The Glass House

Chapter Seventeen

Lady Jane looked appropriately distressed. "Do you indeed?"

"Yes," Sir Montague said cheerfully. "I will arrest him for running a bawdy house, but I want to be careful. Witnesses are all very well, but magistrates in the past have been persuaded to drop the case against The Glass House, and I fear the same will happen again."

"Will it?" Lady Jane's eyes flickered, although I could tell she knew bloody well that the case would be dropped again, if he pursued it. "I sympathize with your frustration, Sir Montague."

"Therefore, I probably will not be bringing charges against The Glass House itself, since my aim was simply to close it. But I would like to not let Mr. Kensington get away. He would simply find another house to manage."

"You are no doubt correct."

"It would be very helpful if I could find more reason to arrest him. And witnesses. I would appreciate any light you can shine on this gentleman and his activities."

The quiet in the room belied the tension here. The fine silk furnishings, the paneled walls, and high ceiling, all elegant and tasteful, seemed to cringe at the rather sordid business taking place among them.

Lady Jane remained still, but I sensed thoughts moving at rapid speed behind her eyes. If she betrayed Kensington, she would not be trusted in her world again. But if she did not betray him, Sir Montague would turn around and have Kensington betray her. No doubt Denis had thought of this, which is why he'd arranged for the meeting. I wondered what Denis how threatened Lady Jane to coerce her to attend.

Lady Jane wet her lips. "I believe I have heard that Mr. Kensington banks at Barclay's," she said. "He has a man of business in High Holborn. If Kensington does make money from this Glass House, no doubt you will find the evidence there. And perhaps, just perhaps, you will find servants at The Glass House who might help you against Mr. Kensington in return for being spared prosecution."

Sir Montague smiled and nodded. "Perhaps. I had thought of that. Your suggestions are apt." He shifted his bulk, and the chair legs creaked. "The Glass House is now closed. The owner has died, the property passed on. A reformer has spread the word about it, and some members of Parliament have taken notice, enough to make magistrates in the pay of The Glass House nervous."

He beamed, happy. Lady Jane simply sat, quiet in defeat.

Sir Montague turned to me. "Captain? Was there anything you wished to ask?"

A small smile flickered at the corner of Lady Jane's mouth. "Ah, yes, Captain Lacey. Mr. Denis speaks highly of you."

I ignored this. "Last Monday, the woman who owned The Glass House was killed. Peaches-her real name was Mrs. Chapman-left the house just after four o'clock. She told Mr. Kensington, with whom she'd quarreled, that she was on her way to keep an appointment. I would very much like to know what appointment, and with whom."

Lady Jane watched me with eyes that were shrewd and cold. She reminded me of Denis-careful and unemotional-though she did not share his elegance or smoothness of character.

"I am afraid I cannot help you, Captain," she said. "I did not know Mrs. Chapman very well."

"I know she told Kensington she wanted to see you, to tell you a few things about him. Right after that, she departed to keep an appointment. Was that appointment with you?"

"No," Lady Jane said.

"And you have no idea with whom she was meeting?"

"No, Captain."

"Question the servants, you said. I wonder, if Mr. Pomeroy arrested your coachman and made him confess, would the coachman tell us that he was instructed to have the carriage ready for Mrs. Chapman's use any time she wanted it? Including the last day of her life? Pomeroy usually has no trouble obtaining information from those he arrests." Mostly because of his bellowing voice, which frightened suspects into obedience long before Pomeroy would have to start using his fists.

The room grew silent again. Sir Montague watched me, a faint smile on his face.

Lady Jane's long hesitation betrayed her. Of course, I thought. Thompson had found no hackney drivers that had taken Peaches anywhere, and he'd concluded she'd taken a private conveyance, but whose? Not Lord Barbury's. His coachman had been questioned. Chapman did not keep his own carriage, and Peaches would hardly use it to visit to The Glass House anyway.

But what if Lady Jane's coach were available to Peaches as part of payment for Lady Jane's use of the house? Peaches could start for Sussex on a public conveyance then arrange for Lady Jane's carriage to retrieve her from a coaching inn and return her to London. Lady Jane's coachman would have no reason to run to the magistrate to report this. Better for him all around to keep quiet.

"I believe," Lady Jane ventured, "that Mrs. Chapman enjoyed the use of my carriage now and again."

