Chapter 29

twenty-nine

P ERRY WAS GOING to growl if Sir James didn’t stop ogling Edith.

Oliver had arranged the visit, mentioning the opportunity to take a look at the Star Maiden, and lured by the possibility of seeing the legendary painting, Sir James hadn’t wasted time.

“Miss Winkworth, what a pleasure to see you here.” He kissed her hand with a slobbering sound that upset Perry. “Lord Ravenscroft, I’m deeply sorry for the carriage accident.” He lost his buoyancy. “It was a shock to learn one of my stable hands tampered with your carriage. Shameful. Inexcusable. I fully cooperated with both the police and your private detective.”

“Thank you.” Perry gave him a nod. “I don’t consider you responsible, and your being here is very appreciated.”

Edith smiled. “Dear Sir James, I was so relieved to know you would be the doctor to examine Lord Ravenscroft because I know your integrity and professional behaviour.”

“Of course.” Sir James’s beady eyes brightened behind the glasses. “And I’ll admit your friend’s hint about that painting won me over.”

“Remember when you asked me if I posed for it?” Edith whispered.

The physician flushed. “That conversation tormented me for weeks on end.”

“Well, you were right. I wasn’t honest with you. I was worried about what you might have thought of me.” She batted her eyelashes, looking adorable.

Perry would fall to her feet immediately if he were the physician.

Sir James giggled. Giggled! “The painting exists.”

“Would you like to see it?”

“Absolutely.” Sir James shook with excitement as Edith led him upstairs. He also stared at her behind as she went up.

“Sir James,” Perry hissed. “I trust you to be a gentleman.”

“I am.” Sir James shot him an outraged glare.

“There it is.” Edith pushed the door to the parlour open with a dramatic gesture.

The light hit the clothed Star Maiden, making her shine with a dozen colours, and Perry had to admit it was a stunning painting.

Despite the fact Edith was dressed, the shadows and colours played a game with the light, giving the illusion that her silver tunic revealed more than it did. Whenever Perry moved and looked at the painting from a different angle, he could glimpse at her nipples, or so it seemed. If he shifted to the right and focused on her smile, she’d appear dressed in a flimsy tunic, but if he stared at her chest, she lost the smile and was fully clothed. A magic trick.

“By Jove.” Sir James remained motionless, staring at the painting as if he were in front of a saint. “It’s perfect.” He walked around the painting slowly, muttering under his breath. “Oh, Miss Winkworth, you have been naughty because I can see…”

“Careful,” Perry said. “Shall I remind you that you’re a gentleman and talking with my future countess?”

Sir James looked affronted again. “I mean no offence, my lord, quite the opposite. This is pure art. Pure beauty. I’m a surgeon, and let me tell you, the human body looks more beautiful on the outside than the inside.” He laughed.

Perry didn’t even crack a smile.

“Society wouldn’t agree,” Sir James continued. “People think that just because a lady poses naked?—”

“She’s not naked,” Perry said.

“Shush,” Edith chided him.

Sir James ignored them. “—that she’s ruined. I disagree wholeheartedly. Look at this masterpiece.” His face was so red and bright that Perry worried he might have a seizure. “Do you think there might be a chance that I can acquire this painting?”

“Alas, it’s not for sale.” Edith covered the painting with a blanket. “It’s for Lord Ravenscroft’s eyes only.”

“But…but…” Sir James shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“Sir James, we should proceed with the examination,” Perry said. “Let’s go.”

“But…” Sir James seemed like a child about to throw a tantrum. “I have an idea,” he almost shouted.

“Yes?” Edith sounded sweet and innocent.

“Well.” Sir James patted his forehead with his handkerchief. “I’m sure Lord Ravenscroft is perfectly fine, and a medical examination is a long and complicated affair with dozens of forms to fill out and signatures. Perhaps I could forgo the examination and simply write the final medical report so as not to trouble you any further. You’ve been troubled enough.”

“That would be lovely,” Edith said. “In exchange for your kindness, I’m sure Perry will be more than happy to give you the painting as a gift.”

More than happy was an exaggeration. “Absolutely.” Perry gave a curt nod.

Sir James brightened. “It’s decided then.” He stretched out his arm to shake Perry’s hand. “Lord Ravenscroft, no one is going to touch your title. Ever.”

“And no one aside from you is going to look at my bride-to-be painting.”

Sir James bowed. “I give you my word.”

Sir James’s report was written, filed, and archived in a matter of days.

With his title secured, Perry had to deal with one last annoying detail before he could focus on what mattered the most—his engagement with Edith.

He checked his pocket watch, pacing in his study. “They should be here already.”

“Perhaps Neville had a change of heart,” Edith said, reading one of her anatomy books.

“One needs to have a heart to change it.”

“He could drag you to court,” Oliver said.

Perry shook his head. “Lochard gathered enough evidence to push him to a tight corner.”

“My lord.” Mason bowed from the door. “Lord Neville, Miss Ferguson, and Mr. Simmons are here.”

