Free Alyssa Everett by A TrystWith Trouble Page B

I’m afraid Mr. Lewis will say it’s my fault. And it wasn’t, my lady. The doors were already off their hinges when I made my rounds. I don’t know how—”
    “Oh.” In my determination to search Helen’s room, I’d forgotten all about the cupboard doors Ben had smashed to splinters. “I know exactly what you mean, Frye. Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with the murder last night. I was there when it happened. And yes, I’ll be happy to speak to Lewis about it.”
    His tense expression dissolved into a look of relief, albeit a puzzled one. “You were there? But how...?”
    “Lord Beningbrough had a little accident with the cupboard.” At Frye’s look of confusion, I elaborated. “You know, Lord Cliburne’s cousin.” Oh , drat , please don’t let our footman wonder what Ben and I were doing in the butler’s pantry together. However innocent it might have been, it would look bad—and, to be perfectly honest, it hadn’t been all that innocent.
    Frye appeared even more puzzled, but he merely said, “Well, I’d be grateful for your help, my lady.”
    At his words, inspiration struck. “Actually, I have a favor of my own to ask in return.” I reached for the paper and pen Helen kept in her top drawer. “Do you know Ormesby House on Piccadilly? It’s that great white mansion, the one with the stone entrance flanked by statues of Atlas supporting the heavens.”
    “Near the corner of Green Park? Yes, my lady.”
    “Good. You must keep this our secret, Frye, but I need you to carry a message there for me.”

Chapter Six
    Ben
    Having promised Barbara I would keep mum about the blackmail plot, I couldn’t tell Teddy or my uncle anything of the conversation I’d overheard between John and Lady Helen. But I did tell them I’d come across some confidential information that might bode well for Teddy if matters actually came to a trial, and that I was in the process of investigating it. Uncle Daventry looked visibly relieved and was understanding enough not to press me for details.
    “D’you see, Ben?” Teddy said as the two of us left the well-worn comfort of his father’s study. “I knew I was doing the right thing, keeping Helen’s name out of this mess.”
    I frowned at his misplaced confidence. “Teddy, perhaps you should prepare yourself for the possibility your bride-to-be isn’t completely innocent in all this.”
    Teddy shook his head. “You wouldn’t say that if you really knew Helen. I daresay her sister could commit murder if she had to, and barely turn a hair. Barbara has backbone enough for most anything. But Helen? She wouldn’t say boo to a goose.”
    I slanted a look at his open, amiable face. Even if I’d been at liberty to tell him about the blackmail scheme, I doubted I’d have the heart to disillusion him. As badly as Teddy might need a dose of reality, it’d be too much like telling a small child there were no such things as fairies. He would just have to find out about his intended the hard way.
    I changed the subject. “So, is anyone courting Lady Barbara?”
    Teddy raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that which way the wind blows? Now that you mention it, she does seem your type. You always did like those tall, whiskey-voiced girls.”
    “Don’t be a sapskull. I’m not interested in her.”
    “Are you sure? Because she reminds me a bit of that opera dancer you were parading around last year, the one with the long legs and the big—”
    “I tell you, I’m not interested in Lady Barbara. I only asked because...” Now, why had I asked if anyone was courting her? “Because I’m trying to get to the bottom of this business with the Woodfords’ footman, and I need to know if there are any suspicious characters lurking about.”
    “Ah, I see.” Teddy looked faintly disappointed, almost as if he’d been hoping I’d be fool enough to fall for a termagant like Barbara. “No, she hasn’t any suitors I’m aware of. Actually, about the same time I offered for Helen,