"I am pleased to hear it," I said. I looked about the elegant room again, which seemed to have brightened. The maroon and blue hues stood out more, the gold glistened. "Now I know where we stand."

Sir Montague smiled at me. All was well in his world.

I had a second appointment that afternoon, which I'd nearly forgotten in the week's events, but which I remembered just in time. I made my way to Hyde Park after Sir Montague and I left the hotel and reached the stables at my appointed hour of three o'clock.

Every second Sunday, I met a young man called Philip Preston and gave him a riding lesson. I had met him during the affair of Hanover Square, in which he had been much help, and it pleased me to be able to assist the lad in return. His mother's doctor still insisted he was weak and sickly, but Philip had grown stronger and more robust every time I saw him.

I would have to tell him today of my plan to move to Berkshire, and this saddened me. I would miss Philip, though he'd told me that his father would send him back to school sometime this term, so our lessons would have been short-lived in any case.

Philip's father allowed me to ride a gelding from his stables when I gave the lesson, a fine beast with good gaits. When we finished an hour later, and Philip went off home, I asked leave to ride the gelding a bit longer for the exercise. The groom saw no objection, and I trotted away, lost in thought.

On horseback, my injury did not hinder me as much as it did on foot. I could manage to sit a sedate walk, trot, and canter, though I could ride nowhere near as well or as long as I had in the cavalry. But mounted, I felt more in league with the world, and I had missed the time in the saddle. I hoped Grenville's friend would not object to his secretary borrowing a horse every now and then and riding off into the Berkshire countryside.

Lost in thought, I did not see Louisa Brandon and her pony phaeton until I was nearly upon her.

She drove alone, the reins held in her competent hands, her high, mannish hat set at a jaunty angle. A Brandon groom clung to the back of the phaeton, his face set against Louisa's swift pace. She often drove out in the afternoons, and I realized that I had probably lingered in order to see her. I had finished with my fit of temper of the night before and hoped she would allow me to apologize.

In my turbulent life, Louisa had been a constant. I'd met her when I'd been twenty, and from then until now we'd spent little time apart. She'd been married to Brandon already when he'd introduced her, but her friendship had carried me through fire and storm. Even now, after she'd told me to keep my distance, the most difficult part about leaving London would be leaving her.

Louisa turned her head, saw me. I feared for a moment that she would pass me by without a word, try to cut me dead as she had last night. As she neared, I saw the indecision in her face, then she drew beside me and pulled the pony to a walk.

"Gabriel," she said in her clear voice. "Good afternoon."

I hid my relief by tipping my hat, then I turned my horse to ride along beside her.

"I am always pleased to see you on horseback," Louisa said. "You look almost like your old self."

"A little grayer," I answered, matching her light tone.

"We all are, are we not?"

"Not you."

She smiled. "Only because gray is more difficult to see in fair hair. But it is there, I assure you."

The groom, who was about nineteen years old, stared stiffly ahead, uninterested in our conversation.

"Louisa, I wish to beg your pardon. I was abominably rude last evening. I am sorry."

"I was rude as well," she said, voice cool. "May we forget it?"

"If you wish."

We rode for a time without speaking. When she took up the conversation again, her voice was deliberately neutral. "Aloysius read out the letter you sent him explaining your decision to go to Berkshire."

"Yes." I imagined Brandon reading it with glee.

"When would you leave?" Louisa asked.

"Soon."

Her reins went slack, and the pony, bored, slowed and stopped. "Such a thing will be fine for you. Do you believe you have the temperament to become a secretary?"

"It can be no worse than writing reports for a regimental colonel."

She tried to smile. "We will- " She broke off. "I will miss you."

We studied each other, I unwilling to say anything that might endanger our friendship further. Underneath the drama between the Brandon and me, Louisa's friendship was a rock.

Louisa drew a breath, and the moment passed. "You must write of course." Another smile curved her mouth but did not enter her voice. "It will be your profession, now."

"Indeed, I will write lengthy and tedious reports of life in the country. How many flowers wilted at dinner and whether the vicar's wife has a new hat."

Louisa's smile faded. "We will miss you." I noted the firm we that time.

She seemed to remember that her cart sat unmoving. She flicked the whip, and the pony woke up and trotted on, the groom still stoic.

