Page 69 of The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies

Gin rubbed at her forehead. “It’s all about to catch up with him now, I’m afraid. But you see why Donald must tell the police what happened tonight. Leland fled after shooting Sidney, and God knows where he’s gone.”

Iris rose with alacrity, as if to call Scotland Yard herself, when there was a soft tap at the door. Sarita’s escort to the party entered the room, his dark eyes wary.

“Miss DeSilva,” he said, “I ought to be going.”

Sarita gasped and surged toward the door. “Oh heavens, I forgot you were here. I’m so sorry. Thank you for finding me, but I’ll stay with my friends tonight.”

They clasped hands, and the man inclined his head to Gin and Iris before withdrawing.

Iris ground her fists on her hips. “Sarita, who is that? You told Gin he’s not your boyfriend.”

“Do you two have nothing to discuss besides my love life?” Sarita said sharply. She arched an eyebrow at Sidney on the couch. “What about Ginevra’s?”

Gin took Sarita’s hand, ignoring the comment, and peered into her friend’s eyes. “I really don’t want to pry, but are you in trouble? You—you weren’t mixed up in Marion Kirk’s protest, were you?”

“What!” Sarita jerked her hand away. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“That boilersuit the other night, for starters. You’ve never worn anything like it before!”

Sarita grimaced. “I only wore it to keep my real clothes clean climbing over the wall.” She toyed with the leftover bandage on her lap, her brow furrowed, before tossing it aside with a groan. “If you must know, I’m working with a group of Goan refugees raising support for the liberation efforts back home. It’s a delicate situation since some of them have expired visas. And if word traveled that I was helping them, my parents would be very cross. My friend, Mr. Kamat, was here tonight to talk to students it’s otherwise difficult to contact.” She sighed. “The other day, in the street, I knew I looked a fright because I’d asked someone to show me self-defense tactics. I was embarrassed to be caught without any explanation, but it seemed best not to drag you two into it.”

It was a feeling Gin knew all too well, and she squeezed Sarita’s hand again. “I understand, and I’m sorry for needling you about it. I’d love to do whatever I can to help.”

“Me too!” Iris chimed.

“Be careful what you wish for,” Sarita said with a smile, “or I’ll have you entertaining my parents the next time they linger in Oxford.” She sighed and brushed at the wrinkles in her dress. “Now that Mr. Kamat has safely left the premises, I think Tweety and I should go have a word with Donald Craddock about summoning the police.”

“And our rooms,” Iris said. “I wouldn’t put it past him to stick us in unused servants’ quarters without a few threats of putting some juicy gossip in The Blue.”

They sailed from the room like avenging angels, and Gin leaned her head on the arm of the settee. The past two hours had been such a dizzying whirl of revelations that the room still spun. She smoothed a hand over Sidney’s warm forehead and tried not to panic. They had found their man, and Leland would surely be in custody soon. There was nothing left to do but wait.

Barely had she closed her eyes when the creak of hinges made them fly open again.

Lewis Hughes entered the room but lingered at the door. “Sorry to bother you, Miss Bishop. I wanted to see if you need help before I return to Oxford.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hughes. I think my friends have the matter well in hand. But I appreciate your assistance earlier.” The inscrutable look on his face, the tension in his posture made Ginevra pause. The Rook had dismissed Hughes as a curious American, but Sidney’s gut had said otherwise. If he were awake now, she knew what he would do. “You asked to speak to me earlier,” she said lightly, “and we were interrupted.”

“Yeah…” Hughes trailed off, glancing into the hall before closing the door, and approached the settee. “Is Mr. Braithwaite going to be okay?”

“I think so.” Gin smoothed the blanket Sarita had thrown over Sidney. “Or he will be, with rest.”

“Is there anyone I can call for you?”

Gin had no idea how to reach Sidney’s family—if he would even want her to contact them. The person she most needed to speak with was the Rook, but she hadn’t dared leave Sidney’s side yet. She could only hope one of the undercover agents had informed him of what transpired. “No. I’ll find the number for Sidney’s parents when we return to Oxford.”

Hughes squatted beside her, eyeing her gravely. “I don’t know that returning to school is wise, Miss Bishop. Until we know Leland is apprehended, I’d feel better knowing you and Mr. Braithwaite were safe here. As we just witnessed tonight, desperate men are unpredictable.” He cleared his throat. “As are … amateur agents?”

The knowing look in his eyes made Ginevra’s mouth go dry. “Excuse me?”

“You and Mr. Braithwaite have given me quite a run for my money,” Hughes said, as calmly as though discussing the weather. “For a little while, I thought you two might have killed Mr. Tolliver.”

It was difficult to match the American’s easy manner when Ginevra’s pulse raced faster than the horses in the Royal Ascot, but she forced herself to remain collected. “The librarian? He died of a heart attack, we saw him.”

“We both know that’s not true, Miss Bishop. Otherwise, you two wouldn’t be poking your noses into the matter—breaking into Mr. Tolliver’s house, for instance.”

Ginevra stiffened, a denial on her lips, but she knew Sidney would have held his tongue. She tightened her grip on the edge of his blanket and made herself be patient.

“That kiss at the end of the night made me doubt myself, but it just didn’t line up with what else I’d observed of you two.” Hughes raised an eyebrow. “You’re not sweethearts, right?”