“No one died last night,” Carmichael stated immediately as he stepped into Gilbert’s Town carriage outside his home.

“That we know of so far,” Gilbert warned, looking over Carmichael closely. The man appeared disheveled, as if he’d missed another night of sleep. Too much of that and he’d endanger the investigation and his health.

But he felt hope that they had passed the Friday without another loss. The question on his mind was, why not last night? Had the killer shed enough blood and quit the field entirely?

Despite the unending string of questions in his mind, Gilbert was a little distracted at the moment. He was bound for his club with the hope of running Lord Wade to ground, and then he would be calling on Lady Windermere. After receiving only a perhaps from Miss Beasley in terms of his offer of marriage, he was keen to inform Lord Wade and Lady Windermere that Anna Beasley and he had an understanding of sorts. He would court her properly, and she’d consider whether he might make an agreeable husband one day. The last thing Gilbert wanted was harmful gossip circulating about his reluctant future bride or for her to feel pressure to accept.

Carmichael stretched his legs out in the confined space. “Well, there was no screaming, or wilting debutants that I came across.”

“Miss Beasley didn’t scream.” The thought of Anna made Gilbert unusually warm even now. She was quite delightful to kiss, but very determined to make a match for the right reason. He’d not meant to compromise her, but the kisses they’d shared and been discovered indulging in were all the reason he needed to make the most important decision of his life very quickly.

It was impossible to fake such innocent, ardent responses. Anna Beasley was the one. She surprised him at every turn, including her refusal to consider accepting his proposal straight away.

“Anna yelped,” Carmichael told him. “She used to do that whenever I startled her.”

“I can’t say I blame her. By all I’ve heard, you’ve been beastly to her.”

If he and Anna were to wed, Carmichael and Anna must become friends, he suddenly decided. This childish feud Carmichael had encouraged wouldn’t be necessary once Anna was known to be betrothed to him and they eventually married. Mr. Beasley would stop looking at Lord Carmichael as a future son-in-law by then and accept she belonged to someone else. “You should be kinder.”

Carmichael studied his fingernails. “I suppose I could. However, there’s little reason to change my tactics now. Not after all the trouble I’ve taken to keep Anna from liking me. I don’t want to give her father the hope of a match between us.”

Gilbert grimaced. He wouldn’t like that, either. It had taken quite a bit of negotiation for Mr. Beasley to agree to his request for a private conversation with Anna so he could propose. “I think you’re in the clear.”

The longer courtship suited him, although he was a little uncomfortable that he might have to continue to lie to Anna about the scale of his involvement with Bow Street. She’d seen enough of death, suffered enough of a shock over Miss Goldwell’s demise. He’d shield her from anything else while the current investigation was underway and when they were married, he’d give up his pursuit of criminals for a settled and safe home life for good.

“I thought Anna seemed a little worried last night when we danced, but she would say nothing of her distress to me.” Carmichael chewed his lower lip. “Have you by chance spoken with her?”

“We’ve spoken.”

Spoken, and kissed again, too. Although he’d agreed to the delay, he was hopeful of more pleasant interludes like today’s kisses. He’d been nervous as hell until he’d kissed her. After that, well…he’d done what seemed to come very naturally between them.

“And?”

“And what?”

Carmichael frowned. “Will she tell everyone that Miss Goldwell was murdered or not? We cannot have her informing society that there may well be a madman killing off debutants.”

“She only knows about Miss Goldwell’s death. She doesn’t know about the rest,” he promised.

“A mercy, that. Miss Hayes, another close friend of Angela’s, asked me outright if I knew when Angela and her mother would return to London last night.”

Gilbert winced. “What did you say?”

“I lied, of course. I told her I’ve no idea.”

“Good. Good.”

They fell silent for a bit, and Gilbert got his bearings. They were not far from the club, where he would begin to spread the word about his pursuit of Anna Beasley, but first he should probably inform Carmichael. Soften the blow, because the man had planned to marry Miss Berry this month and he was still grieving. He didn’t like to keep secrets from his best friend.

