Page 11 of The Highland Heist
The officer narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to respond when Lillias stood. “I—I didn’t kill him. Of course not.” Her voice wavered. “I found him … like this. The knife … was still in him.”
“Likely story, Mrs. Dixon.” Mr. Clark tipped his head, the slight warp of his glasses giving his pale eyes a sinister glint. He took a step back toward the door. “My colleagues will discover the truth.”
With a tip of his hat, he turned to leave the room and nearly bumped into Miss Cox, with Zahra at her side. Grace stood, placing her body beside Frederick’s to further block their view of the body, but Miss Cox had already caught sight of it. She stumbled back, nearly knocking over Zahra, who shot a narrow-eyed look to Mr. Clark as he bounded out the door. As if in line with the rest of the house, Miss Cox screamed.
Then fainted.
So much for keeping Miss Cox as a maidservant.
Frederick felt certain that as soon as the young woman awakened from her faint, she’d follow the path of Lillias’ maid and retreat back across the ocean. He’d gladly pay her passage—poor woman.
This trip to visit Grace’s family was meant to be scandal free. No drama, no murder. Yet here they were, mired in the most intimate tragedy of their young marriage. Frederick barely reached the maid in time to catch her before she collapsed, no thanks to Officer Clark. Then he carried the young woman to the settee across from Lillias and Grace, who had miraculously managed to quiet the baby.
Lillias, on the other hand, could not be quieted. Her sobs were as relentless as the accusations swirling around her. Murder. A contentious marriage?
“I didn’t kill him,” she wailed, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead. “You must believe me!”
“Of course you didn’t,” Grace soothed, sending Frederick a sharp look over Lillias’ head. “That dagger is enormous, Frederick. Not a lady’s weapon at all. And the force of the knife blow appears far too strong for a woman’s hand.”
Lillias’ mouth fell open as she gaped at her sister, her face draining of color.
To prevent another fainting spell—and to distract Zahra, who seemed disturbingly unfazed by the dead body—Frederick shrugged off his coat and draped it over Tony’s chest and face. “With Officer Clark fetching the police, the only thing to do now is wait.”
“And sort out the story.” Grace turned to her sister as Zahra took a seat next to Grace, the little girl’s attention fixed on the baby.
“I’ve already told you.” Lillias’ voice trembled.
“It would be wise to tell it from the beginning once before they arrive, Lillias.” Grace offered a gentle smile as Zahra coaxed the baby into her arms.
With his wife’s focus on her sister, she didn’t seem at all aware of Zahra’s gentle manner with the babe. Frederick’s new daughter kept revealing more and more aspects of her personality as she found her confidence and role in their little family.
Frederick couldn’t resist the tiniest smile, despite the shadow of the moment, to see her bloom a little more.
Lillias’ gaze flitted nervously between Grace and Frederick before darting toward the covered body. Her breath caught audibly, and she looked away.
“Start just before you came into this room,” Frederick suggested, positioning himself near the door to keep a watchful eye. There didn’t seem to be any hidden dangers within the house, but he refused to become too relaxed. Especially with a dead body still very evident before them. “What happened leading up to your return to the house?”
Lillias hesitated, her chin lifting defensively. Why did he get the feeling she was hiding something? Frederick braced himself. If things were about to grow worse—he glanced briefly at Tony’s still form—he needed to be ready for Grace’s sake.
He already knew she was strong, probably more than she realized, but even her tenacity had its limit, and he feared her greatest weakness likely came closest to heart.
“Eloise—the ungrateful maid who abandoned me—had taken Thomas for a walk,” Lillias said, gesturing toward the doorway through which the maid had disappeared. “I accompanied them until they grew close to home.” She looked away, fidgeting with her hands. “When Thomas started fussing, I told Eloise to take him through the back door to the nursery while I came through the front to check the post.”
“Was Tony here when you left for your walk?” Grace asked.
“Yes.” The word came quickly, but the hesitation that followed was telling. “But he slept in so I hadn’t spoken to him yet.”
“How long were you gone?” Frederick prompted, holding Grace’s gaze as he did so.
“An hour? Maybe two?” Lillias shook her head and buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know!”
“There’s a great deal to process, I’m sure.” Grace rested a palm on Lillias’ back. “And I’m sorry to ask this, Lillias, … but do you recall if Tony was still alive when you came into the house?”
“What?” Lillias’ head shot up, her body stiffening. “Of course he wasn’t! I didn’t kill him!”
“I only meant was he breathing? Did he say anything before he … breathed his last?” Grace clarified.
“No. He wasn’t …” Lillias faltered, her shoulders slumping. “There were no words.”
