Hell, whom was he lying to except himself. He had expected far more than any of that. Another night, at least. Additional contentment, for both of them. Perhaps talk of even more, once they returned to London. He had no right to expect any of that, but it had seemed to him that one night was not adequate, to say the least.

He looked up to find Nicholas watching him. He set his fork down.

“I am going to make some of my own inquiries of the servants today. I should get to it.” He made to leave.

“Sit a moment longer, if you will. You see, the oddest thing happened while they were leaving. I had handed them both into the carriage, and the young one, Miss Turner, examined the carriage’s appointments with those pretty blue eyes of hers. ‘Oh, my,’ she said. ‘Have you ever seen anything like it, Minerva?’” Nicholas leaned in. “What a coincidence, that Mrs. Rupert’s given name is the same as one of our legatees. The one you have found. It is not a common name.”

“It is not an uncommon name either. If the name were Polyhymnia or Terpsichore, that would be a most peculiar coincidence. Now, I must be on my way, so I can—”

“Not yet. Please, indulge me lest I wonder all day.”

Chase settled back in his chair.

“Was that in fact Minerva Hepplewhite?”

Nicholas would ask bluntly and leave no room for dissembling. “Yes.”

“Ah.”

Chase began rising again. Nicholas again gestured for him to sit.

“Why was she here?”

“She has a pointed interest in Uncle’s death. Understandably, since it affected her so completely.”

“If it was not an accident, she might be seen as a likely object of inquiry herself, I assume.”

“That too. So she wanted to see for herself where it happened.”

“And you arranged that. How good of you. Here I thought you had brought that woman here, no matter what her name, so you might seduce her. I thought perhaps she had not departed this morning so much as run away from your intentions.”

“I do not importune women, if that is what you are saying.” I am not Phillip, damn it.

“No, you don’t. Her contentment, and yours, convinced me that no importuning was involved. I am relieved. I have some responsibility to women under my roof. I’m not sure I like that you are taking up with one of the women from the will, though.”

“I am not taking up with her. She left, didn’t she?”

“She did indeed.”

“Then we are done here.” Chase stood and gave his cousin a quelling frown.

“For someone who conducts inquiries, you do not like one when it is aimed at you,” Nicholas said.