“I lost you last night for a bit.” Carmichael observed. “Where were you?”

“Why?”

“We should compare notes on whom we spoke to. Did you see anything suspicious?”

Carmichael was becoming obsessed with the chase.

“Not me. Davis reported nothing out of the ordinary last night. The only thing I noticed was Meriwether loitering outside in the garden.”

“I know why.” Carmichael chuckled darkly. “Meriwether was once known to be courting the new Lady Windermere, in the year before her marriage. Meriwether ended up marrying some silly country chit instead. A few months later, Windermere married his current wife and they will have nothing to do with him, or his reforms, now of course. I would say there is bad blood between them.”

Gilbert grunted. “That explains his sour expression last night. What did you uncover? Anything?”

“Well, I did see something unusual but I’m not sure what to make of it.” He leaned forward in his seat, resting one hand on a knee. “Lord Wade and Lady Windermere have suddenly become confidants. I noticed her husband didn’t seem pleased at all by the private tête-à-tête they shared last night. There’s something going on there. Do you think her already bored by married life?”

Gilbert blinked at Carmichael. “It’s not what you think between them.”

Carmichael frowned. “Lady Windermere had quite the reputation before she wed. She was rumored to keep a number of lovers dangling after her, including Meriwether. Since tying the knot, she’s devoted her attention to her husband and new son exclusively. But she’s no stranger to rumor or innuendo when it involves men younger than herself.”

Gilbert sighed and cleared his throat. He would have to explain: about witnesses and kissing Anna last night. “They had a good reason to be whispering.”

“Oh?” Carmichael asked.

“I asked Miss Beasley to marry me today.”

Carmichael reached across the carriage suddenly and grabbed Gilbert by the cravat. He was shaken, and quite roughly, too. “What did you do last night to make such a sudden proposal necessary?”

Gilbert shook off Carmichael. “A kiss. Nothing more serious than that, I swear.”

“I knew it. You like her! I said you were staring at her.”

Gilbert straightened his coat and cravat, fighting a wave of shame. He’d behaved quite poorly last night, and maybe again today, too. But as much as it pained him, he’d sworn to deal honestly with his best friend some time ago. He couldn’t lie to Carmichael and expect the same consideration in return. “Yes, well, try not to look so bloody smug about it. I admit, you were right. I haven’t stopped thinking of her since I saw her.”

Carmichael cackled. “Betrothed, and to Anna, within two weeks of coming to London. I knew it! I knew what I saw between you.”

Gilbert allowed his friend his amusement. It was the first time Carmichael had seemed genuinely happy all week. “You’ll stand up with me of course when the time comes.”

“I would be very pleased to. When is the wedding to be carried out?”

“Not soon, I suspect. Anna feels we don’t know each other well enough to actually accept my proposal, so a date has not been agreed to.”

Carmichael squinted at him, his astonishment obvious. “Did she refuse you outright?”

“No.” Gilbert shook his head. “When we were caught together last night, I blurted out a promise to visit her father today to Lord Wade and Lady Windermere, who found us together, to allay any gossip or announcement. Anna particularly did not wish to upset her father, and they agreed to say nothing as long as I called upon him today.”

“So that explains them whispering.” Carmichael glanced away. “And Anna’s odd behavior.”

“She wasn’t upset about being kissed really.” He nodded. “But it wasn’t the way a gentleman with intentions should have behaved. Being found alone together sped up the business of offering for her.”

“Once you know, you know,” Carmichael mused, wiping at his eyes with his thumb suddenly. “Nothing can stop it…except murder.”

“I’m sorry.”

“At least Anna will be happy. I imagine her father will regale me with the tale of your appearance in his study in the near future.”

“He seemed quite surprised by my presence.”

Carmichael shook his head. “Why was there no death last night?”

Gilbert sighed. So much for a pleasant diversion by talk of the living and the future. “Perhaps the murderer was distracted.”

“Perhaps they were not even invited,” Carmichael mused. “We should ask Lady Windermere for her guest list and compare it to the others we’ve collected so far.”

