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William lips tightened. “No one is being removed from our list until this is over. The only person who I know for a fact is innocent is me.”
CHAPTER 28
“Have you seen my copy of The Woman in White? I know I left it here in the drawing room.” Lady Wethington wandered around the room, looking under chairs and tables.
William looked up from his comfortable chair in the drawing room, where he was reading his morning newspaper. “I believe I saw the book in the kitchen, of all places. I thought perhaps Cook had decided to join our book club too.”
“Oh dear. That is correct. I remember having it in my hands when I went to visit Cook yesterday to arrange for my dinner party.”
“Dinner party?” He lowered his newspaper and watched his mother blush prettily.
“Yes.” She raised her chin. “I decided it was time we held a social affair or two.”
“If I remember correctly, we had Lady Amy’s family for dinner less than a month past.”
“My dear son. Having guests for dinner once a month hardly signifies entertaining. Once you marry, you know Lady Amy will want socializing.”
“Wait. What makes you think Lady Amy and I will marry?”
He grew uneasy when she merely stared at him with raised brows and a you don’t fool me look. He picked up his newspaper, shook it to straighten it out, and continued to read.
“I am planning a dinner party for a week from Friday.”
He lowered the newspaper again. “Mother, with murder charges hanging over my head, I don’t think this is the best time to plan any sort of entertainment.”
She waved her hand as if murder charges were something any dimwit could deal with. “That will all be cleared up any day now. There is no need to avoid normal life.”
“Madam, I just indicated that dinner parties were not part of my normal life to begin with.”
“You worry too much, my dear. All will be fine.” She did that awful pat-on-the-head thing again.
“I wish I had your optimism,” he mumbled to his newspaper.
But alas, she was not going to permit him his morning indulgence. “I have the list here of guests, which I would like you to approve.”
“Me? Why would I need to approve? It appears you have everything in hand.”
Instead of answering him, she slid the guest list between him and his newspaper. He lowered the paper again. “Very well. Since I will have no peace until I do this, let me look it over.
“Mr. Colbert! Why is he invited? I have never socialized with the man.” When no answer was forthcoming, he continued to peruse the list: Mr. Charles Colbert, Miss Gertrude O’Neill, Miss Penelope O’Neill, Mr. George (how had she gotten his name?) Davidson, Mr. Christopher Rawlings, Lady Amy Lovell, Lady Margaret Lovell, Lord Franklin Winchester, Lord Michael Davenport.
“Some are book club members, along with all of Lady Amy’s family. What are you planning, Mother?”
She looked very innocent. “A dinner party. I just told you.”
Knowing his mother as he did, he would get no further information from her, but a sinking feeling in his stomach told him he had a good idea of what she was planning. Perhaps he should visit a jeweler in town before the dinner.
On the other hand, three of the intended guests were on their suspect list: Miss Gertrude, Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Christopher Rawlings, whom he had mentally added after witnessing the embrace in Davidson’s carriage the other night. It was apparent that Mr. Davidson and Mr. Rawlings were lovers, and since that was illegal and punishable by law, they would both want to keep Harding silenced.
“Do you care to see the menu?”
He shook his newspaper, which would have been a signal to anyone else that he was irritated with the constant interruptions. Mother had always been an exception to normal rules. “No. I am certain whatever you work out with Cook will be excellent.”
“We do want to make it special.”
He ignored that statement.
“Certain events require a special menu.”
