A Stroke of Malice (Lady Darby Mystery #8) - Anna Lee Huber Page 0,52

rolled my eyes at his dramatics. “It is partially what Gage and I do—investigate crimes. Sometimes murder. In any case, you’re not responsible for me anymore, he is.” I flicked a hand at my husband, who stood gazing down at us in forbearance. “And we aren’t in any sort of danger.”

Trevor parted his fingers to peer at me through them, his voice dripping with scorn. “When have you investigated a murder that hasn’t resulted in one of you finding yourself in danger?”

I scowled. “That is not the point.”

“How is it not the point?!”

“I believe we’re straying from the matter at hand.” Gage raised his voice to intercede, sinking into the Foliot armchair opposite the one I’d chosen. “St. Mawr, you’ve now ascertained your sister is unharmed.” He paused a moment, allowing those calming words to sink in, before raising his eyebrows in expectation. “Is that the sole reason you sought us out, or do you have something more to tell us?”

Trevor turned his glare on my husband, perhaps hearing the same bite underlying his tone that I did. Being an only child, Gage might be tolerant of, and even sometimes amused by, my squabbles with my brother and sister, but one thing he would not tolerate was anyone questioning his care and protection of me.

“Quit being a muttonhead,” I told Trevor. “It’s not our fault you dipped too deep last night. Go sleep it off if you can’t be civil.”

His jaw flexed as if biting back his words, and then it relaxed. “Have you spoken to Alana?”

“About an hour and a half ago. Why?”

His hand dropped to his side. “I was accosted by several guests on my way to find you through this labyrinth of a house, and a number of them seem intent on departing.”

Given the fact Alana and Philip had left their children in the care of the governess and nursemaids some forty miles distant at Blakelaw House—our childhood home, which now belonged to Trevor—while we ventured to this house party, I could read between the lines.

“They didn’t mention wanting to leave.” My gaze flicked toward Gage. “But we were rather preoccupied.”

Gage clearly sensed the guilt suffusing my thoughts, for he strove to reassure me. “Had they wished to leave, they would have said something.”

“Oh, undoubtedly,” Trevor chimed in. “Have you ever known Alana to let anything stand in her way when she wishes to be with her children?”

“True.” As much as my sister loved me, I knew her children would always come first. As they should. I glanced downward, resting a hand over my abdomen. As I supposed mine would.

I looked up to discover Trevor’s gaze had tracked my movements. When they lifted to meet mine, I was struck by the fact that he seemed to have come to some decision, some resolve. Though what it was, I couldn’t have told you.

“I’ll go find Cromarty and Alana, then,” he declared, pushing to his feet. “Send word if you have need of me.”

“We need to search the tunnel where the body was found,” Gage offered. “If you feel up to it, you could join us. Say, in an hour?”

Trevor nodded slowly. “Just tell me where to meet you.”

Gage issued him instructions and showed him out of the room. I waited until the door had shut behind Trevor before asking my husband about the olive branch he’d seemed to hold out to him.

He stared down at the creamy white cushions before him where he rested his hands along the dark wood of the chair’s high back. “Yes, well, I suppose I can’t fault him for his brotherly concern.”

“And?” I prompted when I could tell there was more he was choosing not to say.

His gaze lifted to meet mine, sharp with aggravation, before reluctantly explaining. “I’ve already asked Lord Edward and his brother, Lord Henry, to assist me in my search of the tunnel, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two more of the duchess’s children also joined us. And as I suspect you have no intention of being left behind.” His eyebrows lifted toward his hairline in admonishment. “I decided it might be prudent if we were not outnumbered.”

I frowned. “Do you expect trouble?”

He turned to the side, the line of his jaw hardening. “I don’t know what to expect.”

There was no doubt he was being evasive, for he must have some particular reason for not wishing to be outnumbered by the Kerr brothers. Unless it was purely a general suspicion. After all, the three youngest Kerr