That evening, I turned up, in my newly brushed regimentals, at the Derwents' mansion in Grosvenor Square at the precise hour of seven o'clock. We had supper in the grand dining room amid the sparkle of crystal glasses and the gleam of silver. A row of French windows between mirrors gave out into a garden, which had been lit with festive paper lanterns.

On my first visit with the Derwents the previous summer, when they'd turned out their finest plate and cutlery and lit the house from top to bottom, I had wondered who was the grand guest for the evening. To my amazement, I realized all the fanfare had been for me.

The Derwent family flattered me, but they had genuine liking for me. I at first had been bewildered by them, then I'd decided to let myself enjoy their innocent enthusiasm. They loved more than anything to hear tales of my adventures in the Army, would sit for hours listening to me speak.

Sir Gideon was bluff and genial as usual, very much the country squire. Fair-haired Leland seemed to have survived public school and university without scars, an amazing feat. His sister, Melissa, looked much like him, and both had a frailty that worried me. I hoped that when the time came for Melissa to marry, she would find a gentleman who would understand her naivety and not break her. She watched me shyly and rarely spoke. In the last six months, I believe she had said all of five words to me.

Lady Derwent did not cough much during the meal and seemed better. She spoke with a bright animation that matched her son's and husband's as the butler served champagne.

Mrs. Danbury behaved as though she had nothing on her conscience. She ate the with good appetite and chatted with ease. I began to wonder if Lady Breckenridge had invented the tale of Mrs. Danbury leaving with my walking stick, but I could not think of any reason Lady Breckenridge would do so.

We finished supper and adjourned for cards. I had a lively game of whist with Leland and his father and mother, while Mrs. Danbury and Melissa played upon the pianoforte and the harp.

As the light music filled the room, a marvelous thing happened. I forgot. I forgot that I was poor and lonely and that my career was behind me. I forgot about murder and deceit and the ugliness of the world, forgot everything but the pleasant music, the sincere laughter, the soft slap of cards, and the clink of pennies as we settled up-we never played for more than a farthing a point. The Derwents drew a curtain between themselves and the world, and I enjoyed retreating behind the curtain with them.

I breathed the peace of this place, happy I'd found a refuge. But I knew in my heart that the peace would not last. Lady Derwent was dying. It was only a matter of time before this bright house became one of mourning. Perhaps that was why they were so cheerfully determined to enjoy themselves now; they knew that darkness was coming.

After cards, the Lady Derwent proposed a walk in the garden. The fair weather had lasted all day, and the moon was bright. I joined them, breathing the clean air, which, though cold, was refreshing. The paper lanterns danced, spreading blue and pink and red lights, rendering the garden colorful even in the bare winter night.

But I had come here for another purpose. Mrs. Danbury had not joined us, and I excused myself, declaring I'd forgotten my gloves.

I quickly walked back to the drawing room where Mrs. Danbury had stayed behind to cover the harp. The smell of beeswax and the ladies' perfumes lingered in the room, and the laughter and music seemed to as well.

Mrs. Danbury looked at me in surprise. She settled the dust cover, flapping it like a drapery over a bed. "Will you not walk, Captain?"

As I moved to her, my expression must have startled her, because she looked at me in alarm. "Is everything all right? Has my aunt taken ill?"

"No, no," I said quickly. "Lady Derwent is well. I returned because I need to speak to you privately."

Her alarm eased, but only marginally. Tonight Mrs. Danbury wore a dress of blue and lighter blue stripes, bound by a wide sash, her bodice holding a row of false black buttons down the front.

"Oh, yes?" Mrs. Danbury asked. "What about?"

"The fact that you lied to me about my walking stick. You took it away with you when you left Inglethorpe's on Wednesday afternoon, did you not?"

She froze, and the cloth fluttered from her hands. "Why do you say so?"

"I am trying to understand what you did and why. I admit I am most puzzled."

Her color rose. Mrs. Danbury was different from the Derwents in that the she did not share their innocence. She had been married twice, and from what Lady Aline had gossiped to me, neither marriage had been very happy. Her second husband, Mickey Danbury, had enjoyed the beds of many women across London, while sparing little time for his wife. He had been a robust young man and had died breaking his neck while racing his horse from London to Brighton. And a mercy he did, Lady Aline had said.