“I do have to call on her.”

“To assure her you and Anna are bound for the altar eventually?”

“Exactly,” he promised. “Or at least, I hope so. Lady Windermere wanted the honor of making the announcement last night but Anna begged her not to put her father on the spot.”

“He hates surprises.”

“So Anna mentioned last night.”

“She’s not wrong,” Carmichael murmured. “He likes to think he sees all but he’s often wrong. I hadn’t the heart to tell him about Angela yet. I was hoping Anna would make a match before me so the discussion wasn’t necessary.”

“She was waiting for me to come to London,” Gilbert quipped, throwing a sly smile toward Carmichael in the hope he’d laugh again.

Carmichael rubbed his jaw instead, brow furrowed. “You know, once word spreads about your engagement, there will at least be one less young lady to worry about. The murderer has only attacked unattached females, haven’t they?”

“I had noticed that.” And the realization made him anxious, now, too. Despite his promise to give her time, he felt it might be in Anna’s best interests to spread the word that she would be promised in marriage to him as soon as possible. “Where are you bound tonight?”

“A dinner with Lord and Lady Thwaite. I’m hoping to get a sneak peek at the guest list for the next ball they host. I had also better make a duty call to my godmother first, though. Lady Scott must be reassured that I’ve not lost my fortune gambling the nights away this week with you.”

“You’re not coming to the club with me?”

“You already beat me at billiards this week. I’ll wait a month before suffering further humiliation.”

Gilbert smiled innocently. “Would you like me to let you win?”

Carmichael glowered back. “I’d shoot you if you even tried.”

Gilbert chuckled. “Continue on with my carriage from the club then and have them return for me in an hour. I’ll visit you at home, or would you care to join me for drinks after dinner at my home?”

Carmichael considered it a moment. “I’ll come to you after the dinner. Exeter has deeper pockets and lured Monsieur Laffitte back to his employ last night. We can discuss what I learn of the next Friday night ball over a nightcap.”

“That would be very helpful.” The carriage began to slow as the club came into view. “I’m sorry about your chef. Wish me luck today.”

“Good luck today, and all the days after,” Carmichael said as the carriage rolled to a complete stop and a groom jumped down to open the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Gilbert collected his hat. He’d convince Carmichael to spend the night again. The man needed to sleep more than a night of overindulgence.

But for now, Gilbert was going to have to talk fast. Lord Wade might expect a wedding announcement he couldn’t give yet. “See you then.”

He strolled into the club, scanning the Morning Room’s few occupants. He smiled. Lord Wade was reading the paper all alone and there were very few who might hear their conversation.

“Good morning, Lord Wade. Might I join you?”

The fellow lowered the paper, inspecting him from head to toe. “She said no.”

Gilbert sat, quite stunned. “How could you possibly know that?”

“If she’d said yes, you’d have strutted into the club. As it is, you’ve got a worry on your shoulder.”

“She said she needed time.”

Lord Wade folded the paper and tossed it aside on a chair. “Use it wisely.”

Gilbert stared at Wade. “Are you sure you’re not in love with her?”

“Patience is its own reward, my lord.” He smiled smugly. “I suppose you’re after a boon from me.”

“I would like not to rush her into any decision.”

“Anna Beasley couldn’t be rushed unless her house was on fire.” Wade pursed his lips. “Agreed. There’s nothing to speak of again about the matter.”

“Thank you,” Gilbert said with considerable relief. Now Anna’s continued good reputation was assured, he felt infinitely better.

“Shouldn’t you be running along to Windermere House already?”

Gilbert nodded. “I suppose I should.”

“I wouldn’t waste time. Lady Windermere isn’t a stickler for propriety but she is very protective of friends and family,” Wade warned. “You would be wise to keep her informed of the progress of your courtship, too. She may even have some advice on how to win the fair maiden’s heart.”

Gilbert took the hint and hurried toward Windermere House without waiting for his carriage to be returned. Having Lady Windermere for an ally was a good idea, and he did need to acquire her guest list somehow, too.