Page 79 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
She regarded me for a moment, her head tilted to the side. She showed no anger or concern, nor even a great deal of surprise. She almost seemed relieved. “Yes. Apparently Esmond Shepherd was born there, although I didn’t know that at the time. When it became clear Susannah wouldn’t survive, my brother took her home to Morcombe to die and gave up his son to Susannah’s parents to raise as their own. He never entered the townhouse again and sold it soon after.”
“He loved Susannah?”
“So Mabel Shepherd told me, years later.”
“On her deathbed last month?”
“Oh no. After my brother died, five years ago.”
“Who else knew Esmond was his son?”
“No one.”
“Are you sure your brother’s wife didn’t know?”
“I don’t think she did. It was never discussed. Not once. If she did, she hid it well. She and my brother had a perfectly good marriage, you see, and his relationship with Susannah took place before they married.”
“Would your brother have married Susannah if she hadn’t died?”
She tilted her head again as she studied me. “I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental, Miss Fox.”
“Would he?” I prompted.
“No. If marriage was his intention, he wouldn’t have bedded her. He would have waited until they were husband and wife. My brother knew his duty, Miss Fox. Our parents drilled it into us from an early age that we had certain responsibilities as members of a noble family. My brother was just the heir at that time, but he had a strong sense of honor and duty. He knew he had to marry a young woman of good breeding, not the gamekeeper’s daughter, no matter how much he cared for her or how many children she gave him.”
The tea arrived and I directed the waiter to leave the tray on the table in the sitting room. Lady Elizabeth placed the room key that came with it in her purse while I poured.
“Not too full for me, please, Miss Fox.” She showed me her shaking hand. “Halfway is safest.”
I handed her a cup and saucer then sat down with mine. “It’s quite the scandal you have buried in your family tree.” I tried to sound lighthearted, as if it didn’t matter.
“Oh yes, isn’t it? If my brother were alive today, he’d be horrified to know I was talking to you about his business.”
“What about your nephew, the current earl?”
She frowned. “Why would it upset him? It’s nothisscandal. Anyway, I told you. He doesn’t know.”
“Doesn’t he?”
“As far as I amaware, he doesn’t.”
“Do yoususpectthough?”
She sighed and lowered the teacup to her lap. “Perhaps he does know. It’s the only explanation for the bridleway closure. I tried talking to him about it but he wasn’t interested. He brushed me off whenever I mentioned it. But he must have closed it to the public to keep Esmond Shepherd happy, after Esmond threatened to tell people about his real parents. I suspect my nephew wanted to protect his father’s secret so agreed. It was a small price to pay. Anyway, he has reopened it now that…”
“Now that Esmond is no longer blackmailing him.”
Her lips thinned in disapproval at the word.
“How do you think Esmond found out?” I asked.
“Through his mother, Mabel Shepherd. Hisgrandmother, I mean.”
“Do you know why Esmond wanted the bridleway closed?”
“It’s close to his cottage. I assume he was tired of the public traipsing past his front door, and he saw this as an opportunity to force my nephew to stop them.” She picked up the teacup and sipped.
I didn’t mention the thefts. I no longer thought them relevant to the murder. “Are you going to tell Lord Kershaw you know why he closed the bridleway? Or that I know who Esmond’s real parents were?”
