Pippa and the Prince of Secrets by Grace Callaway

28

Cull scaled the rear fence of Howard Morton’s property, moving stealthily toward the small two-story house. In a few minutes, Pippa would be knocking on Morton’s door. When she did, Mikey and Matches, who were discreetly keeping watch, would sound the signal. While Pippa distracted Morton, Cull would enter through the back and search the man’s house for clues.

Pippa had one of the mudlark whistles with her; if she used it, Cull, Mikey, and Matches would rush to her aid. Or she could take care of the problem herself, Cull thought wryly, using the pistol tucked in the pocket of her skirts.

An Angel always comes prepared,she’d told him primly.

It was the damnedest thing: trusting Pippa didn’t lessen his protectiveness. He felt more possessive now that he had something to lose, and he wasn’t used to the feeling. Wasn’t used to life giving him anything, let alone his heart’s desire. Truth be told, allowing himself to love Pippa, to be happy and contemplate a future with her, felt almost selfish.

Years ago, he’d left Maisie at the Hunt Academy because he thought that was the safest place for her. At the time, it had been the most painful decision of his life, letting his sister go and knowing he’d hurt her. Yet he’d believed he was doing the right thing…until she’d come to him, soon after graduating from the school, and told him she was with child.

The father was her employer, a married nob with a family.

Recalling the shame in Maisie’s eyes still felt like a blow to the gut. For the first time, Cull had wanted to commit murder. But Maisie had stopped him. Told him that if he did anything to the father of her child, she would never forgive him. She’d made him swear on their mam’s grave that he would stay away from the blackguard and keep her secret.

Cull had given her his word. He’d also taken her to Fanny, who ran a place called the Nursery House, which helped women in Maisie’s predicament. Fanny had taken care of Maisie. After the babe was born, Maisie had turned down Cull’s financial support, instead finding another position, this time in Bristol. She was still there, employed as a housekeeper to a spinster.

Cull’s letters to Maisie went unanswered. She wanted nothing to do with him, the brother who’d failed her, and he didn’t blame her. He’d learned from his mistakes, however, and kept a better eye on her, though she never knew it. Over the years, he’d even had glimpses of his nephew, now a robust young boy. Cull wished that he could make things right with Maisie. But he didn’t know how. Didn’t know if it was possible.

Having Pippa in his life made him acutely aware of his failings. Of all that could go wrong, even if you cared about someone, even if you thought you were doing the right thing. He wanted to confide in Pippa about Maisie, but he’d given his sister his promise. And he knew the last thing Maisie wanted was for her friends at the Hunt Academy, who’d thought of her as a success, to find out her secret disgrace.

Hearing Mikey and Matches’s signal, a subtle whistle that sounded like a bird call, Cull shook off the past. Pippa was inside. Time to get to work.

He used a trellis to scale the back wall, going through a window into Morton’s bedchamber. Having sent mudlarks to do surveillance last week, he’d planned his visit to coincide with the cook’s weekly shopping trip to the village and the maid’s day off. There was no one to disturb him as he rifled through Morton’s room.

Finding nothing of consequence in the man’s personal effects, he continued to the adjoining chamber, which appeared to function as a study. The décor featured crammed bookshelves and teetering stacks of newspapers and suited a bachelor schoolmaster. Spotting a globe on a stand next to the cluttered desk, Cull felt the upward jerk of his eye muscles. Why the gentry believed that a globe with a “secret” compartment would fool any thief was beyond him. The silly contraption stuck out like a sore thumb and practically shouted, “Search me.”

It was the work of a moment to find the mechanism that unlocked the globe. Flipping open the top half, Cull was greeted by the scent of floral perfume, which came from the stack of letters nestled in the bottom half. Cull picked up the letter on top. The cream-colored stationery was thick, the handwriting neat and feminine.

“What do we have here?” he said under his breath.

In the ten minutes that Pippa had been in Morton’s company, she’d come to two conclusions: he was a mild-mannered fellow, and he was hiding something.

