Page 33 of Moonlight Encounter
Aidan snarled. “Is he not now the Baron of Filminster? Lord Filminster? Otherwise known to his peers as …Filminster?”
Trafford waved a hand in dismissal. “Tempers are short and patience is frayed. I will allow your comments to pass without further rebuke.”
Soughing heavily, Aidan reflected it was not untrue that his patience was frayed.
He wished to end the risk to Lily’s safety.
He also wished to find a killer other than Smythe for the sake of his future bride.
None of that took into account the restless night of dreaming of Gwen’s body pressed against his, the hungry return of her kisses, and the almost inaudible moans she made from the back of her throat, firing his blood and jolting him from his sleep. Perhaps it had been a mistake to take her out on the terrace after dinner, but the truth was he had to do it. The compulsion to be close, to breathe in her citrus scent and to sip on her honeyed lips, had been too much to resist.
“I apologize. You have known Filminster for some years, so address him as you wish.”
Trafford snickered. “I shall, Little Breeches.”
Aidan curled his fingers into a fist. The ongoing taunt was not worthy of acknowledgment. Trafford might very well never cease using it if Aidan allowed him the knowledge that it was so very irritating. This was his own fault for engaging rather than allowing Filminster to respond to Trafford’s prompt.
“Did something happen?” Aidan turned his attention back to his sister’s husband, who had clearly not been paying a smidgen of attention to the tense confrontation.
Instead, he was staring down at the colorful rug on the floor with a bemused expression. Aidan knew that look. It was how he must appear when he had time alone with his thoughts. He knew the precise and incessant thought that ran through his head that caused that look.
How do I find the killer, and resolve this muddle, before Lily is hurt again?
Trafford cleared his throat pointedly, causing Filminster to blink and return to their conversation.
“What happened?” Aidan questioned, when he still said nothing.
“The runner, Briggs, has had a couple men in the street monitoring Ridley House, and he reported that someone iswatching the house. At his advice, I had the guards reduce their visibility to find out what the watchers would do … One of them broke into the library last evening but evaded the Johns when they attempted to capture him.”
Aidan jumped to his feet. “How long has the house been under surveillance? Why was I not informed?”
Filminster made eye contact with him, his eyes dull in the morning light. “There was no reason to cause your undue concern.”
A tide of fear on Lily’s behalf washed over Aidan as he began to pace. Throwing his hands up, he barked his next question. “Why do you not simply take Lily to Somerset? Remove her from this danger?”
Filminster sighed. “Briggs advises me it is safer to remain here. Here, we have guards and servants to defend Ridley House. If we depart, we will be in carriages and exposed.”
“But they are attempting to break in so they might search for the letter, not specifically for you or Lily!”
“If the killer who hired them believes we have found the letter, he might send a party after us. Out on the turnpikes, we would have little defense.”
“But the evidence we need might be there! We could solve this.”
“It is not that simple. My … uncle … kept copious records of everything. There are entire attics full of papers, journals, and accounts dating back decades. I can hardly endanger Lily’s safety on a long journey through the country, exposed to attack. Separating is out of the question. And, even then, once we were to reach Filminster, I would have weeks or months of pawing through piles of documentation to find anything useful because I can only entrust such a sensitive task to myself and perhaps some of Briggs’s men. Nay, the most expedient course is to flush the killer out with this investigation.”
Aidan growled, returning to his pacing while he tried to think. “Then remove with Lily to my parents’ home.”
Trafford stood up, rolling his shoulders. “It will not help, Little Breeches. Here Filminster has guards, as well as Michaels and the staff. Your parents are taking many of their servants with them to the country after the wedding, from what I understand. It is better for Ridley and his wife to remain here.”
“We need to solve this! Lily cannot remain in Ridley House forever!”
“Today is Saturday, which means you wed in a week. Lord and Lady Moreland will depart the following week, so you will be free to investigate Smythe and find out if there is a connection between his disposal of assets and the murder. Briggs has been looking into the sales, but it has not led to any new revelations.”
“How? How will I find out anything? I collect my bride on Saturday morning and then we will live in my parents’ home while our own home is being prepared.”
Filminster interrupted their exchange. “Perhaps you can convince Smythe to host you in his home? Perhaps … your parents’ townhouse is in need of urgent repairs and you think it will be less upheaval for Miss Smythe and you to remain in Smythe’s home until your new residence is ready?”
Aidan rubbed a hand over his face, considering the suggestion. His father had instructed that one of his London properties be prepared for Aidan and his bride, but it take a few weeks yet.
