As he stood in the same place he had a few weeks earlier, nerves began to get the better of him. It was the incessant ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner of Lord Fletcher's study. He'd been ushered into the room by a footman and left waiting. When the door opened, he stood upright.
''You again,'' Lord Fletcher said. He was tall and lean, like a military officer. ''What do you want now? You haven't been with my daughter again, have you?'' he held Nicholas by the shoulder and squeezed.
''No sir. I come about something else.''
''Well, it was very brave of you to come and apologize last time. Very manly to stand in front of a woman's father and admit you'd bedded her. So speak, what do you want?''
''You are the highest policeman in the land, are you not?'' Lord Fletcher nodded and scratched his gray sideburns. ''The police in Banbury have arrested Mrs. Adele Vaughan, on suspicion of having something to do with Bartholomew Pimm's murder. She's a lady, I'm sure she didn't do it.''
''I can arrange bail for her, nothing more. I am not in the habit of interfering with my detectives.''
''If you could arrange for her to be released on bail, I would be most grateful.'' It was better than nothing, Nicholas thought.
*****
When Nicholas collected Adele from the police station, she looked drawn. ''I'm taking you back to my house, you need looking after,'' he'd said. But she'd refused. She wanted to go home, she was exhausted.
''I don't know how you did it, but thank you for securing my release.'' She held his arm, as he helped her to her front door.
''I did it because I ......'' he stopped, unsure of himself.
''Because you what?'' she looked at him.
To hell with it. ''Because I have grown very fond of you.''
''Fond?'' she repeated.
''Alright, more than fond, I am in love with you.''
Adele looked at him. Poor man, he's fallen in love with a murderer, a woman who will be locked up forever. ''Nicholas, I have developed strong feelings for you as well. But I have to talk to you about something.''
Arthur held the door open, pleased to see Adele again. ''Tea, my Lady?'' he asked.
''Yes, please, tea.''
They sat opposite each other and said nothing. Nicholas felt vulnerable. He'd told her of his feelings and received little in return.
''Nicholas, I have to confess to something, something terrible, that will prevent us from ever being together.'' She looked at his expression, and her heart sank. ''I am in love with you too.'' Nicholas beamed and took her hands, but she remained serious, and something told him to pull away again. ''But I did have something to do with the death of...''
She stopped as someone knocked on the front door. She remained silent, waiting for Arthur to deal with it. But Arthur came into the room with a disapproving look on his face. ''Mr. Kellet is here again.'' Adele got up and followed Arthur to the front door. Kellet was standing on the doorstep. He was holding an envelope.
''May I come in and speak to you?'' he said.
Adele drew breath. She stood aside and showed him into the dining room. ''Say what you have to say and leave, I'm already in enough trouble.''
''This is for you,'' he handed her the envelope.
''What is it?''
''Thirty thousand.''
''What?''
''The money you gave me, I'm returning it.''
''I don't.......'' Adele was speechless.
''It seems we were too late. So I'm doing the honorable thing and returning your cash.''
''What do you mean, too late?''
''Well, someone got to Mr. Pimms before we could. Someone else killed him. It seems he had more than one enemy.''
''Do you mean you didn't kill him? Or anyone to do with you?''
He shook his head. ''No,''
''Why did my husband want him killed anyway?'' She'd been too afraid to ask before, but now it didn't matter.
''Mr. Pimms had been blackmailing your husband.''
''Why?''
''I'm sorry to tell you, your late husband was having an affair with Mrs. Pimms younger sister. Miss Leatham. Pimms found out about it and threatened to tell you.''
''What?'' Adele's heart was racing. ''I don't believe it.''
''Well, believe what you want, but you have your money, and your conscience should be clear now.''
Adele went back to Nicholas after Kellet had left.
''You were about to tell me something important I think,'' he said.
She looked dazed. ''What? Oh, no it's not important now. Do you think I could become you proper fiancee?'' she asked.
He didn't care what had changed. He just got up and took her in his arms. ''I would like nothing more.''
*****
That evening, Adele gave Nicholas the money back. He didn't want to know what had happened. He assumed something positive had taken place and relieved her of debt.