Page 128 of A Much Maligned Miss

Gervaise considered this, then shook his head. “We should let the police follow up that particular line of enquiry. We can supply his details and leave that up to them. I will ask Jeremy and your brother to meet us there, however,” he added decisively.

“They can help to corroborate that Mrs. Needham is supposedly in Cornwall, and your brother could…identify the body if need be. They would need confirmation other than your own that it is indeed her.”

Caroline hesitated. “You do not think we should break the news to Edgar first as a kindness to him?”

“No, I do not,” he replied shortly. “It would likely work in his favor if he can demonstrate his ignorance of all that has been going on.” He paused. “You are sure that he is wholly innocent?”

“Absolutely! His main concern last night was trying to convince me to return to Benham and help soothe the troubled waters between Mama and his new wife.”

Gervaise narrowed his gaze. “Was it indeed? And how precisely did he envisage you doing that?”

Caroline avoided meeting his eyes. “I think he was just desperate. It seems Diana and Mama detested one another and the whole place was plunged in turmoil.”

“And your dear brother wished to make it your problem to solve?”

“At least he had no notion Mama planned to kill me.”

Gervaise stiffened. “There is that,” he agreed dryly. “We must thank heaven for small mercies, it seems.”

54

It was three hours later when their carriage pulled up outside Vance House, a large imposing townhouse in Belgravia. Gervaise had ushered Caroline halfway up the steps before she emerged from her thoughts and asked in an urgent undertone where they were.

“Jeremy’s townhouse,” Gervaise responded patiently. The hours they had spent at the police station had been somewhat exhausting even for him. Telegrams had been sent to St. Ives regarding the apprehension of Goring. Sidney Price had been found in a nearby charity hospital, in a very sorry state and barely conscious. Mrs. Needham had died of her injuries.

Gervaise was not entirely sure how much of these facts Caroline had absorbed. “We’re staying here for a couple of nights until we can be sure everyone involved is behind bars where they belong.”

She came to an abrupt halt, grasping his arm. “You are not leaving me here, Gervaise?”

“Why would I leave you?” he asked calmly. “We are man and wife now, are we not? Till death do us part.” Only after uttering this did it strike him as somewhat tactless after the ordeal she had been through. Still, his words must have reassured her, for she allowed him to bring her inside where a discreet manservant met them and took their cloaks.

Once divested of these Caroline turned to him with an apologetic expression. “I don’t suppose we could just quietly slip up to our room, could we?” she asked, sending a furtive look around the elegant hallway. No sooner had she spoken than small, hurried footsteps were heard descending the curved staircase.

“Miss Halperston!” Teddy cried. Caroline whirled around and to Gervaise’s surprise bounded up the steps to meet the child halfway, where they embraced fervently. “Reg gave me my present!” Teddy enthused. “The box was done up and addressed to me, so I opened it right away.”

“Reg is here?” Caroline said with surprise.

“He’s in the kitchen eating beefsteak. Cook pressed it on his eye first but then she fried it in onions. She says he will have two black eyes tomorrow and no mistake.”

“Did you like your gift?”

“I did! Come and see! I am holding a wedding ceremony for Miss Pomfrey and Captain Gerrard now.”

Caroline gave a broken laugh and wiped the tears from her face as the child started tugging insistently on her hand. Emmeline appeared on the landing above, looking dismayed. “Teddy! Did I not tell you to wait until we were sent for?”

She sent an anguished look over the banister. “I’m so sorry, Gervaise, I meant for you to get settled without any of us interrupting you. No, Teddy,” she said firmly. “A bath has been drawn for Caroline, and she is not to be disturbed by any of us tonight.”

“He is fine,” Gervaise said, mounting the stairs behind them. “Teddy is exempt from all such considerations.”

Are you sure? Emmeline mouthed. He nodded at her and she tactfully withdrew.

Teddy regarded him thoughtfully. “Hello, Godfather.”

“Good evening, Teddy.”

The boy cast a quick look over his shoulder to check his mama had disappeared. “Is it true that you two are married now? Everyone is acting so strangely, but I heard Papa tell Reverend Ryland it was sure to be so, no matter what everyone in Penarth was saying.”

“We are married,” Gervaise answered firmly. “Can you not see Caroline’s rings?”