The Unexpected Wife - Jess Michaels Page 0,36

The way his fingers flexed on his glass when he did manage to choke it out. Interesting.

“Yes. They were both in London. And while both deny knowing anything about Montgomery’s bigamy, they could easily be lying about that. It would give either of them a solid motive.” He watched for Leighton’s response and the earl’s jaw tightened.

“Indeed, I cannot imagine how any of those women felt when they heard the news.”

“And what about Gilmore?” Owen pressed.

Leighton’s gaze darted to him. “The Duke of Gilmore?” he gasped.

Owen nodded. “Surely you must see why.”

“I do. He is very protective of his younger sister Ophelia, and he must have been enraged that Ras chose her. Especially since he and I have been friends for…years. Since we were boys at school. He knew Ras, played games with him when we were children. He hasn’t spoken to me about the betrayal, but he must feel it with some variation of the keenness that I do.”

Owen marked that fact in his mind, knowing he’d later have a great deal to add to the notes he had on the case. Gilmore was so serious a person, it was hard to picture him as a child, playing games with a man who would later try to snare his beloved sister.

But it certainly made the man’s motives sharper.

“God’s teeth, I hope that isn’t true,” Leighton murmured. “His investigation into my brother was understandable, though I wished he’d come to me first. But to kill him…”

“It may not have been Gilmore,” Owen said. “Are there any other possibilities?”

“Have you spoken to the other woman?”

Owen sat up straighter. “Other woman?”

“Yes. Perhaps it means nothing, but more than five years ago, before Ras married Abigail, he was involved with another woman. She was the daughter of a pub owner. She’d worked as a serving girl for her father, and that was how Ras met her. He believed himself in love with her. He wanted to marry her, but our father nipped that in the bud. Ras was very angry—they nearly came to blows.” Leighton flinched. “Funny how our father was trying so desperately to avoid a scandal, and yet here we are.” He slugged back the remaining alcohol in his glass. “Here we bloody are.”

“What was her name?” Owen asked gently.

Leighton shook his head. “God, I can hardly recall. What was her name? Rebecca? Regina? Something with an R.”

That didn’t do much to narrow the potential persons of interest. There were dozens of pubs around London, with dozens of servers and patronesses whose name began with R. But it was, yet again, a new piece of information to add to the pile.

“In truth, I hope it isn’t one of the wives,” Leighton continued with a sigh. “I knew Abigail all along, of course. She was the proper wife. And though my brother and I were estranged, I never had a cross interaction with her. Phillipa and Celeste are newer to me. But I would hate it if my brother pushed either so far.” He flexed his hands against his thighs. “You know. I’m certain you are as loath to suspect Celeste as I am to suspect Phillipa.”

Owen blinked, thoughts of his investigation fading at those pointed words. “I—what do you mean?”

Leighton leaned back in his chair. “Come, man, I’m not blind. There is clearly a connection between you. I see it whenever your eyes meet. And why not? She’s a lovely woman and seems a good sort. This mess created by my brother will make things difficult, but…” His gaze darted away. “You don’t have the hindrances another might have for such a thing.”

Owen pursed his lips at the implication. It was more evident than ever that Leighton had some attachment to Phillipa. And he could, indeed, see how difficult that would be for him. Leighton was knee deep in this awful situation. Developing a relationship with one of his late brother’s wives wouldn’t ease the talk, only multiply it.

“It is still complicated,” Owen said softly.

“Why?”

Owen choked on a laugh. “You ask me that?”

Leighton threw up his hands. “Come now. She isn’t married—she never was, thanks to Ras’s selfishness. So there is no limit on her for a mourning period. I also get the impression that Celeste never had any feelings for my brother.”

“No. I think it was an arrangement and not one she was very pleased with.”

“Then there is no guilt for her or for you.” Leighton shrugged. “If you have the inclination, why not follow it? You might be good