Chapter 7

"I always made my food congenial to my constitution, and my health was always excellent."

Giacomo Casanova

Julius and Audrey left by the mews after dawn. A relaxing afternoon playing cards had given him the rest he needed to feel more himself, and Audrey had revealed herself to be a competitive player. She had kept painstaking record of the complicated piquet scores, reading them aloud with an earnest expression at regular intervals.

Noticing that she was quick to laugh, he had used this to his advantage by peppering their discussion with amusing anecdotes until he had succeeded in distracting her sufficiently to play the winning hand. Then they had discussed whether they should examine the street for watchers but agreed they lacked the manpower to do anything effective. Best to assume the worst and use the entrance to the alley behind the house as Audrey had done the day of the attack.

Exhaustion had claimed him shortly after, and he had fallen asleep just after dinner, which he supposed was fortunate because of their plans to rise early.

This morning, he was dressed in an overcoat, clean work boots, and a battered hat pulled down low to disguise his distinctive hair. Patrick had dug them up the day before from the room where the grooms slept, along with a hat and coat for Audrey, before heading out to purchase her a pair of lad's work boots. She swam in her bulky men's clothing, but Julius was relieved to have her covered up to maintain his focus on their objective. She must have found a way to flatten her breasts because she truly appeared to be a lad in his teens under all that gear.

Julius felt considerably stronger than the day before, although Audrey had cautioned him that they must take it easy. His knife wound still throbbed, but Audrey assured him she was satisfied with the healing process under way. With a full day of rest, and several meals in his belly, he had woken up this morning feeling almost normal.

They carefully left the neighborhood, even changing their gaits until they reached one of the main roads. Julius hailed a hackney, and soon they were on their way to watch the vicarage where Stone resided.

"This is exciting," his companion proclaimed, peering around at the streets as they drove by. "Perhaps we could visit a coffeehouse?"

Julius grinned. "Men certainly have access to far more places, but a coffeehouse? That is the top of your list?"

Audrey smiled back, her eyes glistening when she turned to answer him. "Papa loved to visit coffeehouses. I am at a loss why we never thought to dress me as a boy so I could join him in one."

This brought back the memory of seeing her earlier that morning in trousers and a shirt, accompanied by a rush of impassioned heat that shivered down his spine at the thought of divesting the garments from her full figure. Over the last two days, it had come to light that Audrey possessed an adventuress spirit which sent his thoughts in a lascivious direction—specifically, a wedding night between the sheets to uncover just how bold she might be before she returned to Stirling to pursue her goal of practicing the healing arts.

"Perhaps we will have an opportunity to visit one. Perhaps we shall visit other domains of men."

Audrey's face lit up, evidently elated at the possibility. He wondered where he might take her. Tattersall's to witness the horse auctions? Perhaps a dancing hall to watch a show? Sharing these activities with her was unexpectedly intriguing. To watch her seeing them for the first time.

Soon they disembarked on the vicar's street. It was a block from the church where Stone presided. Of all the suspects on the list, this was the one whom Julius considered least likely. From his prior investigations over the past few weeks, Julius had been unable to learn anything of note about Stone. He was well-liked by his parishioners; he had been serving the Church of England for nearly thirty years, and most of his days appeared to be filled with good works. If anything, he seemed reluctant to one day inherit the title from his older brother.

However, in his prior attempts to uncover something incriminating, Julius had not known for certain that the killer was one of the three men on the list. Now that he did, he had a renewed interest in covering this ground again with the benefit of his new perspective. There was a one in three chance Stone was their killer, and knowing that might bring to light something Julius had not observed in his previous attempts.

To his genuine amusement, Julius peered around the street to confirm that one of his favorite coffeehouses was right on the corner.

"Et voilà!" He waved in presentation. Audrey turned to see what he was gesturing at, a grin of delight lighting her features.

"Truly?"

"I propose we sit in the window and watch Stone's home from within."

