Page 8 of A Scandal at Stonecliffe

VERITY’S CHEERFUL MOOD continued the next morning as she went to work. Last night had been a success, made all the more enjoyable by the opportunity to banter with Nathan. Verity was always buoyed by giving a client a positive report, and she especially looked forward to returning Lady Bankwater’s brooch to her. Verity liked Lady Bankwater, and the woman had been most agitated about her missing jewelry. Besides, Verity had taken a strong dislike to Lord Arden, and sneaking something away from him right under his nose added an extra fillip.

As was her usual practice, Verity disembarked from her carriage a street or two away from her detective agency and walked the rest of the way. Another old habit, she supposed; it was easier on foot to spot anyone following her or watching her from a building.

A discreet brass plaque beside the front door of her building read Cole & Son. There was, of course, neither a father nor a son, but clients found the notion of there being a man in charge—especially an older man—reassuring.

The door opened only to a straight flight of stairs into an entry area containing a sofa and chairs. Blocking any entrance into the hallway was a high counter, where a woman sat, knitting. Mrs. Malloy knitted every moment she wasn’t busy with company papers and books. Verity wasn’t sure who the beneficiaries were of her office manager’s products.

“Hello, luv.” Mrs. Malloy beamed at her. Mrs. Malloy was a customarily jolly soul. She had a ready smile and her eyes twinkled behind a set of spectacles, the lines beside her mouth and eyes indicating that her frequent smiles were nothing new. A white cap trimmed with lace sat atop her salt-and-pepper hair, completing the picture of a plump and pleasant grandmother.

No one would have suspected that beneath that graying head lay one of the sharpest financial minds in the country. Verity’s business had been starting to thrive three years ago when boredom had driven Mrs. Malloy to apply for a job, but it was Mrs. Malloy’s expertise at investments that had made Verity’s money mushroom into its current very healthy state.

“You’re looking quite sharp this morning,” Mrs. Malloy went on.

Normally the dress Verity wore to work was a plain brown frock with a decorous lace fichu at the neckline, and her hair was covered by either a dull brown wig or a white cap of the sort Mrs. Malloy was wearing. She made it a point to look as serious and professional as possible when she was at her office.

Today, however, Verity intended to call on Lady Bankwater in her role as Mrs. Billingham, so that required a fashionable afternoon dress and hat, along with green half boots and matching gloves and pelisse—Mrs. Billingham favored a bold style.

“I’m feeling quite sharp,” Verity replied and related last evening’s successful recovery, and they continued to chat for a few minutes before Verity went into her office. The first order of business was to send a note to Lady Bankwater requesting to call on her this morning. It was inappropriately early for a social call, which would mean that Lady Bankwater should be both free of visitors and still at home.

Verity had only enough time to read a report from an employee guarding one of their clients before the messenger lad returned with Lady Bankwater’s acceptance, as well as the woman’s carriage. It was a kind gesture but also indicative of Lady Bankwater’s eagerness to get her hands on the brooch.

Lady Bankwater was in a cozy sitting room when Verity was shown in, not the large and formal drawing room. Her face was taut, and she jumped to her feet, coming forward to take both Verity’s hands.

“Dear girl, do come and sit down.” Her eyes flickered to Verity’s reticule, but she was too trained in courtesy to ask for the jewelry outright. Social niceties must be observed first. “I’ll ring for tea.”

They kept up a light chat until the tea cart was rolled in, and Lady Bankwater closed the door behind the butler. Verity reached beneath the neckline of her dress and pulled out a rolled-up handkerchief. Unfolding it, she revealed the emerald brooch, holding it out in the palm of her hand.

Lady Bankwater pulled in a sharp breath. “You have it!” She reached out, almost snatching it from Verity’s hand. “I’m sorry, I know you said you had it, but I didn’t dare believe it. I was afraid you’d found some other brooch.”

“No. I recognized it immediately. You described it perfectly.”

The other woman folded her hand around the brooch. Tears filled her eyes. “You don’t know how much it means to me. How afraid I was that I would never get it back.”

“I know it’s very important to you.” Verity didn’t understand exactly why. It was an expensive item and no doubt her husband would be upset about a piece of family jewelry disappearing, but it seemed that Lady Bankwater could have simply said she’d lost it. Her anxiety made Verity wonder just how far Lord Bankwater’s displeasure would take him. “No doubt Lord Bankwater would be most upset. Some men can be quite violent about such things.”

Lady Bankwater looked at her blankly. “What? You thought Bankwater would...would hit me? No, no, you mustn’t think that. My husband may not be exciting or sentimental and he is more interested in researching odd animals—kangaroos and such—than in spending time with me, but he is the kindest of men. He would have regretted its absence, but he would not have even taken me to task for it.”

“I see.” Verity, in fact, did not. Why had Lady Bankwater been so anxious, almost fearful? But she could scarcely press her client for details.

Lady Bankwater’s expression of alarm turned to one of guilt. She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry. I fear I haven’t been quite honest with you.” She looked down at the brooch, rubbing her thumb over the settings, then raised her head and gazed straight at Verity, her jaw setting. “I didn’t need it because of the portrait. The truth is Arden was blackmailing me.”

“Ah.” Now Verity did fully understand. “He threatened to show the brooch to your husband. To tell him about your affair.”

“Yes.” Her eyes welled over, silent tears running down her cheeks. “My Jasper is so good, so honest—our match was not based on love, but it has grown to be a warm union despite our different dispositions. I could not bear to have him hurt like that. To look at me with such disappointment. I’m sorry.” Lady Bankwater pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

“It’s all right. It would have made no difference to me. I would have retrieved it anyway.” Though it would have been nice to know that the man who might catch her was a villain. “You’re not the first client who has been embarrassed to reveal the truth.”

“That’s very good of you. I feel like such a wretch. I care for my husband, I really do. But Jasper is not a passionate man even when he is here. He was gone so long on that trip to Australia, and I was so lonely. And Lord Arden was so attentive, so...thrilling.” She shook her head. “I was horridly foolish. I realized it almost right away. I saw that I was risking all my future happiness for such fleeting pleasure.” Lady Bankwater’s cheeks colored, and she looked down again, picking at the embroidery on her handkerchief. “I ended it. And when Jasper returned, everything was right again, and I thought it was all over, but...”

“Lord Arden started blackmailing you,” Verity supplied.

Lady Bankwater nodded. “It isn’t only the money—though I can’t imagine how I could have kept on paying him without Jasper noticing. But Arden took such pleasure in it. He loved being in control. Humiliating me. He insisted that I give him the money in person. I think he wanted to see how much he was upsetting me.” She looked up sharply at Verity. “He’s wicked. Frankly, he frightens me. He doesn’t know that you are the one who took this, does he? I would hate to think that I put you in any danger.”

“Don’t worry.” Verity smiled reassuringly. “He doesn’t know. And I can handle a dangerous man.”

“I wish I never had to see him again,” Lady Bankwater said. “But he’ll probably be at Mrs. Dedham’s gala tonight. And I must attend it, she’s Jasper’s cousin.” She sighed. “Besides, I’ll have to face him sometime.”

Verity left soon thereafter. There was still time to go to the park. It was bittersweet, that moment of mingled love and pain; she tried not to indulge in it too often. But she felt too good today to dampen her mood. Instead she returned to her office.