Page 29 of The Rum and The Fox

Chapter 13

A deep file/one - a sly, designing fellow

- The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose.

It was sheer misfortune on Keziah’s part that she ventured downstairs once more, only to run directly into inspector Formby. She had been hoping to speak with Ash again. The day had dragged by, and every moment she had expected him to seek her out to further discuss their predicament, except he hadn’t.

A uneasy sense of guilt nagged at her as she knew she’d hurt him, but after a lifetime with her father, Keziah set great store by the truth. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him further by allowing him to believe things that were not, could not, be true.

That the man had become her friend, however, was undeniable. Like it or not, they were bound by circumstance, and, in all honesty, it just felt good to have someone other than Molly to confide in.

Molly, at least, had come out of this well, for which Keziah could only be grateful. The doctor had put her on bed rest for the next five days - as he had with Keziah - and unlike Keziah, Molly was being a dutiful patient. The duke’s staff had been very kind and attentive, and, for the first time in years, the poor girl was being fed well. Yes, Molly looked like she’d died and gone to heaven.

Keziah had visited her abigail, first to inform her that her sweetheart had not been a soldier at all, but Lord Ashwicke. Molly’s eyes had grown wide at this and she grabbed Keziah’s arm with her good hand.

“Oh, Miss Keziah,” she squealed with excitement. “You’d be a duchess!”

Keziah depressed any flights of fancy in that direction as fast as may be, but there was a look in the girl’s eyes that she couldn’t quite like. No doubt she fancied the idea of being abigail to a duchess, and who could blame her?

It was after this visit that Keziah headed downstairs, and after a discreet knock entered Lord Ashwicke’s office, only to find Inspector Formby kicking his heels by the fireplace.

“Oh, forgive me, inspector, I did not mean to intrude,” she said, backing out as fast as she could go.

“No, no, Lady Todd,” Formby said, his eyes alight with relief. “You’re just the person I wanted to talk to.”

Keziah groaned inwardly, but pasted a placid smile of acceptance to her face and went and sat down.

Naturally, Formby wanted to go over the events of that fateful night once more. Her relationship with Ash was brought up and the circumstances of their meeting and Keziah repeated the story she had told previously, which was pretty much true, excepting the nature of their meetings not being in any way romantic.

“Now, then, Lady Todd,” the inspector said, staring down at his notes. “After you ran from your father’s house, you came here, where the duke received you, and he called for a doctor.”

“Yes,” Keziah said, nodding. “He was most kind indeed. Everything was done to care for me and my poor abigail, and he stayed nearby at all times in case I had need of him.”

Formby gave her a hard look. “At all times?”

“Oh, yes,” she said, affecting a little sigh of the kind someone of a more romantic disposition might give on thinking of their beloved treating them with tender care. From the look that the inspector was giving her, he didn’t swallow it.

“He must have been very angry, to see you in such distress.”

Keziah met the inspector’s gaze and decided to take a different tack. “Lord Ashwicke is a very kind and caring young man, inspector, and he is in love with me.” She hoped Ash would forgive her for this and everything else she was about to say, but it was for both their sakes that the inspector should believe her. “He stayed at my side whenever he was able, naturally not when the doctor was with me, though he assured me that he would be waiting for me should I call. He takes such things very seriously, you see, and would not make such a promise if he was not going to be around to keep it. He returned to me as soon as I was alone and stayed at my side until morning.”

Formby stared at her and Keziah’s throat grew dry.

“It strikes me, Lady Todd, that a woman in love might say just about anything to protect the object of her affections.”

Keziah swallowed but held the man’s gaze, unwavering. “They might indeed, inspector. However, you knew my father, and so you may have a fair idea of my upbringing. Lord Ashwicke is a kind and decent young man …” she said, and then hardened her voice. “And a wealthy young fool. I will get what I can from him, whilst I can, and then move on.”

Formby’s eyes narrowed, but she doubted he was far from swallowing this story. It would be just what he would expect of Lord Todd’s kin.

“Sadly, he’s not quite fool enough to ever marry me,” she added, giving him a twisted smile. “He’s too much in awe of his grandmother to ever risk sullying the family with such a scandalous name as mine, and that was before this ghoulish affair,” she said with a snort.

Formby sat back in his chair, considering her with open curiosity. He pursed his lips, scratching behind his ear with his pencil. “Damned if I know what to make of you, Lady Todd, s’cuse my French,” he added with a smile, as if to take the sting out of his next words. “But I reckon you’re a deep one. Reckon you’re not tellin’ me the whole tale, neither.”

“I can’t imagine what you mean,” Keziah replied, her voice icy.

Formby chuckled, apparently unperturbed. “Reckon the old girl would be missin’ a trick an’ all, givin’ you the boot. Make a fine duchess, you would.”

Keziah stared back at him, not at all sure how to take that remark nor how to reply to it. There seemed no need, however, as the inspector was now lost in thought.