The experience had and made Mrs. Danbury more world-wise than her uncle, aunt, and cousins, and yet she still managed to be a gentle-mannered lady.

"Captain Lacey, I am uncertain what to say to you." She gave me a cool look, reminding me that her station in life was a good deal higher than mine. "Of what precisely are you accusing me?"

"I want you to tell me what happened. I know you took the walking stick. And I cannot help but remember that Inglethorpe had been in the act of removing his clothing when Mr. Chapman burst in and killed him. For an assignation, I assumed. But Inglethorpe was not in a hurry. He removed his clothing and folded it. He would not have done that unless he'd been well acquainted with the woman with whom he was about to carry out the affair. A woman who would wait for him in the next room, or who hid there when Chapman came rushing in. Lovers of long standing, who no longer need to undress in a frenzy of passion."

Her cool look turned to a glare. "Are you implying that the woman was me? How dare you? Shall I call my uncle, and tell him what you have said? I hope to heaven he will show you the door."

"A man was murdered," I said in a hard voice. "The weapon was the sword in my walking stick, which you were seen taking away with you the day before. For God's sake, tell me what you did, and please tell me that you had nothing to do with Inglethorpe's death."

Her breath caught. She looked at me a long moment, lips parted, eyes moist. "I had nothing to do with it," she said, losing her defiance. "Nothing at all, I swear to you. When I left Mr. Inglethorpe, he was alive. I never knew he'd been murdered until my uncle told me of it later that day."

So she had been there. My heart sank. I had hoped that Mrs. Danbury would tell me that the walking stick had been stolen from her and that she had no idea how it had ended up in Inglethorpe's reception room.

My throat tightening, I said, "Begin from the beginning, and tell me. You discovered my walking stick left behind on Wednesday, and you took it away with you. Did you realize it was mine?"

Mrs. Danbury rested her hand on top of the harp, half-shielding herself with the instrument. "Yes, of course. When I saw that you'd left it behind, I caught it up and rushed to take it down to you. But when I reached the street, you'd already gone."

True. I had leapt into Lady Breckenridge's coach, eager to hear what she had to tell me about Lord Barbury.

Mrs. Danbury went on, "So I brought it home with me."

"And then the next day, you took it back to Inglethorpe's."

Color flooded her face. "Yes."

"I must wonder why you did so."

"Because…" Her flush deepened, and she looked ashamed. "Oh, dear heavens, Captain. I was a fool. Mr. Inglethorpe told me he would have another gathering at his house on Thursday, and that I could return and partake of more of his magic gas. I did not want to; it made me rather sick, as I told you. But he said he had invited you as well. So I thought, the next day, I'd simply bring your walking stick with me and give it back to you."

"But when you reached Inglethorpe's, you realized he had deceived you."

Her gray eyes sparkled in anger. "The odious man had me wait in his reception room; I did not realize at first that I was the only person to arrive."

"When did you discover your mistake?"

"When he returned to the reception room and closed me in with him. I wanted to leave right away, but he bade me stay."

"But the servants swore in court that they saw no one. Who let you in?"

"Inglethorpe answered the door himself. He must have been waiting for me. My footman had knocked on the door, then nipped down the scullery stairs to the kitchens. When Inglethorpe appeared instead of his butler, I grew nervous. I meant to call my footman back, but Inglethorpe came outside and drew me in."

Thus explaining the mud on his indoor shoes.

"I am beginning to be happy you had a weapon with you," I said. "What happened then?"

"Mr. Inglethorpe asked, rather rudely, why I was carrying a gentleman's walking stick. I explained that you had left it and that I had brought it to give you. He looked annoyed and snatched it away from me."

My voice became a growl. "Did he?"

"That was not the worst of it. He pulled the sword partway out, and he…" Her face turned scarlet. "He made lewd gestures with it."

Bloody bastard. I wished Inglethorpe alive gain so I could have the joy of pummeling him. I hoped he was roasting in hell.

"I'm sorry," I said. "The man needed calling out."

"I was mortified. I tried to leave, but he blocked the way. Then he began talking about my late husband, Mickey, and how he'd always admired him. He said… Oh, dear lord, I can hardly repeat it."

"Do not, if it distresses you. I believe I can guess the gist."

