Page 36 of The Highland Heist
The woman was much younger than any of the housekeepers Frederick had ever known, but considering the Dixons’ finances, perhaps they had to choose a less experienced servant for smaller rates. And her accent hailed from across the pond.
“You find it as a shock?” Grace asked.
The woman’s eyes widened. “Well, of course! No one would expect Mr. Dixon to be stabbed in his own parlor. If anything, I’d have thought one of those dreadful men he owed money to might have done him in elsewhere.”
Frederick’s eyebrows rose, but Grace was already leaning forward, her interest sharpening. “Dreadful men?”
Mrs. James paled further, stammering. “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that—”
“It’s quite all right,” Grace reassured her, lowering her voice. “We’re aware of Mr. Dixon’s gambling troubles. Any information you have could help us uncover what happened.”
“I–I’m sure I don’t know much.” But her expression didn’t match her statement. “Mr. Dixon had a few men come by looking for money he owed them. I tried not to mention it to Mrs. Dixon because it always led to a row between the two of them.”
“Were all the men from the gambling house nasty?”
The woman blinked over at Frederick, her hands wringing in front of her. “Well, not all. A few could be right dashing looking, but they wanted money all the same. Even asked for Mrs. Dixon.” The woman’s eyes widened. “But I tell them they won’t find her at home in the mornings and she wouldn’t have anything to do with them anyway.”
Grace sent Frederick a look. So the strangers knew when people may have been absent from the house.
The woman’s eyes widened as if she’d said something amiss, and she rushed ahead. “But I don’t go telling Mr. and Mrs. Dixon’s business to folks. You can’t think that. Please don’t tell Mrs. Dixon. Her temper is something frightful.”
“Is it?” Frederick searched the woman’s face.
“Has she ever hurt you?” This from Grace.
“Let’s just say that I’m not too keen to get on her wrong side.” Mrs. James stepped back, sending a furtive gaze along the hallway as if afraid Lillias would emerge at any moment.
“Not to worry, your secret is safe with us.” Frederick offered.
“I’m much obliged.” She nodded, taking another step back. “I’ll have breakfast set up for you in the dining room within the next half hour, if that will be fine for you.”
“Of course, thank you.” Grace offered.
As the housekeeper turned to leave, Frederick stopped her. “Mrs. James, where are you from originally? I couldn’t help noticing your accent.”
Her smile faltered, and she answered vaguely, “North of Yorkshire, sir. Until my family came to this side of the world.”
“Well, I hope your adventure in America improves from what you’ve experienced so far,” Grace said.
“So do I, my lady.” She dipped her head and disappeared down the hallway.
Grace turned to him once the door closed behind them. “So that’s an easy explanation for how the timing worked so well for no one to have witnessed Tony’s death.”
“And one of the likely culprits for any rumors spread throughout town.” Frederick added. “She was much too free in giving personal information to strangers.”
“There’s no telling what else she’s shared and with whom, especially with some of the men seeking Tony and his money.”
“And”—Frederick held her gaze—”I wonder if any of those ‘strangers’ had accents that tended toward a more Highland direction.”
Grace gasped. “Do you think? Like your assailant?”
“I wonder.” His gaze dropped to the envelope in her hand. “I see the Clarion’s emblem on the front of the envelope, so I imagine it’s a response to my message from yesterday to Mr. Barclay.”
Grace looked down at the note, as if remembering it was in her hand. “Yes, it must be.” She slipped open the envelope and read over the brief comments. “He was happy to get our message and asks if he may come by the house to meet with us this afternoon.” She nodded. “I’ll send him a reply once we speak to Lillias.” Grace looked back at him. “Frederick, if your assailant was Scottish and this inheritance is in Scotland, do you think Tony’s death is tied to this entire situation in some way? It seems too much of a coincidence.”
His thoughts exactly. “I don’t know, but we’d best be on our guard for the very possibility.”
Chapter 10