The schoolmaster seemed pleasant enough, offering her tea, which they took at a table in the front parlor. They were sitting at one end as the other was piled with books. Morton was handsome in an unassuming way, with wavy blond hair, moss-green eyes, and a slender build. His clothing was simple and somber as befitted his profession. Yet Charlie had taught the Angels to recognize the tell-tale signs of deception, and Morton exhibited quite a few of them.

He was fidgety, his hair disheveled from the times he’d run his fingers through it. When Pippa had explained that she was a friend of Julianna’s who’d come here in hopes of finding justice for the murdered lady, his gaze had shifted like that of cornered prey. And now, as he spoke, his voice had a slightly raised pitch that suggested nerves.

“I don’t know why you think I can help, Lady Longmere,” Morton said.

“I was given to believe that you and Lady Hastings were quite close.”

Morton’s cup rattled in the saucer as he set it down. “How do you mean?”

“Did you not spend time together as children?”

“Oh…that. I mean, we did.” Morton ran his hand through his hair again. “Her father and mine were cronies, and I spent several summers at Mr. Turner’s estate. I was saddened at his passing—and Julianna’s too, of course,” he added hastily. “No one should die in such a horrible fashion.”

To Pippa, his words sounded trite…practiced. What is he concealing?

She leaned forward. “I agree. That is why I am here. Lady Hastings confided in me that she was afraid of her husband. But now he, too, is dead. And I believe the murders might be somehow related.”

“Surely that is a matter for the police.”

“The police have concluded that both were victims of random crime. They’re washing their hands of the case.”

“They are the experts. I am sure they arrived at their conclusion after careful consideration.” Morton moistened his lips. “Julianna is dead. Mucking about in her business will only stir up a scandal. If you are her friend as you claim, you should let her rest in peace.”

“How can she be at peace when her murderer is on the loose?”

“Why won’t you let it go?” Desperation colored the schoolmaster’s tone.

Pippa decided to switch tactics. “Perhaps you want me to let it go because her death made you a wealthy man? I know about Mr. Turner’s codicil, sir, and that you now stand to inherit half of his fortune.”

She had wanted to see Morton’s reaction and was rewarded by the angry flash in his eyes.

So, the schoolmaster is not as placid as he seems.

“I don’t care about the money,” he said tightly.

“You don’t care about two hundred thousand pounds?”

He straightened in his chair. “I would not hurt anyone for any sum. For any reason.”

Deliberately, she looked around the modest room. “With such an inheritance, you could dispense with the drudgery of work and enjoy a life of leisure. You would have the freedom to do whatever you wish.”

“I take pride in my profession, and I am doing what I enjoy. Indeed, I plan to use the money to establish schools for children of the working class.” Morton rose, his shoulders rigid. “If you’ll excuse me, my lady, I have lessons to prepare. I will see you out.”

Cull handed Pippa up into the carriage, following behind her. As the conveyance bumped down the country lane, she blurted, “They were having an affair.”

He blinked; he’d said the exact words at the same time.

Chuckling, she said, “Is it a sign of our growing intimacy that we’re now having the same thoughts?”

“Soon we’ll be finishing each other’s sentences,” he said with a grin. “Ladies first. How did you arrive at your conclusion?”

She described her interview with Morton. “He was clearly nervous talking about Julianna and didn’t want me looking into her death. Which made me think something was going on between them. Yet he was also rather convincing when he said he wouldn’t hurt anyone for money.”

“Morton was having an affair with someone. I found a stack of letters from his lover—unsigned, unfortunately, but the notes are likely from Lady Hastings. Here is one of them.” As Cull removed the perfumed paper from his jacket pocket, its cloying scent filled the cabin. “If Lady Fayne has a sample of Lady Hastings’s handwriting, we can match it.”

“The writer was Lady Hastings,” Pippa said with conviction.

“How do you know? You haven’t even opened it.”

“That particular blend of violet, musk, and ambergris was Lady Hastings’s signature scent,” she explained. “The room always smelled of it after she left.”

Unfolding the letter, Pippa read the lines aloud.