Audrey clapped her hands, skipping in the direction before realizing she was in disguise. Clearing her throat in a husky voice, she slowed to her interpretation of a masculine swagger. Julius chuckled, keeping pace with her with ease. His legs were longer, after all.

Entering the dim interior, Julius breathed in the rich aroma of coffee with joy. He noted the window seat was occupied and the tables half occupied despite the early hour, but he was determined to allow Audrey her first visit to a house of coffee. Musing for a moment that he could not simply use his status to convince the two clerks sitting at the window table, Julius considered his options.

Approaching the two studious men who must have stopped here on their way to work, Julius sidled up to stand right over them in an intimidating stance.

"Would you fellows mind if me brother an' me sit 'ere? We're to meet someone ou'side, but they ain't shown yet so we must 'ave a clear view."

The men, dressed in the neat but boring attire of cleric work, looked up at him with startled expressions. Taking in Julius's height and rough garments, a trace of fear crossed their features before both men rose with haste. "That is fine, sir. We were just done."

Throwing coin onto the table next to their half full mugs, the two men made a hasty exit. Julius turned to find Audrey staring at him in amazement.

"Do you always get what you want?" She kept her voice low and husky to avoid attracting attention to her femininity.

Julius shrugged. "Almost always."

They took their seats in the booth, Julius ensuring he had a clear view down the street to Stone's door.

"You possess many faces, Julius." Audrey's low comment implied she was not certain if this revelation should impress or disgust her.

He grinned, his attention remaining fixed out the window. "Not to mention, many personalities."

Audrey harrumphed. "I always thought you got your way because you are the son of an earl, but I am coming to realize you would find alternative methods even if you were not."

Julius shrugged again, glancing at her. "Where there is a will, there is a way."

One of the buxom women serving tables interrupted them. Julius placed their orders while Audrey sank into her coat, her hat masking her features from the server. Once they were alone once more, she continued the earlier discussion.

"I think perhaps you need to learn an ounce of moderation. Considering …" Audrey gestured toward his injury.

"Perhaps."

"Lord, help the world if you turned your talents to something useful," she muttered.

Julius quirked an eyebrow, his gaze flickering to her for the briefest of moments before returning to his observation of Stone's front door. "A murder investigation is not useful?"

There was a pause. "I apologize if I sounded condescending. It is courageous of you to pursue justice on behalf of your friends. I meant in a general sense, not this specific situation."

Julius had the urge to remove his glove to twist his ring but, instead, he stuffed that hand into one of his ample pockets. "Ah, but if I did that, I might become Lord Snarling, and we would not want that."

"Lord Snarling … oh! You mean your father?"

Julius gave a brusque nod. When he glanced her way after several seconds of silence, he found Audrey staring at him with a thoughtful expression. He averted his gaze back to the street, uncomfortable with the intimacy of their discussion.

The serving woman returned, planting two mugs on the table with a firm thunk which caused a few drops to spill and run down the sides. She used a towel to wipe them off and walked away to serve another table.

Audrey pulled her mug closer, lowering her face to inhale deeply. Finally, she spoke. Unfortunately, she returned to the subject of his parent.

"Why do you have to become a version of your father? Why can you not be your own man?"

Julius frowned, cocking his head at the unexpected question. He opened his mouth to reply. "Because … because … because … I … do not … know … why."

He supposed until that moment, he had thought that maturing meant inevitably becoming his father. But now that she had asked the question, he considered his friends and their relations. The Earl of Saunton, brother to one of his close friends, had inherited his title at eighteen, but he had retained his easy charm over the years even while expanding the wealth and influence of his estates. Saunton had a ready smile and a humorous quip under most circumstances, despite being raised by the peer who had been known as Lord Satan amongst both the nobility and servants until his untimely death. He had even married last year and was quite taken with his wife, if appearances were correct. Julius had not considered he might have a choice in the man he would become if he allowed himself to evolve.

