“Perhaps the common denominator is you.”
“Me?”
“Any enemies or adversaries that you’ve made over the years?”
Latham blew out a breath. “None that I can think of—not here, at least. Yes, there have been rivalries with other shipping lines and altercations at the docks and other ports, but why target my sister and her fiancé?”
“Perhaps for that very reason. If this was a planned attack, perhaps it was aimed at bringing pain and suffering to your family.”
“I hadn’t even considered that,” Latham said.
“Has your sister recalled anything recently?”
“Nothing but the horror of seeing Colborne killed. Her nightmares plague her, and she wakes screaming about the blood on her hands. Saying it out loud is difficult, even now. We have tried to help get her past the tragedy,” Latham said. “The fact that she went to the Clarence’s ball was a good sign, but then she had that fainting spell and that worries me.”
Sebastian’s chest constricted at what Katie must have gone through. What she continued to carry in her mind and heart. He’d seen enough on the battlefield and in his work as a security agent to know how one could be scarred for life by witnessing such violence.
“I think it would be a good idea to review all the investigative notes again—from all angles,” Sebastian suggested. “Perhaps the runners uncovered something but didn’t realize it at the time.”
“That makes sense,” Latham said, downing the rest of his drink. “I’ll have time on the journey back to Sussex to peruse the investigation report. If I come across anything, I’ll send word to you.”
Sebastian nodded. “Please do so.”
The next day
“You’re awake, milady!” Millie said, entering the room. “Your mother asks that you join her and the Dowager Duchess of Clarence in the parlor. I brought your chocolate and biscuits and came to help you dress.” She set down the tray on a small table next to the white upholstered chair in front of the fireplace and nodded towards the changing screen in the corner.
“The dowager is here?” she asked.
“Yes, milady. She just arrived.”
Katie nodded and glanced at the dresses. They hung from two corner hooks on a screen covered in fabric featuring blue butterflies and yellow wrens. She had always loved the cheeriness of the material. The hooks were an idea of her mother’s and had caught on with Katie’s friends and their mothers, as well. It gave Millie a place to lie out the dresses when she was still abed. It also kept them from wrinkling. She nodded approvingly at Millie’s choices.
Millie smiled. “It’s such a cheery, bright day. I was thinking the pink and white stripe would look lovely. But you might enjoy the olive-green floral print one. Both compliment your coloring.”
Katie nibbled her bottom lip. Would he like her in pink or green? She could decide that later. For now, she wanted comfort. “You’re right, Millie. Today calls for the rose pink one. It’s my favorite shade of pink.”
“An excellent choice. I’ll pack the green after we get you dressed for the day.”
A half-hour later, Katie entered the parlor and found the dowager and her mother deep in conversation.
“If we leave, are you certain you will be up to escorting Katie to the various social functions? It seems a lot to foster on you,” Katie heard her mother ask as she entered the room.
“My dear. Are you truly asking me such a question after having known me all these years? Of course, I’m up to the task and will treat Katie as the daughter I’ve never had. I plan to cherish every moment and will take good care of her,” the duchess said in her unassailable voice. “I am, after all, her godmother.”
Her mother merely grinned and gave a quick nod. “I had to ask.” She reached over and patted the seat on the settee next to her, showing for Katie to sit.
“Hello, Duchess,” Katie said, taking the seat. “Does this mean everything is set for me to stay?” She turned to her mother. “I do hate to miss everything, Mama. So, promise me you will send for me when Frankie is close to the delivery.”
The viscountess patted her daughter’s hand. “I will. I fear your brother will need your calm influence. But until then, you will be in the duchess’s capable hands.” She gave Katie a pointed look. “You and Paula will both be staying with her, as my sister plans to go to Sussex with us. Don’t make me regret this decision, missy.”
“I promise, Mama. I have put my toe back in Society, and I fear if I flee to the country now, I might not feel the momentum to see it through. And I do so want to shake the melancholy, as I vowed.”
Her mother squeezed her hand. “I trust you, Katie. But I will miss you so.”
The dowager cleared her throat. “I understand Lord Soren plans to call on you this week. I am thrilled! We cannot wait to hear of your outing.”
“He never told me what we might do. But I hope we can take a ride. The weather is perfect.”
