get incriminating evidence on the magistrate and lure him away from Malone, although he had seemed only to willing to change sides and betray his former boss. Now that Wicks ‘owned’ him, Kirby would ensure that he oversaw any cases connected to Wicks and thereby secure the ‘right’ verdicts.
It all seemed too good to be true.
It was.
CHAPTER TEN
‘Edmund, this is my brother, Jack Swann,’ said Mary. ‘Jack, this is Edmund Lockhart.’ The two men bowed courteously to each other as if having never met before, although both had instantly recognised the other from the journey they shared the previous day from London.
‘Mary has told me a great deal about you,’ said Lockhart.
‘Then you have the advantage over me, sir,’ replied Swann.
‘Edmund was detained on business in London until this morning,’ said Mary.
‘Indeed,’ answered Swann.
‘But I knew he would be here,’ his sister smiled.
‘Nothing would have prevented my being at your side in this time of great sadness, Mary,’ said Lockhart. ‘I must now, however, ask for your utmost forgiveness once more. I have an urgent business engagement back in the city and the man I am to meet there insists on punctuality. I have kept a gig waiting for me outside to take me there.’
‘Then you must go, Edmund. I know how important your business is and I do not therefore wish to detain you any longer than is necessary. I will expect you at the house later today, as arranged, to collect me?’
Lockhart hesitated, aware of Swann’s surprised reaction.
‘Are you sure that is wise, Mary?’ replied Lockhart.
‘But Edmund, you were in perfect agreement before you left for London.’
‘And so I was, my dearest, but since that time I have considered the matter more thoroughly and on reflection, believe it prudent if you do not attend.’
‘Prudent or not, I know my own mind and therefore I will expect you at six o’clock. Please.’
Lockhart nodded reluctantly, made the customary farewells and left.
‘You have an engagement this evening?’ asked Swann.
‘Yes, Edmund is escorting me to the Charity Ball at the Upper Rooms.’
‘Mary, I am not a great advocate of many of the social mores prevalent today, as you know, but I am concerned about your reputation. Your presence at the funeral could be perceived as understandable,’ said Swann, ‘but to bestow your presence at a place of entertainment may be quite another matter entirely.’
‘I think it shows spirit,’ said a voice behind them.
They turned and saw Lady Harriet Montague-Smithson, a woman whose diminutive figure belied the indomitable influence she enjoyed throughout most of the capitals of Europe.
‘Aunt Harriet,’ said Mary. ‘I did not realise you were here.’
‘If I am honest, my dear, I only arrived slightly after the gentleman who has this very minute departed. My driver is new and became lost on our way here. I am present now though and I am very sorry for your loss, both of you. Your mother was a dear sister and although we did not agree on many topics, I will miss her kind-hearted demeanour and gentle ways. As for you attending the ball, my dear, I believe she would have approved most sincerely.’
‘With Mary’s best interest at heart, Lady Harriet, may I enquire as to why you believe it acceptable for her to deliberately flout established rules of etiquette and risk bringing her standing into disrepute?’
‘If you are referring to those confounded rules laid down by that wretched man Nash, who had as much decorum as a French peasant worker, then I hardly believe flouting them would bring as much disdain as you believe, especially as the man has been dead for the best part of forty years. Besides, when have you cared about society’s opinion? I assume you to be first to applaud her action.’
‘You would, of course, be correct Lady Harriet, if it was my standing at stake, but as the head of this family I believe I have an obligation to Mary and that is
It all seemed too good to be true.
It was.
CHAPTER TEN
‘Edmund, this is my brother, Jack Swann,’ said Mary. ‘Jack, this is Edmund Lockhart.’ The two men bowed courteously to each other as if having never met before, although both had instantly recognised the other from the journey they shared the previous day from London.
‘Mary has told me a great deal about you,’ said Lockhart.
‘Then you have the advantage over me, sir,’ replied Swann.
‘Edmund was detained on business in London until this morning,’ said Mary.
‘Indeed,’ answered Swann.
‘But I knew he would be here,’ his sister smiled.
‘Nothing would have prevented my being at your side in this time of great sadness, Mary,’ said Lockhart. ‘I must now, however, ask for your utmost forgiveness once more. I have an urgent business engagement back in the city and the man I am to meet there insists on punctuality. I have kept a gig waiting for me outside to take me there.’
‘Then you must go, Edmund. I know how important your business is and I do not therefore wish to detain you any longer than is necessary. I will expect you at the house later today, as arranged, to collect me?’
Lockhart hesitated, aware of Swann’s surprised reaction.
‘Are you sure that is wise, Mary?’ replied Lockhart.
‘But Edmund, you were in perfect agreement before you left for London.’
‘And so I was, my dearest, but since that time I have considered the matter more thoroughly and on reflection, believe it prudent if you do not attend.’
‘Prudent or not, I know my own mind and therefore I will expect you at six o’clock. Please.’
Lockhart nodded reluctantly, made the customary farewells and left.
‘You have an engagement this evening?’ asked Swann.
‘Yes, Edmund is escorting me to the Charity Ball at the Upper Rooms.’
‘Mary, I am not a great advocate of many of the social mores prevalent today, as you know, but I am concerned about your reputation. Your presence at the funeral could be perceived as understandable,’ said Swann, ‘but to bestow your presence at a place of entertainment may be quite another matter entirely.’
‘I think it shows spirit,’ said a voice behind them.
They turned and saw Lady Harriet Montague-Smithson, a woman whose diminutive figure belied the indomitable influence she enjoyed throughout most of the capitals of Europe.
‘Aunt Harriet,’ said Mary. ‘I did not realise you were here.’
‘If I am honest, my dear, I only arrived slightly after the gentleman who has this very minute departed. My driver is new and became lost on our way here. I am present now though and I am very sorry for your loss, both of you. Your mother was a dear sister and although we did not agree on many topics, I will miss her kind-hearted demeanour and gentle ways. As for you attending the ball, my dear, I believe she would have approved most sincerely.’
‘With Mary’s best interest at heart, Lady Harriet, may I enquire as to why you believe it acceptable for her to deliberately flout established rules of etiquette and risk bringing her standing into disrepute?’
‘If you are referring to those confounded rules laid down by that wretched man Nash, who had as much decorum as a French peasant worker, then I hardly believe flouting them would bring as much disdain as you believe, especially as the man has been dead for the best part of forty years. Besides, when have you cared about society’s opinion? I assume you to be first to applaud her action.’
‘You would, of course, be correct Lady Harriet, if it was my standing at stake, but as the head of this family I believe I have an obligation to Mary and that is
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