The tension of the moment was broken, to his relief, a moment later when Audrey raised the mug to her lips and tasted coffee for the first time.

"Bah! This is horrible!"

Julius chuckled. "It is an acquired taste, young lad. The more you drink, the more you will like it."

Audrey smacked it down on the wooden surface between them. "Not likely. That is my last sip, I think."

He burst out laughing. Her down-turned lips and disgusted expression were so adorable, it wiped away the worrying sentiments she had raised in his mind, and his good humor was restored.

Audrey and Juliusspent the morning and early part of the afternoon following Stone around his neighborhood. It was fun to be out and about, providing context to the difference between their genders. Julius had far more freedom than she had enjoyed since arriving in London, and in her disguise as a youthful boy, she had observed the world from a different point of view.

Stone left the vicarage midmorning, presumably after working in a study within. He had met with a women's group from the parish, and visited a young family who had a newborn in their home, before returning to the vicarage.

Julius had whispered that he wanted to see inside, so Audrey acted as a lookout on the street and, with too much time on her hands, her thoughts turned to the scandal she would face when she returned to Lord Stirling's home. Lady Astley would have arrived to collect her two days earlier and found nothing but her trunk in the hall. Resolutely, Audrey pushed the thought aside. Hopefully she could simply return to her village, where no one would be the wiser that she had vanished with a gentleman for several days.

Julius returned. "I could see them through a window. Stone is sharing tea with his wife and the curate."

Audrey pouted in disappointment, and they took up a seat in the coffeehouse for a little while, where she eschewed tasting the coffee in her mug yet again. Eventually, they gave up their watch and returned home to share their own cup of tea, with Rose moving around them in the kitchen. The smell of baking bread made Audrey's stomach grumble in anticipation.

"I cannot see a situation in which Stone is the killer." She sighed, her elbows crudely wedged on the worktable as she sipped her tea. The vicar, the middle brother of five children, was in his fifties with a jocular manner and a round belly. He seemed satisfied in his role, providing succor to the people he administered to with frequent smiles and chuckles. The people he had met with all appeared to adore him. "He does not strike me as one desperate to inherit a title, or excessive wealth."

Julius exhaled heavily. "I agree. From the information I have gathered, Stone is relatively wealthy, but he lives a rather simple life. His clothes are not flashy, his wife is sensibly attired, and the vicarage looks comfortable, with no overt signs of his funds on display. The notion of him flying into a passionate rage to bludgeon a baron for wealth and power seems farfetched."

The bell to the tradesman's entrance rang, causing both of them to flinch and look toward the street out front in alarm.

"Rose?"

The maid came hurrying over from where she had been removing baked bread from the oven. Audrey felt a stab of guilt, thinking of all the extra household work she and Julius represented for the couple, who were merely caretakers of an empty home.

"Yes, Master Julius?"

"Are we expecting anyone?"

Rose shook her head just as the bell rang again. The sound of footsteps echoed from the servants' hall as Patrick made his way to the door.

Audrey rose, hurrying after him to view who had rung, with Julius following her.

"Ahm 'fraid we ain't expecting a delivery, miss."

Audrey could hear a woman speaking, but could not make out the words. Julius nudged past Audrey, stealing up behind the door Patrick had cracked open. His jaw dropped, and Audrey saw him whispering to Patrick.

"Ah just recalled we're waiting on a delivery, miss. Ah'll let you in?" Patrick exited to climb the stairs, and Audrey heard the gate being unlocked.

Julius darted back to where Audrey stood waiting in dismay. "It is Abbott's bride."

Audrey frowned. "Who is Abbott?" she asked, but Julius was not listening. Patrick and a cloaked tradeswoman clutching a large, covered basket were entering, the old manservant shutting the door behind them.

"Lady Abbott!" Julius kept his voice low.