“Excellent.” Perry stood behind the desk between Edith and Oliver, ready for a battle.

Despite his confidence, uneasiness chilled him when Uncle Neville, Miss Ferguson, and Simmons entered the study. Uncle Neville’s face was a mask of wrath, and Miss Ferguson was so pale she seemed aged ten years.

The solicitor was the first to bow and speak. “My Lord, Miss Winkworth, Mr. York.” He made a point to remind everyone that Oliver’s licence hadn’t been reinstated yet.

“Thank you for being here.” Perry stretched out an arm towards the chairs in front of him. “Not that you had a choice. Let’s begin. I have more pressing matters to attend to.”

Uncle Neville scoffed, sitting down. “So have I. I have previous engagements and responsibilities.” He glared at Edith. “Unlike others, I keep my word.”

Oliver laughed before coughing into his fist. “Apologies. I’m allergic to lies.”

“Leave Edith out of this,” Perry said.

“Shall we begin?” Simmons didn’t seem disturbed by the thick atmosphere. He selected a few documents from his leather bag and spread them on the desk. “Mr. Lochard deposited the evidence he’d found against my clients to the police. Mr. Clarke, the stable hand who worked for Sir James, confessed he’d received the sum of five hundred pounds from Lord Neville.”

“Cheapskate,” Oliver muttered.

Simmons glowered at him. “Mr. Clarke received the money to tamper with His Lordship’s carriage in the attempt to cause serious bodily harm and prevent His Lordship from keeping his title. Mr. Clarke also disclosed the involvement of Miss Ferguson as, quote, ‘Lord Neville’s accomplice.’”

“Shame on you,” Edith said.

Miss Ferguson had the decency to lower her gaze.

“Please.” Simmons frowned. “If you keep interrupting me with your comments, this affair isn’t going to be quick at all.” He waited for the silence to return. “Mr. Lochard also provided witnesses to a meeting among Mr. Clarke, Lord Neville, and Miss Ferguson, in which they discussed the details of the tampering, and these are facts. Now, with that established, my clients propose a deal convenient for everyone.”

“I doubt that,” Perry said.

“Lord Neville will renounce any claims on the title?—”

“Because Perry cheated,” Uncle Neville said. “Sir James is a bumbling idiot, and you bribed him.”

“Why don’t you intervene when Lord Neville talks, Simmons?” Oliver asked.

Simmons exhaled. “As I was saying, Lord Neville will renounce his claims, and Lord Ravenscroft will withdraw the charges of attempted murder.”

Not good enough. “What about my other requests?” Perry asked.

Simmons exchanged a glance with Uncle Neville. “My client will leave London permanently and live with his allowance. Although Lord Neville asks for a small raise to marry Miss Ferguson.”

Perry chuckled. “No raise. Uncle Neville and Miss Ferguson will learn to live modestly. The allowance is substantial as it is.”

“Cheapskate,” Uncle Neville said.

Perry leant forwards. “Forgive me, Uncle, but I tend not to be generous towards someone who tried to kill me.”

He gave a little shrug. “Don’t be ridiculous. I never wanted to kill you, just spare you from the humiliation of showing everyone your madness.”

“He’s a better man than you’d ever be,” Edith said.

“He’s insane,” Miss Ferguson said, regaining some colour. “Just like you. Your fear of water and his convulsions make a good pair out of you.”

Enough. Perry wouldn’t sit there and listen to two criminals insult his bride-to-be. He stood up. “It’s settled then. Uncle, leave London immediately and never come back. Marry whomever you want and leave my countess and me alone.”

Oliver rose as well. “And if we see you here, we’ll warn the police.”

Miss Ferguson tilted her chin up. “Edith, I’m sorry we part this way?—”

“No, you aren’t,” Edith said. “Now leave.”

Simmons collected his documents, leaving copies for Perry. “Lord Ravenscroft, it’s been a pleasure to deal with you.” He paused. “If Mr. York needs legal advice on his situation, I’ll be happy to provide it.”

“Thank you. How kind,” Oliver said.

Perry and Edith turned towards him with matching frowns.

The moment the solicitor and his clients left the room, Perry cheered, Edith hugged him, and Oliver smiled widely.

“I’m the physician of an earl,” he said. “Well, after I have my hearing with the Royal Medical Society, my name is cleared, my licence reinstated, and the scandal is behind me.” He sighed. “Oh, dear.”

Edith patted his shoulder. “My father will do his best, and even Sir James promised to help.”

Oliver exhaled dramatically. “I fully trust your father, and I’m sure everything will be fine, but I’m a little disappointed.”

“Disappointed,” Perry said at the same time as Edith said, “Why?”

Oliver shrugged. “The thrill, the tension, the excitement of the unknown. The experience brought me a sense of danger I didn’t know I needed, and now it’s almost over. It’s somewhat sad.”

Edith stared at him. “I don’t fully follow you, Dr. York.”

“Welcome into my world, darling,” Perry said.