Page 59 of The Devil in Oxford
“My Lord.” I took a careful step down from the curb to where the car had pulled off to the side of the narrow street. “How are you today?”
“Capital, my dear. And you were the final person I was hoping to find. I was telling Francis here how bereft I was that you were not at home when I called upon Hawick earlier today.” He gestured to his son with his free hand—the garnet signet ring on his hand catching my attention. It always took me aback when people referred to Mr. Owen by his title. He might be the Viscount of Hawick, but I sometimes forgot as I’d always known him as Mr. Owen. “I am having a holiday supper this evening, my dear, and would dearly love if you could also join us. After all, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I suspect Hawick will want to keep you all to himself for the holidays but if you could join us, it would mean the world to me. You know how truly boring we antiquarians can be, and you brighten every room you enter.”
The edge of my mouth curved up slightly. “I wish I could, but you see I…” I struggled to find a plausible excuse—an unusual circumstance to keep me away—but could not think of a single reason that might work. I did not have the time to spend atanotherdreadful supper with the antiquarians, no matter how much I might like Lord Amberley. But I also couldn’t very well admit I wasin the midst of a murder investigation with a half-dead girl at home to tend to. The exhaust pricked my nose as I struggled to come up with a plausible excuse.
Lord Amberley’s son shifted in his seat, staring out the other window and giving off the impression that he had better places to be. His skin was unnaturally flushed from the warmth of the car. I opened my mouth to inquire if he was feeling quite right when Amberley interrupted. “Do say you’ll come, my dear girl.”
The man was overly kind. Almosttookind.
“I really don’t think Mr. Owen is feeling up to—”
“Nonsense, Hawick already said he’d attend. It’ll be a grand time. Professor Reaver has agreed to join us as well. I’ve only just come from the museum. It is a treat when he rouses himself from the dusty storerooms to speak with us. His tales from Egypt during the war are always a particular delight.”
My expression faltered at the mention of the war. Amberley nattered for a few moments about heroism and “the making of a man.” I swallowed hard. As someone who had firsthand knowledge of the war, I doubted how “delightful” anyone’s experiences had been.
“Francis here went off and did his bit too. Didn’t you, lad?” He elbowed his son, who let out a disgruntled bleat of agreement. “It’s going to be a splendid time this evening, Miss Vaughn.” Amberley grasped my hands suddenly in his own. “And young Professor Treadway is also coming. I spoke with him earlier this morning. He seemed in a bit of a muddle, truth be told. I’m not sure what’s gotten into the boy, but after some convincing he came around.”
My attention snapped into place. “What do you mean, a muddle? Was he unwell?”
“Scattered, skittish. Why, Francis here knocked a fossil off his desk, and you’d have thought someone shot poor Treadway, the way he leapt from his chair. I was convinced he wasn’t going to come at all, but he finally changed his mind.”
How very odd. “Was he was acting peculiar?”
“Very. Never seen the lad in such a state. But I suspect dinner in good company will cure whatever ails him.”
I highly doubted that. Amberley’s description of poor Jonathan Treadway certainly implied he’d learned of Leona’s disappearance. Learned of it or was complicit. “Perhaps I should stop by the museum to check on him.”
“Oh no, my dear. It would do you no good.”
I raised a brow in silent question.
“Treadway left straightaway. Ran right from the room as soon as I’d told him that Reaver would attend. Said he would come and then left us alone in his office! Can you believe it?” By now, Amberley’s son had fallen asleep against the window. Softly snoring.
“He left?” I could not have disguised my surprise had I tried.
Lord Amberley nodded somberly. “Come, my dear girl. Let me drive you home. You must be half frozen. He reached for the handle to open the door.
Treadway and Reaver together in the same room? Perhaps this was exactly the spark I needed to move this investigation along. “No. No… I don’t mind the walk.”
Lord Amberley settled himself deeper into the plush leather seat and patted my hand where it rested on the window of his car door. “Are you certain? It would be no trouble at all.”
“I am… but thank you.”
He lifted a gloved finger. “Do say you’ll join us tonight. It’s going to be the party of a century!”
Considering the last time I attended a dinner party in Oxford, Julius Harker ended up dead the next day, I feared what might follow this one—and yet the temptation was too great. I wet my lips. “That does sound intriguing. I shall try to come. May I bring a guest with me?”
“A guest, my dear?”
I absently ran my gloved finger along the chain of my locket. “A friend of Mr. Owen’s from Cornwall is staying with us. I think he’denjoy the company.” A bald lie, especially as I knew Ruan would want absolutely nothing to do with any of these men. But we’d become partners in this investigation thus far—and I sensed he would insist upon joining me once he learned of my plans.
“Ah, you must mean Laurent’s pet.”
I bristled at that dismissive term.
“Hawick was proud of the boy when he sent him up to Oxford for school. I still recall Kivell from his time as a student here. A terribly lonely boy. Always toiling in that greenhouse with poor Ernst. The pair of them closer than brothers. It was good of Laurent to take him under his wing.” A sadness clouded his expression at the mention of Laurent’s dead son, and my irritation ebbed—a fraction. “We do all miss Ernst so. It is a shame what happened to him. But yes, yes, please bring your gentleman. I will have my man set another two places. I am glad that you will join us.” He started to close his window, then paused again. “Are you certain that I cannot see you home? It truly is no bother.”
I tugged my coat tighter about me as the wind picked up, whistling down the street. “No. I could use a walk today. Until tonight, Lord Amberley.”