Audrey nibbled on her lower lip. Their visitor, too, was in disguise? Straightening to her full height, Lady Abbott pulled the hood of her cape down to reveal deep red hair. She was tall and slim, with patrician features. In fact, she would have been ethereal, too beautiful, if it were not for the wash of golden spots across her creamy skin. Audrey found them appealing, the freckles making her appear more approachable than flawless skin would have done.

Audrey put up a hand to check her hair, feeling a little daunted that she was dressed as a boy and had recently removed the battered hat she had hidden under for the better part of the day. Looking down, Audrey recalled her trousers rolled at the waist to shorten them, and the men's work boots on her feet. She winced, realizing she was hardly fit to meet peeresses of high society in her current state.

"Little Julius, I presume." Lady Abbott also spoke in a low voice, her tone warm with pleasure. Julius huffed a laugh in response.

Patrick coughed pointedly. "There be the servants' hall if you wish to sit."

He pointed at the short hall that Audrey had chosen as her vantage point. Julius nodded, and the three of them walked through a door into the room beyond to take a seat at one of the tables. She fidgeted, uncomfortably aware of her inappropriate attire, especially with the lovely Lady Abbott having gracefully swept into her place on the opposite bench after putting her basket down. Audrey resisted the urge to tug on her jerkin and shirt, forcing her hands down on the surface of the rough bench.

"Why are you here?"

"How did you recognize me?"

Julius and Lady Abbott had spoken in the same moment, both halting to allow the other to speak.

The noblewoman arched a crimson eyebrow.

"I was there the night of your father's ball. I witnessed the … um … moonlight encounter."

The redhead blushed, her freckles disappearing in the tide of red color as she focused on her folded hands. "I … see."

Julius hesitated, studying the surface of the table. "How did you find us?"

"Lady Hays has often spoken of you, regaling me with stories of your youth when you would steal into her home."

"Ah! Aunty Gertrude."

Lady Abbott smiled, her embarrassment forgotten. "Lord Filminster and your friends are most concerned, especially after seeing your note stained with blood. I persuaded them to allow me to come check Lady Hays's home to see if you were here."

Julius cocked his head. "I suppose I should be flattered. There was an incident outside my father's home and I was wounded. Fortunately, Miss Gideon is the daughter of a fine physician and a competent healer in her own right."

The young lady turned her blue eyes to Audrey, who fidgeted in place. "We appreciate your service, Miss Gideon. Lord Trafford is well-liked by his friends, and we have all been anxious to hear word."

Audrey nodded, alarmed when the redhead pulled a face.

"However, I regret to inform you that Lady Astley is quite vocal about Lord Stirling's missing ward. I am afraid scandal is brewing."

Her heart sank. It was as she feared. But surely the news would not travel as far as Stirling? Once she left London, the controversy should fade. At least she hoped so.

"We are prepared to rally in your support when you return home." Lady Abbott reached into her basket and pulled out a letter, handing it to Julius. "Lord Filminster wrote this in the hope that I would find you here. I must leave now to not raise suspicion if anyone is watching the street outside."

They all rose, Lady Abbott raising the hood of her cape. "Farewell, and I hope to reunite soon."

Their unexpected guest hesitated at the tradesman's door, turning back with a fiery blush rising over her cheeks once more to conceal her freckles. "Lord Trafford?"

Julius gave her a curt nod of encouragement to continue.

"I … wanted to express my appreciation of the instruction you provided Aidan on the day of our wedding." Lady Abbott's eyes were downcast as if her words mortified her to the core.

Audrey nibbled on her lip while she tried to figure out what sort of instruction would cause the lady so much discomfort.

Julius huffed, his lips splitting into a grin to reveal a slash of white teeth against his tanned skin. "You are most welcome. Abbott was a committed student."

The noblewoman grinned in bashful acknowledgment. Patrick let her out, leaving Julius and Audrey standing in the hall in an awkward silence.

Julius twisted on his signet ring as he stared down the hall, his reluctance to face her obvious. "We shall, you know?"

Audrey, who was still biting at her lower lip, stopped to respond. "Shall what?"