My dearest love,

How I regret the last words we exchanged. And how I wish I could undo my life’s biggest mistake, for never have the shackles of matrimony weighed so heavily. But as Father so often said, if wishes were horses…

Please do not lose faith, my love, for I know my solution will work. Wait for me.

I count the moments until we meet again.

“What solution do you think she was referring to?” Pippa asked.

“I cannot say. There was no mention of it in the other letters,” Cull said meditatively. “But my guess is that she was either going to leave her husband…or make him leave her. How else would she undo her ‘biggest mistake’?”

“Hastings would never agree to leave her. Not with Turner’s fortune within reach.”

“Precisely. To get rid of him, she would probably have to kill him.”

Pippa gaped at him. “You don’t think Lady Hastings would plan to…”

“One never knows. Love and hate are sides of the same coin, and both can drive people to unimaginable behavior,” Cull said broodingly. “Whatever the case, Lady Hastings wound up dead before her husband, so if she did have such a plan, it did not come to fruition.”

“Which leads us back to Morton or Wood as the most likely suspects,” Pippa said. “They stand to gain the most with Lady Hastings gone.”

“You’re right. Morton is likely spooked by your visit. I’ll leave Mikey and Matches to monitor him, see what he does in the next few days.”

“A splendid plan.” Pippa slid him a glance. “I suppose we should head back to London straight away?”

“I’m afraid so.” He paused. “In addition to the case, I have other pressing business.”

“Oh?”

He hesitated. This business of being intimate was new to him. Before Pippa, Nan had been the closest he’d had to a sweetheart, and she hadn’t been all that interested in him beyond the bedchamber. Frankly, he’d felt the same way. Even so, Nan had resented sharing his attention with the larks, and they’d fought over it constantly. Christ, that tug-o’-war between her and his duty had been exhausting.

Looking into Pippa’s curious blue eyes, he saw the pitfalls. Yet he’d promised to share himself with her and thus had to try. He outlined the situation with Squibb.

“I won’t be able to see you for a few days while I deal with the bastard,” he said. “I need my wits about me and don’t want you getting hurt in any crossfire.”

“Will you be safe?” Pippa said in a rush. “Could I help?”

“You’ll help best by staying at a distance, love. As for Squibb, I’ve handled far more dangerous men than him. I’ve everything in hand.”

He braced himself for an argument.

Pippa blew out a breath and said, “All right.”

He stared at her. “Is it?”

“Well, yes. I am worried, of course, about your safety, and hope you would tell me if I could be of assistance. But you are a man capable of handling his own affairs.” She gave him a rueful smile. “As you’ve told me more than once, you’re not the Prince of Larks for nothing.”

His shock must have shown for she frowned and added, “Is something amiss?”

“The opposite.” Baldly, he said, “I thought you might be angry at me.”

Dents formed between her brows. “Why would I be angry?”

“Because I’m putting my duty to the mudlarks first.” When she continued to give him a perplexed look, he muttered, “The relationship I mentioned…the one that lasted a year. The demands of my work were a cause of contention.”

“I see.” After a moment, Pippa said, “I am not like your past lover, Cull.”

“Trust me, I know—”

“And it seems you and I both have pasts to overcome.” When she took his hand, he held on. “While I want us to share everything, it does not mean we need to live in each other’s pockets. You will have your work; I will have mine. And I do not resent your dedication to the larks any more than you resent mine to the Angels. In truth, your commitment makes you even more attractive in my eyes.”

Although it was the middle of the day, he felt fortune’s stars blazing upon him. Unable to help himself, he snatched her onto his lap. Cupped her smooth cheek.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for you?” he said hoarsely. “For this?”

Her smile lit up her eyes. “I feel the same way. And I hope you know that I never want to come between you and the larks. On the contrary, I want to be a part of your world…and for you to be a part of mine.”

“We are going to have that,” he vowed. “Just as soon as I deal with Squibb.”

She fiddled with his lapel. “Be quick about it, will you? I shall miss you dreadfully.”

“Don’t miss me yet,” he said. “There’s still the journey back.”

“However shall we pass the time?” she inquired coquettishly.

“I have a few ideas.”

He put them into play, and she moaned her approval.