"I make it 334." Honoria restacked the lists in her lap and started counting again.
His gaze on her profile, Devil raised his brows. They were in the morning room, Honoria at one end of the chaise while he sprawled elegantly at the other; she was adding up the acceptances for the grand ball his aunt Horatia was to host in Berkeley Square the next night, to declare the family out of mourning. Smiling, Devil retrieved a list from the floor. "That's a goodly number for this time of year. The weather's put back the shooting, so many have stayed in town. Like Chillingworth-it appears my aunt has seen fit to invite him."
"He is an earl." Honoria glanced up, frowned, then reached over and tugged at the list. "But I gather you've known him forever."
"It certainly seems like forever. We were at Eton together."
"Rivals from your earliest years?"
"I wouldn't class Chillingworth as a rival-more like a nuisance."
Honoria looked down, hiding her grin. Devil had taken to joining her in the morning room in the post-luncheon hour during which the Dowager habitually rested. He would stay for half an hour, long limbs disposed in the opposite corner of the chaise, his presence filling the room, dominating her senses. They would chat; if he had information from his cousins, he would tell her, simply and straightforwardly, without evasion.
From her own efforts, she'd learned nothing more. The Dowager had fulfilled her stated intention of introducing her to the ton; through a mind-numbing round of morning calls, "at-homes," and afternoon teas, she had met all the major hostesses and been accepted as one of their circle. But in all the gossip and scandalmongering abounding amongst the female half of the ton, not a single scrap had she heard regarding Tolly.
She looked up. "Have you heard anything?"
"As it happens, I have." Honoria opened her eyes wide; Devil's lips quirked wryly. "Don't get your hopes up, but Demon's back."
"Did he find Tolly's man?"
"Yes. Mick remembered that last night clearly-Tolly, to use Mick's words, was 'in a right spate' when he came in. Unfortunately, Tolly refused to tell him anything concerning the who, the why, or the what."
Honoria frowned. "Refused?"
"Mick-being Mick-asked."
"And?"
"Uncharacteristically got told, in no uncertain terms, to mind his own business."
"That was odd?"
Devil nodded. "Mick had been with Tolly since Tolly was in shortcoats. If he was troubled over something, the most likely occurrence is that Tolly would have talked it over, without reservation, with Mick."
"So." Honoria considered. "What sort of secret would Tolly refuse to discuss with Mick?"
"That, indeed, is the question." His gaze on her face, on the slight frown disturbing the sweeping arch of her brows, Devil added: "Along with the puzzle of the time."
"The time?"
"That night, Tolly
got in less than an hour after he left Mount Street."
They'd assumed Tolly had been out half the night, at some function at which he'd learned the secret that led to his death. Honoria's frown deepened. "Is Mick sure?"
"Positive-he remembers particularly as he hadn't expected Tolly back so soon."
Honoria nodded. "How far is it from Mount Street to Tolly's lodgings?"
"His lodgings were in Wigmore Street-about twenty minutes from my uncle's house."
"Was there any particular house-of a friend, perhaps-where he might have stopped along the way?"
"Nothing directly in his path. And none close that we haven't checked. None of his friends saw him that night."
Honoria caught Devil's eye. "How does such a short time fit with Lucifer's discreditable rumor?"