. He only hoped Annie didn’t come barging in. For some peculiar reason, he did not want his sister to know what he and Dot were investigating—peculiar because he and Annie had always shared everything.
It wasn’t that Dot was usurping his sister. It was more that he felt he was already jeopardizing one woman he cared about. He did not want to put Annie in danger too.
After all, a homicidal sex maniac might be on the prowl in their city.
Dot shook Ellie’s Bible. A slip of paper fell from it. Their eyes met, and then she picked it up and read it, her brows forming a deep V.
“What’s it say?”
“Nothing. It’s your name.”
“Let me see.” On a small sheet of torn paper, written in a feminine hand, were the words Lord Appleton. He looked up at her. “I wish to God I knew what that means.”
“Were you being honest with me?” She drilled him with those almost-black eyes.
He gave her a puzzled look. “About not seeing Ellie away from Mrs. Starr’s?”
Dot nodded.
“I told you the truth. I can’t think why she would have written my name.”
“Perhaps she fancied you.” Dot smiled. “You are most dashing.”
He returned her smile. “Thank you, my love, but I assure you Miss Macintosh never favored me in any way. In fact, it was at her hands, whilst she was dealing, that I had the most lamentable night of my life.”
“Oh, dear, I am sorry for that.”
“That night cured me of a lifelong habit of gambling.”
“Many men swear off gambling, only to weaken.”
He stiffened. Their eyes locked. He could only barely control his anger. “I have never in my life gone back on my word.”
“It’s gratifying to know you’re a man of your word.” Her voice then softened. “I’m sorry if I sounded as if I don’t trust you, but remember we haven’t known each other very long.”
He nodded solemnly.
When they reached Appleton House, they quietly made their way to his library, closed the door, and sat beside one another at the writing table to look over Ellie’s papers.
The first piece of correspondence they read was a letter dated nearly four years earlier. Ellie would have been around sixteen. After reading a few paragraphs, Appleton realized it had been written by Ellie’s cruel stepmother shortly after Ellie’s father died.
The woman said now that Ellie was a woman she was expected to make her own way in the world, that this woman, whose name was Eliza, had no further use for her as she had her own children to feed. It was also hinted at that Ellie’s beauty—though the woman was too mean-spirited to compliment her—would prevent her own daughters from finding husbands.
It sickened him to think of Ellie having been thrown out alone in the world at so tender an age.
“How heartbreaking,” Dot said.
All he could do was nod solemnly as he met his fiancée’s watery gaze. It comforted him that Dot was possessed of tender feelings.
The next letter was from a parish priest in Devon giving the date of Ellie Macintosh’s baptism. Appleton’s heart fell. The poor girl must have carried this around in the hopes of needing it when she got married.
The last paper they unfolded was a piece of parchment upon which was printed the Ten Commandments. In script at the top, someone had written: Presented to Ellie Macintosh, for Highest Achievement in Recitation of Biblical Verse.
Curiously, in another hand at the bottom, was written, I am not worthy.
“What do you make of that?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but I believe she wrote that on the bottom recently. See, the ink has not faded in the least, not like the ink at the top.”
“I believe you’re right.”
He swallowed. “And I believe that guilt has something to do with her murder.”
She nodded solemnly. “We need to question Mrs. Thorpe’s neighbors. It’s possible someone saw Miss Macintosh with her killer.”
“Good idea. How about tomorrow?”
“We would need to wait until late in the day, owing to the fact it’s a working class neighborhood.”
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “If we hope to reach more the neighbors, coming later in the day would be more helpful.”
“And don’t forget, you must bring many of your calling cards. That will impress them.”
“Clever lady, you are.” Her father’s praise had not been tinged by parental pride. It was the bloody truth. “I shall see you late in the day tomorrow.”
Chapter 10
Laden with packages, Sir Elvin was just returning home from an outing with his sisters when Appleton arrived at his house. It was but a brisk walk between their two houses, and it felt good to stretch his legs. Appleton disliked coach rides, especially in the eminently walkable city of Bath.
Sir Elvin gave him a mock glare. “So you’ve actually found time to call on your oldest friend?”
Appleton felt beastly that he’d offered for Dot and even told others at the musical without first telling his closest friend. That was partly why he’d come here this afternoon after escorting Dot home. He slapped Sir Elvin on the back. “I always have time for you, old fellow.”
“Can I interest you in a glass of Madera?”
“I’ll pour it myself while you finish up with your sisters.” Appleton went straight to Elvin’s library. The room looked vastly different than it had when Elvin’s twin still lived at home. Then, Melvin typically took over the chamber, and piles of books were stacked everywhere. Most of the books were now gone, Melvin having taken them to his bride’s home on the Royal Crescent. The Royal Crescent library had since become the book-filled study where Melvin spent at least twelve hours a day on books he researched and authored.
Appleton poured out two glasses and went to sit on a high-backed chair