"No, I want to tell you. I cannot bear to keep it inside any longer, and of course I cannot relieve my feelings talking to my uncle or aunt. Mr. Inglethorpe said he'd always wanted to take Mickey to bed, but now that Mickey was gone, I would do." Tears of mortification welled in her eyes.

My rage grew. "Mr. Inglethorpe is lucky he is dead."

"I could not think what to say or do. I had gone there out of my own foolishness. Mr. Inglethorpe was between me and the door, and he began taking off his coat and waistcoat. He was very careful and deliberate about it, almost taunting me. I had never been so disgusted and afraid in my life."

My hands curled to fists. "Please tell me you got away."

Mrs. Danbury nodded. "When he turned to lay his clothing on a chair, I ran. He grabbed for me and nearly had me, but mercifully, I was too quick. I ran out of the house. I climbed into my carriage and told the coachman to go, quickly." She laughed, tears choking her voice. "I left my poor footman behind. He ran up the scullery stairs as we pulled away, swearing like a sailor. But I was afraid to stop, and the poor fellow had to walk home."

She twisted her hands, her laughter dying. "Later when I heard Mr. Inglethorpe had been killed with the swordstick, I did not know what to think. I was afraid to mention my part in the matter; I was afraid the magistrates would believe I killed him. I swore my servants to silence and I lied to you and to the coroner. I am sorry, Captain, but I was so afraid."

"Of course you were," I said, gentling my voice. She'd been foolish, but not guilty of evil. "But it no longer matters. Mr. Chapman confessed to murdering him, and you no longer need to worry."

She sniffled as she drew a handkerchief from her sleeve. "It has been horrible. I expected the magistrates to arrive and arrest me any moment. And at the inquest, I dreaded the moment when one of the others would announce that they'd seen me take the walking stick. I can only thank heaven that no one did."

"Lady Breckenridge saw you."

Mrs. Danbury stared with tear-filled eyes. "Did she? She not say so."

"She has her own sense of honor," I said. "She thought it would be unfair to you."

Mrs. Danbury looked puzzled but merely wiped her nose again. "I know ought to have told you, Captain, but I was utterly humiliated. I did not want you to know I'd been anywhere near the man, and I did not want you to believe I'd killed him. I could only imagine that you'd share the story with Mr. Grenville, and then it would be all over London."

"You mistake me," I said in surprise. "I would never have done such a thing."

"I know that now." Mrs. Danbury gave me a regretful smile. "Uncle and Leland believe that you are the most honorable gentleman alive. But I could scarcely credit that you were as fine as they painted you."

"Because they are apt to believe the very best of everyone."

"They do." Her smile held more warmth. "But I am beginning to believe they are correct about you."

A warmth began in my breastbone. "Your uncle and cousin are far kinder than I deserve. But I have some blame in this-Inglethorpe ought to have been flogged, but I was the one who so foolishly left my walking stick behind in the first place."

"Do not blame yourself, Captain. I ought to have left well enough alone."

"You had no need to bother returning the walking stick directly to me, you know. You could have left it with Sir Gideon-I was due to dine here, or Sir Gideon could have sent it on to me."

"Yes, I know. I thought of that." She reddened. "But you see, Captain, I thought it would be much more pleasant to return it to you myself."

I regarded her in surprise. She sounded suddenly shy. Shy, when I knew this woman was popular in society and courted by some of the most eligible bachelors in London.

"You are kind," I said, my voice softening.

Her shyness fell away, and her look turned almost flirtatious. "I so enjoyed waltzing with you, Captain, that I rather hoped I could do it again."

Heat suffused my face. "I made quite a cake of myself leaping about like a caper merchant. I apologize for that liberty."

"I seem to recall I did not mind in the least." Mrs. Danbury flashed me a smile. It was a nice smile, one that deepened the corners of her mouth. While this lady was much more aware of the world than her ingenuous cousins, she still possessed their sweetness.

She took my arm. "Shall we walk?"

We strolled together to the garden. The January night was colder now, far too cold for traversing garden paths, but the Derwents seemed to create a warmth of their own. Soon we were laughing and talking together, never minding the weather. Mrs. Danbury's story relieved me, and I let myself enjoy the rest of the evening.

The chill in my heart returned with a vengeance when I entered my rooms later that night and found Kensington there, waiting for me.