Page 105 of The Meaning of Love
“Another attack?” Damian guessed.
Grimly, Julian nodded. “Benton delivered poisoned milk to Melissa. Luckily, it spilled—she didn’t drink it.”
“Thank God!” Felix frowned and fell in beside Julian as he strode for the servants’ stairs. “Benton’s that older maid, isn’t she?”
Julian nodded. “Another recent addition to the household.” He’d intended to get Phelps to go with him, but his brothers would do. “The milk was still warm, so I doubt she’s had time to run yet. Let’s see if she’s in her room.”
The three of them clattered up the narrow stairs to the servants’ quarters in the attic. At the head of the stairs, they ran into Thornley, about to start down. Masking his surprise, the footman stood back to allow them to enter the narrow foyer.
“We’re looking for the older maid—Benton.” Julian managed to keep his voice low. “Which is her room?”
Thornley’s eyes widened, and he looked down the corridor. “All the maids are in the east corridor, m’lord.” Thornley pointed. “Go to the end and turn right. Benton hasn’t been with us long, so her room’s liable to be closer to the corridor’s end.”
Jaw set, Julian nodded and stalked forward.
Behind him, he heard Damian ask, “Is there any other way down from the other end of the east wing?”
“No, Mr. Delamere,” Thornley replied. “The back stairs lead straight down to the kitchen, but they’re to the left along that corridor there.”
Interpreting that to mean that, once he reached the intersection before him, there would be no escape for Benton, Julian allowed his lips to curve coldly.
He reached the intersection, turned right, and saw a door standing half open toward the corridor’s end. Stepping silently along the thin runner, he signaled to Felix and Damian to do the same.
They crept up to the door, and he peeked around the doorjamb.
Benton had her bag sitting open on the narrow cot and was busily cramming her belongings into it.
Julian smiled and, pushing the door wide, stepped fully into the doorway.
Benton looked up and, startled, stepped away from the bed.
She stared at him—her rounding eyes taking in Felix and Damian, who ranged at his back—and every vestige of color left her face.
Julian arched a brow. “Going somewhere?”
Benton swallowed and didn’t answer.
Thornley had informed Phelps that Julian was searching for Benton, and Phelps, with a sober Thornley following, came hurrying up to assist.
With his temper barely leashed, Julian, his gaze still locked with Benton’s, stepped aside and instructed Phelps to incarcerate the maid in the dungeon, in another of the old cells-cum-storeroom opposite the one presently occupied by Mitchell and Manning.
After Thornley and Phelps removed Benton from the room and marched her off toward the back stairs, Julian retraced his steps to the stairs leading down to the gallery.
Felix and Damian fell in behind him, and Felix murmured, “Is that wise?” Julian glanced back, and Felix caught his gaze. “Putting them all in the same area where they can speak with each other?”
Julian huffed and started down the narrow stairs. “I’mhopingthey’ll talk to each other. Perhaps one of them will see reason and persuade the other two that they need to tell us what they know.”
They reached the gallery as Melissa walked into it. She waved behind her, toward the back stairs. “I saw them take Benton down. She wouldn’t look at me. Thinking back, I’m not sure she’s ever looked me in the eye.”
He grunted, took her hand, and with Felix and Damian, they went downstairs to the library. Luckily, his mother and uncle had already retired.
After fortifying themselves with glasses of brandy—even Melissa—they made their way to the kitchens and on to the door to the cellars.
Julian, Felix, and Damian lifted lanterns from a nearby shelf. They lit all three, then carrying one, Julian led the way down the stairs to the main cellar and around into the corridor that sloped down to what was originally the castle dungeon.
Melissa followed close behind him. She shivered and drew the shawl she’d wound about her shoulders tighter. He reached back, caught her hand, squeezed it reassuringly, then released her.
On reaching the cell occupied by Mitchell and Manning, Julian turned to the door opposite and, using the key Phelps had delivered to him in the library, unlocked the heavy door and pushed it wide.
