Tempted at Every Turn by Robyn DeHart Read Free Book Online

she was so observant. It was hard not to notice him. He was such a…presence.
    “Was anything else missing?” James asked.
    “No, I don’t believe so.”
    James nodded. “I trust you are not planning on leaving town.”
    The old man was gracious enough to look offended. “Of course not. My duties are not finished with the Drummond family. I must facilitate Master Drummond’s burial and services. Not to mention finalize the financials with his solicitor.”
    “So he was doing rather well, then?” James asked. “Financially speaking.”
    “Oh, yes, sir. All to the help of His Grace,” Fenby said.
    “And who might that be?” Willow asked.
    The butler tugged on his vest. “The Duke of Argyle.”
    “He was a patron of Mr. Drummond?” James asked.
    “Indeed. He gave Master Drummond his very first commission, even passed me to him from his country estate. I much prefer the climate here in London,” he explained. “Once His Grace made it known that Master Drummond was whom to go to for portraits, everyone came calling. The Duke was even sponsoring the exhibit next month.” His voice cracked and he put his hand over his mouth. “Many apologies.”
    Willow offered him a smile and the elderly butler gave her a weak smile in return.
    James’ brow creased. “What exhibit?”
    “Of his latest works. He had been working for months, photographing ladies, and the His Grace was to sponsor the exhibit at Burlington House,” Fenby said.
    James made a note. “I don’t suppose Mr. Drummond kept a list of the names of the ladies he photographed? And what of the actual photographs? Where are they?”
    “Most of the photographs have already been delivered to Burlington House, although I’m not certain. If he kept a list of the women, it would be in his journal. He wrote in that book every day.”
    A diary. Now finding that would probably prove most helpful. “Do you know where he kept his diary?” Willow asked.
    James frowned at her. She ignored him. She had every right to participate in the interrogation. How else was she going to win? Well, technically she had no right. She wasn’t an employee of the Metropolitan Police. She was nothing more than a well-bred lady without a cent to her name and nothing better to do with her time. Well, that wasn’t precisely true either. She could and should pass the time at her mother’s side.
    Fenby shook his head. “I don’t know where he kept it.”
    “I believe that will be all for the time being,” James said.
    Were those all the questions James was going to ask? Well, she had one more.
    “And what will happen to you once your work here is done?” Willow asked Fenby.
    “It depends on the state of Master Drummond’s affairs, whether or not he made provisions for me. Perhaps I shall be retained by His Grace.” Then his face soured. “I do not wish to be ungrateful, but I would hate to return to the country.”
    Willow gave the aging man a smile.
    “I will be back tomorrow afternoon,” James said as he faced Willow and gestured toward the door. “Miss Mabson.”
    She supposed that meant they were leaving. She frowned. He had been on his best behavior with Fenby, but when it came to speaking to her, he was nothing but rude. Since there was nothing else she could do here, there was no reasonto argue with him, so she turned on her heel and stepped out of the room.
     
    “Is that customarily all the questions you ask?” she inquired.
    He sat on the worn carriage upholstery and lurched slightly with the hackney’s abrupt movement. “The butler was in no place to answer questions today. I had suspected it might be him, but that old man couldn’t pommel a dog, much less a grown man.” Why was he answering? He didn’t owe her an explanation.
    “Are we going back to the Scotland Yard offices?”
    “Yes.”
    He didn’t want an assistant. Especially not one who was so opinionated, regardless of her skills at observation. Frankly, if he had to have an assistant,