Chapter Four
Fanny fairly vibrated from excitement. When Inspector Storme showed up at her father’s townhouse around midday, she’d nearly fallen off her chair. It had been days since she’d last seen him and had despaired of him keeping his promise to call.
Not only had he done that, but he’d also asked her to accompany him to a new crime scene, and that had won her admiration more than anything else. Her mother had been in a flutter of delight to talk with the new caller, but William wasn’t in a mood to tarry, so they said their goodbyes quickly, with Fanny declining to take a maid with her.
“Mother, I’m quite certain where we’re going there shouldn’t be a collection of superfluous people standing about,” Fanny had said with a glance at her companion. His slight nod confirmed her theory.
“But, where are you going? I thought the inspector was paying you a social call,” her mother had protested.
“Not today, my lady,” William had responded and said nothing else.
Fanny had laughed. “We’re going to a crime scene, Mother. I’m attending in a journalistic capacity.”
“That’s hardly something a lady of breeding should do,” her mother had said in protest.
“Oh, I shouldn’t think so, but that’s what makes it exciting. Good day!”
She’d left the house in haste.
Now, in a shiny, black carriage that was closed and bore the Earl of Hadleigh’s golden coat-of-arms, the anticipation that buzzed at the base of her spine had her gut churning with restless energy. Nothing this thrilling had ever happened to her before.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Inspector.” She withdrew a small, leatherbound notebook from her reticule as well as the stub of a pencil. “I can’t wait to start your interview as well as see what goes on at a real-life crime scene.” Would there be blood or gore? What did a dead body look like when found? How many other people would gather there?
“It’s William,” he growled from the bench opposite hers. “Since we’re alone, you may refer to me as William. I’ve asked this of you before.”
“I see you’ve decided to turn into a bear today,” Fanny responded with aplomb, for she wouldn’t let him bully her with a bad mood. “I’ll forgive you the ugly manners, for I can understand that investigating a murder must not be the most pleasant of tasks.” She caught his gaze from across the narrow aisle. “That is what we’re going to poke about in today, right? A murder… William?”
A grudging grin tugged at one corner of his mouth. “Yes, unfortunately, that is the purpose of today’s visit.”
“Is it related to the case you’re currently working?” She held her pencil at the ready.
“Until I can examine the body and the scene, I would have no idea, but I can suspect.” He delved a hand into the interior pocket of his jacket and then held up an envelope. “I was summoned by my superior. It might be gruesome.”
When he offered the missive to her, Fanny took it and opened the paper with bated breath. After reading the brief note, she gave it back to him. “That doesn’t bode well.”
“No, it does not.” William crammed the note into a pocket of his greatcoat.
“Will you tell me about the first victim?” His life must be so fascinating… and worrisome.
A muscle worked in his jaw, but finally, he nodded. “The evening of the rout where you and I were reacquainted, I was called out to Hyde Park. The body of a woman was discovered there, off to the side of the road, whether dumped there or murdered there is anyone’s guess, for it was freezing that night. She’d been brutally stabbed yet neither sexually assaulted nor robbed.”
“Interesting.” The shadows in his eyes spoke as loudly as the words he didn’t say. “Do you fear this latest victim will present the same way?”
“During the length of my career, I’ve learned not to form theories or ideas until I know all the facts. To do so is folly and sloppy work.”
“I don’t doubt it.” She scribbled a few notes onto the page and then paused to look at him. “Knowing the small amount that I do about you, I have a feeling you’d rather walk nude along Rotten Row than be accused of conducting a shoddy investigation.” It wasn’t uttering the scandalous word “nude” that had heat jumping into her cheeks, it was the image that suggestion conjured in her mind’s eye. Oh, he would no doubt be a fine specimen indeed sans clothing. Would there ever come a time when she’d have cause to see him thus?
One of William’s eyebrows rose, nearly touching his hairline. Then, he flashed her a genuine grin that had butterflies chasing about her lower belly. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it.” When he chuckled, the rich sound flowed over her and left gooseflesh in its wake. “However, yes, I work diligently on each case to ensure there is nothing left to chance, and nothing is overlooked.”
“I’m sure everyone involved appreciates your dedication. I certainly do. That sort of work ethic makes me feel safer.” Fanny scribbled another few notes on her page, and for long moments, the scratch of her pencil mingled with the clip clop of the horse’s hooves on the street. “Do you enjoy your livelihood?”
Amusement danced in his stormy eyes. “Are we beginning your interview then?”
“Yes, I suppose we are. It might help me prepare for what’s coming.”
“Very well.” He settled back against the squabbed bench and rested an ankle upon a knee in the perfect picture of a man who was confident in who he was and what he brought to the world. She envied him for that. “Yes, if I were to ask myself that at various times over the course of my career, I would say I do enjoy my work, even the grisly parts.” An expression of surprise crossed his face, gone at his next blink.
“Why is that, do you think?” It was a fascinating way to discover more about him.