Chapter Six
February 19, 1818
It had been two days since Fanny had joined William at the crime scene, and what was more, it had been two days since he’d kissed her in the carriage… and set her world tilting.
A kiss she couldn’t put from her mind. It had been sweet in its delivery, and she’d rather hoped he would have continued it, but he’d broken the connection before she could properly enjoy it. Visiting a crime scene and experiencing a kiss from the inspector had made for a banner day. It had been one of the best of her adult life.
Yet, nothing had come from either event. Why? Did he not feel they’d worked well together or shared a personal connection?
Two discordant chords from the young lady playing the pianoforte yanked her from her thoughts. With a tiny start, Fanny blinked. Oh, yes, the musicale evening. For a moment she’d forgotten everything except the brief press of William’s lips to hers and the feel of his strong arms around her.
At her left side, Lord Wainwright leaned close and whispered, “How are you enjoying the offerings so far?”
“Quite well, thank you.” She kept her answer vague, for she’d been woolgathering for the better part of twenty minutes. Then she attempted to concentrate on the young lady who reached the end of her pianoforte piece with limited success. “Though some of these performers could do with a bit more instruction.”
“Agreed. It’s become a rather hideous evening.”
Polite clapping filled the room, along with a few expressions of relief that the unique torture was finally over.
When the scent of bay, citrus, and spices wafted to her nose, her heartbeat quickened. Barely had she turned her head when she spied William taking the empty seat on her other side. Oh, good heavens! He hadn’t told her he meant to attend this evening. Flutters tickled through her lower belly when his leg brushed hers as he settled onto the chair. “Good evening, Inspector Storme. What a nice surprise.” It was dreadfully unfair he appeared so handsome in his dark evening clothes that probably took all of ten minutes to complete his toilette, when she’d labored over hers for the better part of ninety.
“Isn’t it, though?” The smile he gave her positively brimmed with wickedness. “My apologies for arriving late. Had the devil’s own time negotiating traffic, but seeing you looking positively ethereal in a gown the color of moonbeams is worth every inconvenience.”
The heat of a blush jumped into her cheeks and intensified. “What a wonderful compliment.” Oh, he was certainly charming. It was a welcome change from his growling persona of the other day.
“You’re most welcome. Then he glanced past her, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Good evening, Wainwright.”
“Inspector.” That one-word greeting was clipped, guarded.
Between them, Fanny’s nerve endings tingled both with excitement and wariness. What was she to do now that both men were here and acutely interested in her?
“I didn’t think you a man who enjoyed music, Wainwright,” he said to her companion. It seemed William’s sole purpose tonight was to needle the viscount.
“There are a great many things I find interest in that don’t concern you, Inspector,” the viscount replied with a healthy dose of annoyance in his voice. “Especially those who I have escorted here.”
“Do hush, the both of you,” Fanny hissed as a few people in the row ahead of them looked over their shoulders. “The next performer is about to start.” She didn’t like that the viscount showed a possessive streak so early in their relationship, for she hadn’t yet promised him anything.
From her other side, William huffed. “Doing it up too brown, Wainwright. The last time I inquired, the lady didn’t belong to you,” he said in a barely-there voice that rumbled with warning.
“And the last time I checked, she didn’t need someone else sniffing around her skirts, especially a man who loses himself in his work. At least I don’t dirty my hands with laboring.”
“Some would say that shows a lack of character,” William retorted, his dislike clear.
“Or it shows a man isn’t the best of choices,” the viscount returned but kept his focus on the duo on the slightly raised dais built for the evening. “There is an understanding between Miss Bancroft and me. It would behoove you to remember that.” One of his gloved hands curled into a fist where it rested on a knee.
Fanny bit her bottom lip. This was outside of enough. They were acting like brutes playing at politeness. She leveled a glare on the viscount, even more out of sorts, for he hadn’t said anything about her appearance tonight. Plus, she’d never offered him exclusivity. “There has been no such thing and you know it,” she hissed. Then she looked at William. “Don’t provoke him further. It’s beneath you.” Then she put them both from her mind while she stared, unseeing, at the two performers. The pair of sisters went through their piece with more talent than the last lady, but the music failed to hold her attention.
By the time the musical piece concluded, she felt as if she could vibrate right out of her skin from the tension. As a smattering of applause broke out in the room, she rose to her feet. “If you two will excuse me, I find it a bit stifling in here. I shall return shortly.” Before either of them could respond, she left her row of chairs and hurried from the room. Would they come to blows and cause an on-dit? Looking for somewhere to escape, she made her way to the room where refreshments were being served, and once there, her gaze landed upon her best friend. “Lady Jane! I didn’t know you’d planned to attend tonight.”
“Fanny!” The petite redhaired woman quickly made her way to Fanny’s side. “How wonderful that you’re here.” Jane hugged her. “I haven’t seen you since Christmastide.”
“It’s been entirely too long,” Fanny agreed. “How are you? Is Major Storme with you tonight?” Her friend had landed a handsome military man for her husband last fall, and now he was an author with his first book due out soon.
“I’m quite well, but no, my husband declined to come, for he’s busy at work on his second book.” She smiled. “Which is just as well. He doesn’t enjoy these types of things.”
“Give him my regards.”
“I will. We plan on moving to our own townhouse soon. In the Marylebone neighborhood to be close to the clinic.” Her smile was brilliant. “I can’t wait to set up housekeeping and finally be alone with my husband.”