Blame It on Bath Page 0,101
a curt line to say he was delayed but all was well. Or even return home quickly to fetch fresh clothing. Allenton was less than twenty miles away, not an insurmountable distance to a man with a sound horse. Even Bragg would have been a welcome sight.
She went to visit Cora, hoping to hear if Lieutenant Carter might have written his sister. Much to her surprise and delight, the man himself was there when she arrived.
“How fortunate I should see you,” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” she said warmly. “I’ve been curious to know what you’ve discovered.”
“Well, nothing yet, but de Lacey has hopes. Our fellow Ogilvie seems to have kept everything he ever picked up, and his daughter, Mrs. Nollworth, squirreled away every last piece of it. A fortunate turn for our purpose but dashed tedious to sort out. It may take another month to examine everything. The Nollworths are very particular, for all that they’ve stored every bill and worn-out hat as if they were treasures of antiquity.”
“Then you believe it is the right man?”
Carter nodded. “It seems hard to credit there could be two such scoundrels of the same age named William Ogilvie, living in the same county. De Lacey is sure we’ll find something of use.”
“That would be wonderful,” said Kate softly.
“Indeed.” Carter grinned. “I daresay we’ll find enough information to keep a scandal sheet in business if we keep looking. Ogilvie was a veritable Renaissance man of vice; illicit marriages are the least objectionable. I wrote Cora some of the more shocking episodes—why, there was one scheme with a Covent Garden pickpocket—”
“Danny!” Cora smiled at Kate even as she gave her brother a look of warning. “I’m sure Kate has no wish to listen to you prattle on. I thought you had some errands to run as well.”
Her brother flushed and gave Kate a contrite look. “Of course. De Lacey asked me to see to a few things for him. He’ll have me flogged if I sit about gossiping. Forgive me, Lady Gerard. I’m back to Allenton soon; shall I give him your regards?”
“Yes, please,” she said faintly. Apparently those “few things” Gerard had asked Lieutenant Carter to do didn’t include calling on her or telling her how they were getting on. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
When the door closed behind him, she stirred her tea, staring into the depths of her cup. “Don’t mind Danny,” said Cora brightly after a moment. “He’s become as chatty as an old woman since convalescing. I tried to encourage him to take up drawing, but he refused, which is a great pity. He used to be quite talented as a boy.”
“He wrote to you.” Kate raised her eyes.
Cora made a dismissive gesture. “He told me very little—nothing of import.”
Gerard hadn’t even done that much. “You could have told me,” she murmured.
With a rustle of skirts her friend came to sit beside her on the small sofa. “Kate, you mustn’t take it to heart. Danny told me they’ve been searching from early morning until it’s too dark to see at night, in a filthy little storage room with that vile Nollworth pestering them every hour. You should take it as a mark of your good sense that they’re so consumed; you had the thought to look for Reverend Ogilvie, and now look what you’ve uncovered . . .”
Kate set her teacup down. “I am pleased, and very hopeful.”
Cora watched her with concerned eyes. “You look as though your heart is breaking,” she said. “It grieves me to see it.”
Kate said nothing.
“Does—does Captain de Lacey know you love him?” Cora asked gently. Kate glanced at her in alarm. “Don’t worry,” she rushed to add. “I would never breathe a word—but I do so want you to be happy, and it is the greatest joy to be happy with your own husband—”
Kate took a deep breath. “He knows.” She exhaled slowly. “He hasn’t been similarly afflicted.”
“Oh, my dear.” Cora wrapped her free hand around Kate’s. “He cares for you a great deal. Everyone can see it. And he’s so solicitous of your well-being.”
She forced a shaky laugh. It was either that, or burst into tears. “That makes it worse, Cora. He’s wonderful in every way, more than I could ever have asked for in a husband. And I think I would rather have a husband who never bought me jewels or held the umbrella for me, if only he loved me.”
“He will,” declared Cora firmly. “Who could not love you? It just takes time for a