* *
It was some hours later when Eversham finally slipped into Katherine’s bedchamber, having transported Bastian and Emily Hale, with Valentine and Jim Hyde’s help, to the jail in the nearby village of Kendal. He liked Constable Miller well enough, but he didn’t trust the man to be able to keep a pair like the Hale twins locked up for longer than an hour at most.
Once they’d realized they wouldn’t be able to talk their way out of this, the pair had become sullen. And the last he saw them, they’d been sitting in separate cells staring straight ahead in eerily similar poses.
“You’re back.” Kate, who had been curled up in the chair beside her bed, rose and pulled him into her arms.
“Let me change.” He laughed softly. “I smell of the road and God knows what else.”
“I don’t mind.” But she pulled him toward the dressing room, and showed him the wash basin; brought him soap, a cloth, and a towel; and left him to his ablutions.
Once he’d cleaned himself up, he stripped down to his drawers, folded his clothes neatly, and left them on a chair.
Back in her bedchamber, he found Katherine sitting up against the pillows, her skin bathed in lamplight and looking like everything he’d never known he needed.
“Come to bed.” She reached out her hand to him. And though he’d meant to let her rest, once Eversham slid between the sheets that had been warmed by her body, he couldn’t have kept from pulling her to him if his life had depended on it.
Later, as they were lying entwined, Katherine’s head resting on his chest, she asked, “What will become of them?”
He didn’t need to ask of whom she was speaking.
“They killed a half-dozen people,” he said grimly. “Though they were badly done by their grandfather, I don’t see how they’ll escape the hangman’s noose.”
She nodded, then tucked her head beneath his chin. “And what of the man who was arrested for their crimes before? Clark.”
“I sent a messenger to London to let Darrow know,” Eversham said. Ensuring that the man who’d been wrongfully accused was set free had been his first priority after clapping irons on the twins. Once he returned to London, he would do what he could to see that Darrow and Dolph Wargrove were punished for their misdeeds as well. “Barring some administrative delay, he should be with his family within the week.”
He felt her let out a breath.
“Didn’t you think I’d take care of it?” he asked curiously.
“Of course.” The degree of trust in her voice humbled him. “But,” Katherine continued, “I wasn’t sure how soon you’d be able to get word to London. I still feel so bad about the role our interview played in his arrest in the first place.”
Eversham smoothed a hand over her back. “If anyone should feel guilt, it’s Wargrove and Darrow. Though I doubt either of them will lose much sleep over it.”
They were quiet for some moments before he spoke again. “I’ll sign whatever you want me to. To ensure that the newspaper doesn’t belong to me when we marry.”
She rose up a little to look at him. “You would do that for me?”
“What do I know about running a newspaper?” he asked wryly. More seriously he added, “I want you to know I heard what you said about fearing that someday my superiors at the Met might try to pressure me into taking it from you. Or shutting it down. I don’t ever want that fear to come between us.”
He saw her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Thank you.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned forward and kissed him.
“There is one thing, however,” he said once she’d pulled away. “I must insist that you change the name of your column.”
At that, her smile disappeared. “What?”
“It’s just that it’s no longer appropriate to call it A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem when it’s obvious to anyone that neither you nor Caro is involved in either mischief or mayhem.”
At his light tone, her shoulders relaxed. “What do you suggest we call it then?”
“Why not A Lady’s Guide to Law and Order?”
Kate stifled a laugh. “That’s a terrible name.”
“Why?” He was a little insulted. It was his profession after all. “What do you suggest then?”
“How about,” she asked, slipping her arms around his neck, “A Lady’s Guide to Love and Happiness?”
“It’s a difficult task, but I suppose I’ll just have to make sure you have plenty of both so you’ll have something to write about.”
Eversham was sure he was up to the challenge.
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Acknowledgments
As with every book, this one wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of so many people working behind the scenes. Thanks to my always supportive rock star of an agent, Holly Root, whose calm guidance, enthusiasm, and (where appropriate) pragmatism, have talked me down from about a dozen instances of “the historical romance is dead” crises. #TeamRoot Thanks to my legendary editor at Forever, Amy Pierpont, whose sharp editorial eye and patience as a literal pandemic raged around us ushered this book into being. Big thanks also go out to the always gracious Sam Brody, editorial assistance extraordinaire, who never chides me when I forget to reply all and loves some of the same books I do. Thanks to Jodi Rosoff, director of marketing and publicity at Forever, whose excitement about this book is contagious. And, of course, thanks to the production team, including production editor Luria Rittenberg and my amazing copy editor, Joan Matthews. I don’t know their names, but I know the sales team has been hard at work adjusting their work to the new way we do business. Thanks to you all.
Finally, thanks to Karen and Georgia of the My Favorite Murder podcast have been a long time coming. I stumbled upon their show at a time when I was in desperate need of distraction, commiseration, and hope. And they’ve kept me sane through the last four years with their humor, their shared horror at the harm we can do to one another, and their open acknowledgment that none of us can get through this life without help. SSDGM
Any errors, mistakes, or flubs are my own.
While investigating a disappearance, Miss Caroline Hardcastle is caught between disdain and desire for the man who broke her heart—Lord Valentine Thorn.
Don’t miss their story in Fall 2021.
About the Author
Manda Collins grew up on a combination of Nancy Drew books and Jane Austen novels, and her own brand of historical romantic suspense is the result. A former academic librarian, she holds master’s degrees in English and Library & Information Studies. Her novel Duke with Benefits was named a Kirkus Best Romance of 2017. She lives on the Gulf Coast with two lazy cats, a very spoiled Shih Tzu, and more books than are strictly necessary.
Praise for A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
“With wicked smart dialogue and incredibly strong characters, Manda Collins reminds me why I love historical romance so much. Witty, intelligent, and hard to put down, you’ll love A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem.”
—Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“When I pick up a Manda Collins book, I know I’m in for a treat. With compelling characters and a rich Victorian setting, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem weaves mystery and romance into one enthralling tale.”
—Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
“[Manda] Collins is a delight! I read A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem waaay past my bedtime, absorbed by its spot-on period detail, the well-crafted characters, and, of course, the intriguing mystery. Brava!”
—Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times bestselling author
“Mystery, romance, and an indomitable heroine make for a brisk, compelling read.”
—Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author
“Both romance and mystery fans will find this a treat.”
—Publishers Weekly