"Ensure you have the support you need when you return home."

She nodded, wondering what he could mean by his assurance. What could he, or his friends, do to mitigate the damage to her reputation?

For her part, she intended to race out of Town when they returned to the world of the living and, meanwhile, she would eke out every ounce of adventure she could. As she feared, she was ruined and could never return to London once their quest drew to an end. A thought that saddened her when she thought of the interesting places she could have visited with Julius if they had more time. Instead, they would attempt to solve the mystery of who had attacked him and had killed the baron, before she parted ways with him.

After they finished their tea,Audrey announced it was time to redress his wound. Julius followed her up the servants' stairs, thinking about what Lady Abbott had told them. He had wanted to assure Audrey that he had accepted his duty to wed her at the end of their time together, but he was reluctant to broach the subject. It would cause inevitable questions, and he wanted to savor his time with the young woman before reality set back in.

Instead, he had settled on a vague platitude, but she had appeared to find his words comforting, so he had refrained from elaborating.

Once they reached his room, where a fresh tray awaited them, Julius removed his borrowed jerkin and shirt so Audrey could unwind the bandage. He moved the armchair back to the bed for her and lay down so she could inspect the sutured slash. She hummed a pleasing tune as she washed the wound and slathered fresh honey on it. Then she wound a clean bandage around him and crossed the room to collect a fresh cup of her dreadful brew.

Returning to his side, she handed him the cup and took a seat on the bed beside him while he drank down the tepid concoction.

"Audrey …" Julius began, finding he did not have the words prepared.

She turned to look at him in query, her silver eyes huge in her worried face as she nibbled on her plump lip. Neither of them had said much since Lady Abbott had left, and he knew he must bridge the chasm that had formed when Abbott's wife had imparted that the gossip was spreading.

Moments turned into prolonged pause as they stared at each other. Julius found himself irrevocably beguiled, beginning to lean toward her to taste the lip she abused with her pearly teeth with such regularity. She looked back at him, as fascinated with him as he was with her, and he knew a kiss was inevitable. Time slowed, as did his breathing, and he leaned in to?—

Audrey's lids widened in revelation. "I thought your eyes were hazel, but you have one green eye with a brown spot, and the other is brown with a green spot!"

Julius flinched away, averting his gaze. Few had noticed the flaw. They were usually too distracted by his?—

"Oh! I always thought you dyed your hair, but it is two different colors! How odd!"

He grimaced, wishing to jump to his feet and stalk away. His hair had always been a source of embarrassment, a flaw he had been teased about in his youth at Eton. Fortunately, by the time he had reached Oxford, he had learned to distract, so his adult friends seldom commented on it. Julius had subsequently grown fond of dandified fashions that detracted from the defect over the years.

"Mock if you wish. Factually, both eyes are green. It is just the size of the brown spots is different," he growled in irritation, the sensual interlude with Audrey spoiled beyond redemption.

He felt her naked hand coming down on his in a gentle caress. "I think … it makes you more interesting," she declared. His gaze flickered back to meet hers, discovering that her earnest expression was sincere.

"Truly?"

She nodded. "I do not mean to offend, but it is intriguing from a medical standpoint, and riveting from a human one."

Julius contemplated her with great attention, but her declaration appeared genuine.

"Your father was encouraging regarding the issue."

Audrey smiled in agreement. "Papa was the very best of men. He would have known precisely what to say to a young patient with such an unusual condition."

His lips curled up in response, his ill temper eased by her charming words while his thoughts returned to the kiss he yearned to claim from her inviting mouth, but a scratch on the door announced one of the servants arriving with fresh supplies.

Their smiles widened in wry amusement while they rose to their feet in haste. Julius crossed to the wardrobe to don a fresh shirt while Audrey went to open the door.

The interruption was for the best, he assured himself, because his wound ached and his head throbbed to reveal that his body was still healing from both the injury and the loss of blood.