Page 70 of A Slight Problem with the Wedding
Despite what they all thought, she was not reckless. Well, not very reckless. She certainly was not going to do anything foolish while a killer was still on the prowl and she was his prime target. In any event, Allendale might not have harmed her uncle, but she agreed with Julius. Her betrothed would be irate when she broke off their betrothal. Also, she meant to press him about the young woman and her child and that was a topic that might infuriate him.
“What news about Lady Easton?” Julius asked, his comment reminding her that she had not given her aunt any thought.
That was rather shameful of her.
Yes, her aunt was an ogre.
But even ogres deserved some sympathy when grieving.
Of course, this assumed her aunt was not the murderess, a fact which had yet to be determined.
Havers frowned. “The coach driver and clerk who sold the tickets on the Windsor to London route and return to Windsor could not identify the man and two women with any certainty. However, they were quite certain that the man was not Lady Easton’s brother-in-law. They did not recognize him at all. Nor did he or Lady Easton’s sister have fresh scratches.”
“They didn’t?” Gory was frankly surprised. “So all three of them are now ruled out? I was sure…well, it is not right of me to accuse my aunt or her family. Being unlikable does not mean any of them are capable of committing heinous crimes.”
“Oh, I think Lady Easton is capable of anything,” Adela said. “She treated you so badly growing up, Gory. Even now, she refuses to see you and had the gall to suggest you not attend your uncle’s funeral. Then she tried to plant false stories in the gossip rags, hoping to make it appear you are the guilty party. It is a good thing Julius and Ambrose were able to stop those lies from getting into print.”
“She tried to do this?” She turned to Julius in surprise. “Why did you not tell me?”
He groaned. “You were still recovering from your injuries and already distressed over the way she was trying to shut you out. When the Tattler’s editor contacted us last night to advise us of this juicy story he had been handed, Ambrose and I told him it was a lie and he should not run it.”
Gory’s eyes narrowed. “You threatened him?”
Julius shook his head. “No, we merely told him it was not true. He would not have reached out to us unless he believed as much. I did not think it necessary to mention it to you and add to your concerns. You already knew your aunt would try something underhanded.”
“I suppose,” she said, although she did not like finding out about this latest bit of mischief in this manner. Julius could have told her. Yes, she was trying to heal and this might have interfered with her recovery. She would have been riled and unable to sleep, for certain.
But was it not important for her to be kept advised of all that went on? “Is it awful of me to be sorry that my aunt will now be struck off the suspect list?”
Havers arched an eyebrow. “Oh, she is still at the top of my list. Nor have I dismissed her sister as one of her confederates, although it is fairly certain now that the sister’s husband was not involved.”
“Why excuse him?” Adela asked.
“Because he was the one most likely to have received the scratches when my uncle fought back,” Gory explained. “And Mr. Havers said none were found on him.”
Havers nodded. “That’s right.”
“And what of Lord Easton’s business partners?” Ambrose asked. “Have you ruled them out, too?”
“Not yet, but Mr. Barrow can better address your question since his runners have been assisting my constables in keeping an eye on these gentlemen as we confirm their alibis.”
Mr. Barrow cleared his throat. “Most have been ruled out, surprising as this might be. Less than a handful left now, including the solicitor, Reginald Mayfield and his elder brother, Harold.”
“Truly?” Gory was not really surprised that her father’s oily solicitors would betray the family’s trust so brazenly. They might have been willing to do anything shady to hold on to the new earl as a client.
“Nothing solid to go on just yet,” Mr. Barrow said, touching his nose. “In following both Mayfields, we have seen them engaged in several unsavory activities.”
“For this reason, I am having a closer look at them,” Havers said. “I know they did not have fresh scratches either, but this does not absolve them of any involvement.”
Havers now set down his coffee cup and rose. “Well, we still have much work to do. The murder of an earl, whether he was liked or not, still has the royal family deeply concerned. We are all eager to have this investigation quickly resolved.”
“Aye,” said Mr. Barrow, rising as well. “Lady Gregoria, I’ll have a man keeping watch on you when you ride to Lord Allendale’s residence. It cannot hurt to have someone backing up Lord Thorne. All you need to do is let my runner know where else you intend to go. He must be kept apprised so he can guard you at all times.”
“We will give him all our details,” Julius assured.
Mr. Barrow cast Gory a warm, grandfatherly smile. “Mr. Havers may still have his suspicions about you, but I never doubted your innocence for a moment. I’ve had my men watching this townhouse for several days now, but they haven’t spotted anyone lurking. This does not mean the danger has passed. Indeed, I fear it is increasing with every day that goes by. Someone knows you saw them with your uncle on the night of the murder. That someone is going to come after you to silence you before your memory returns. Please be as careful as you can, m’lady. Do not stay out too long. Return here as soon as your business with Lord Allendale is concluded.”
Julius took her hand again.
