Page 42 of Nature of the Crime
“That’s some months ago,” Hugh went on. “What made him so memorable to you?”
“It were who he was taking a pint with,” Mr. Roberts said, his attention shifting to the dead body on the plinth. “His lordship. They looked real serious. Shooed away my girl, Maggie when she went over to see if they wanted another round.”
Hugh crossed a glance with Thornton. So, not only had Burton hired Vaillancourt once before, he’d had a pint with him in September. Right when Audrey was leaving for the Continent.
“You didn’t overhear anything they discussed?” Hugh asked. Mr. Roberts shook his head.
Edmunds stepped in. “Thank you. That at least sheds light on a previous connection between Mr. Vaillancourt and Lord Burton. There must be, of course, a third party involved too, as both men are now deceased, and neither death was accidental.”
A few of the jurors murmured their surprise. “I thought the baron fell off the chalk,” a man said.
“He did,” Dr. Heard replied. “However, he was first struck on the back of the head. That, I believe, was the blow that did for him.”
“My soldiers scoured the cliffs and found a rock streaked with blood near where the baron fell,” Edmunds put in. “I willsuggest the jury rule this as murder. I will open an inquiry, alongside Mr. Vaillancourt’s.”
“What about the dowager duchess,” Mr. Roberts said. “Is she suspected?”
“Not at all,” Edmunds replied. “She’s been cleared of any wrongdoing. We must turn our attentions to a man who knew both victims. I will leave you to discuss the findings.”
The lieutenant stepped away and indicated to Hugh and Thornton to follow him.
Hugh was reluctant to. Now that he knew Grayson had met with someone from Philip’s past, Hugh possessed information the lieutenant did not. The man they were looking for also had ties to the late Duke of Fournier. Parting with that knowledge would give the lieutenant more information to use in his inquiry. But it would also be the beginning of Audrey’s end. Ofhisand Audrey’s end.
Perhaps this had always been a secret they would never be able to keep.
The blustery wind atop the castle hill had the barest trace of warmth. A small speck of sunlight was trying to push through the banking of clouds.
He could not withhold pertinent information from the lieutenant if it would help them apprehend a killer. He would speak to Audrey the first chance he had, and they’d have to make a decision. She would do the right thing, but it wasn’t for Hugh to decide alone.
“I understand you were with Bow Street before becoming viscount,” Edmunds said as they walked toward the inner bailey.
“I was.”
“Would you be willing to stay on here and assist in the investigation?”
Hugh appreciated how direct and efficient Edmunds was. “I will. And you can expect the dowager duchess to stay on as well.”
The lieutenant peered at him. “I see.” Hugh was certain the man did. “That should not be a problem.”
Thornton nudged his arm and looked toward the constable’s gate, where Sir had just appeared.
“Ah, your young assistant,” Edmunds said with a trace of amusement. “I can expect him to stay on as well?”
Hugh wondered just what sort of impression Sir had made on the lieutenant. “You can.”
“Got a manifest for you,” Sir said as he reached them, huffing for breath. Hugh brightened. Audrey had succeeded in obtaining the passenger list from Grayson’s packet to Dover.
“TheBritannia?” Thornton asked.
“Nah, theGorse.” Sir handed the badly creased paper to Hugh.
“What does theGorsehave to do with this?” Edmunds asked.
Sir didn’t answer the question and instead pointed to the paper. “The stiffneck down at the office wants it back, end of day.”
Hugh clenched his teeth. He would have reprimanded Sir for his lack of proper manners toward the lieutenant, but he was too grateful for his candor in not answering about theGorse.
“Thank you, Sir.”
