Page 26 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
“Slow. Mrs. Pennyworth has a large circle of friends who need to be considered. I have managed to eliminate several over the past few days, and I attend events with her to see if we can draw the man out.”
“Indeed? Well since I’ve now met Mrs. Pennyworth, I am certainly not bemoaning your job. Spending time with an attractive woman is no hardship.” Morgan smiled at her, and she blushed.
The inspector continued, “So, you think this is a rejected admirer’s jealousy thing?”
Elliot hooked his thumbs into his waistcoat pockets. “It fits the pattern. The man obviously wants to gain her attention, and the flowers and jewelry tell me somewhere in his twisted mind, he imagines he is courting her.”
“Mrs. Pennyworth, have you rejected any suitors of late?”
“I have recently come out of mourning, Inspector. My husband passed away a year ago, and I have avoided most social events. So, to answer your question, no, I have not spurned any potential suitors.”
Morgan nodded. “One more thing. Your calling card is attached to this box. Who would have access to your card?”
Charlotte smiled. “Everyone. I leave them with shop keepers, and when I call on friends. Most women do. It is not hard for someone to get their hands on one of my cards.”
The inspector thought for a moment, then directed his comments to Elliot. “I assume you’re doing a good job of covering this, Baker. With the men chasing this Ripper fellow, and everything else going on, your investigation will produce more than we can right now. Just keep me informed.”
It appeared they were being dismissed, which allowed Charlotte to take a deep breath. The police would not be investigating her.
They all rose, with the two men shaking hands, and indulging in more back-slapping. Elliot took her elbow and escorted her out of the building, and into her carriage.
Charlotte rested her head against the velvet squab and closed her eyes. Now that the tension from the morning had left her, she was tired to the bone, and in possession of a raging headache.
“Are you not well, Charlotte?” Elliot’s deep, soothing voice rolled over her. She opened her eyes, once again reminded what a handsome man he was.
“I have a headache. It has been a trying morning.”
“Yes, I know.” He reached his hand out. “Come here.”
* * *
Elliot really hadn’t expectedCharlotte to do his bidding, but she stood and moved to the space next to him. “I just feel so weary. And upset that Sarah was sickened by the biscuits that were sent to me. The poor child.”
“Here, lean back against me, and I will rub your temples. That will help.”
Again she surprised him by doing just that. She turned her back to him, and once he shifted so his knee was bent on the seat, he gathered her firmly against his chest, and said, “Close your eyes.” His fingers began to massage her temples.
Each time he saw Charlotte his desire for her grew. He’d been fighting it for weeks, but with her lush body resting against him, and the flowery sent of her hair drifting to his nostrils, his awareness of her was wreaking havoc with his blood supply. With her sighing as he rubbed her head, he was finding it more and more difficult to keep his hands above her neckline.
“Elliot?” The sound of her silky voice murmuring his name stirred him further.
“Yes?”
“Why did you leave Scotland Yard? It seemed as if everyone there liked and respected you.”
When he didn’t answer right away, she turned and studied him with raised brows. He moved her head back into position and continued his ministrations. “I made a serious error in judgement, and it caused a constable to be crippled, and unable to provide for his family. His wife was forced to work to support their children.” It felt strange to speak those words because he’d never told anyone about it before. He’d always kept his disgrace to himself.
“What happened?”
He lowered his voice, as if to keep her from hearing him. However, this was something he had to do. “I was courting a woman who, unfortunately, blinded me to her real character.” He continued rubbing Charlotte’s temples but felt her stiffen at his words.
Interesting, that.
“I assume she was beautiful, charming, and in possession of a lovely form?” Despite the humor in her tone, the lightness she most likely attempted to convey fell flat.
“Yes, all those things.” He paused for a moment, once again picturing Annabelle, her beauty and charm surrounding such evil inside. “I had been assigned to meet a ship at the London docks and travel with the courier to the room in the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels were housed. An extremely valuable jewel was being sent there.”
Charlotte waited patiently as he again paused. “Annabelle wanted to attend the theater that night. When I explained I was unavailable to escort her, she became upset. I realize now what a fine actress she was.”
