Page 34 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
When they reached his home, she wasn’t surprised to find that it was neat, orderly, and well-kept in a row of rather respectable looking townhouses in brown-brick.
“Here we are,” Dr. Lewis said as he let them in the door and they stood in the front, where Juliana assumed patients usually waited. “I have a study in the back. I shall go write out these names for you and will be back shortly.”
He returned after a couple of minutes and passed Juliana the list – which made her more impressed with him than she had even been before. Most men would always defer to the husband, or the brother, or the father. But this new half-brother of hers treated her as if she was a person in her own right, and she appreciated it more than he could know.
“Thank you,” she said with a wide smile. “Thank you very much.”
He nodded. “Of course.” He paused a moment, rocking back and forth from his heels to his toes as though considering something before he spoke.
“I know it is a rather odd request, considering we just met, and I do not have a wife myself, but if you would ever like to dine together again, it would be a pleasure to do so. It’s strange, but I feel as though we have known each other for quite some time.”
Juliana reached out a hand and laid it on his arm. “I completely understand,” she said. “And we would be happy to invite you over for an evening.”
Dr. Lewis beamed back at her until Matthew cleared his throat from behind her and Juliana immediately felt the blood rushing from her face as she realized that she had lost herself in the moment and her enthusiasm in getting to know her brother. For to Dr. Lewis, she and Matthew were married, and certainly would not be living in the middle of Mayfair in one of London’s largest mansions.
“Have a good evening, Dr. Lewis,” Matthew said before steering Juliana out the door, the note clutched in her hand, and they made their farewells before they stepped out into the slowly cooling late afternoon air.
Matthew looked over at her and began to shake his head. “I believe you will ever surprise me.”
“I know that was stupid,” she said, instantly chagrined. “It just came out of my mouth before I realized that you and I can hardly entertain together, especially at Warwick House.” She paused as a thought came over her. “Perhaps we can ask him to dinner one night at your home?”
Matthew was already shaking his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“I live by myself in a boarding house apartment. Most of the other occupants are also single men. It would be quite odd for the two of us to live in one, especially if we are expecting a child. And there is clearly no sign a woman lives with me.”
Juliana was actually rather glad to hear that, but she wasn’t about to say it aloud.
“I shall have to see it some time and consider it for myself. We could always tell him that we are about to move.”
“Juliana—”
But James approached them at that point, halting their conversation. He looked rather weary as he asked, “Home, my lady?” and she nodded. They all deserved to be finished with this day, and most certainly would require something to eat.
“Home, James,” she said, as Matthew took his seat away from her – reminding her that this was all just a game, as much as she wanted it to be true.
* * *
They were nearingMayfair when Matthew heard his name being called out again, and he looked around, wondering just who had tracked him down now – another one of his family members, or a suspect again?
But there was no one in sight. Then he heard the voice again and he told James to slow slightly.
“Matthew?” Juliana said from within. “I believe someone is calling for you.”
“Yes, I heard it,” he said in a low voice, even as all of the hair on his body seemed to stand on end. Something wasn’t right. The night sky had begun to descend upon them, and they were just about to leave Holborn. There were far too many dark alleyways for him to properly see within them. He would prefer they continue on their way.
“Keep on, James,” he said, as his name was called again – there was no denying it – only this time there was a “help!” added to the end of it.
Matthew was at war within himself. They were in Holborn. It could be someone from his family, or if not, an old friend. But he had no desire to leave Juliana and knew that it could be foolish to do so.
“James, can you drive near the alleyway where the voice is coming from? But be sure not to stop.”
James nodded, beginning to steer the carriage toward where Matthew pointed. As they neared, the sound came again, closer this time.
Matthew jumped down from the carriage as it still moved.
“Keep driving, James,” he said, one of his hands on the side as he tried to see through the darkness.
