Page 24 of Marriage and Murder
Madeline didn’t quite know how it happened, but prompted by gentle and unassuming questions, she found herself tellinghis lordship about her early life in Salisbury growing up as the daughter of the minister of St. Edmund’s Church. “Our mother died when I was quite young, and despite Papa’s best efforts, my upbringing was rather constrained by circumstance. But Papa always encouraged us to think and live in the wider world, which I took to heart more than Viola. She was content with living quietly, while I wanted to experience at least a little more of life. That’s why, after Papa died, she came here while I went to London.”
His lordship was regarding her without the slightest judgment and an expression that stated he was interested in learning more about her, the person.
She found that look more intoxicating than his sherry.
Consequently, when he rather boldly observed, “I own to being surprised no gentleman managed to persuade you to be his bride,” she laughed and answered, “Several attempted it, but a lucky escape from a fortune hunter when I was quite young and still in Salisbury rather colored my view of gentlemen and taught me to be duly careful and discerning over those who came calling.”
She paused, then added, “Indeed, that lucky escape was in part the reason why, when Papa’s death left me able to make a choice, rather than seeking to marry, I opted to go to London and set about making a life of my own, one that didn’t rely on any man for its meaning.”
“That was forward-thinking of you.” Unexpected approval rang in his lordship’s tone.
To her surprise, Madeline found herself confessing, “I sometimes think I should feel grateful to that long-ago fortune hunter. He knew I would eventually be wealthy through inheritance and that I was besotted with him, but he found my independent ways too challenging and so rejected me. At least he was honest enough to do that rather than condemn us both toan unhappy union. Strange to say, I ran into him recently for the first time in seventeen years, and I…well, felt absolutely nothing for him. He was just someone I knew from long ago. I hadn’t realized my youthful emotions had been so shallow.”
His lordship nodded. “I had much the same revelation when my late wife died. We’d married young, and back then, I thought she was the love of my life. But once she died, I realized that while I felt inexpressibly sorry for her, I didn’t feel devastated. She hadn’t touched my heart in the way or to the depth that I’d thought she had, and so her death didn’t matter to me in the fundamental, life-shattering way I had assumed it would.”
Regarding him, Madeline smiled gently, understandingly. “It seems we’ve both learned that, when young, we think we know our hearts, but we really don’t.”
“Indeed.” He sipped, then lowering the glass, asked, “Tell me of your life in London. Where in the capital do you live?”
Madeline readily sketched the bare bones of her life. Quite why she took the chance, she couldn’t have said, but she concluded with the information, “I discovered that, like Papa, I had a propensity for investing. Almost a calling. I went looking for those who might help me, and being a female, that list wasn’t long, but I found that some of the best firms have no barriers over whom they are willing to work with, and over the years, I’ve done rather well.”
His lordship chuckled. “I have several female acquaintances who I will readily admit know more about investing and running major businesses than I do.” He paused, then said, “If you meet the Adairs, as I’m sure you will, given they are assisting Inspector Stokes with this present case, I predict you and Penelope will get along famously. She and her friends are very much of the same independent ilk as you appear to be.”
Madeline was fascinated. “I have met Mrs. Adair, although our exchange was confined to matters relating to Viola’s murder.Nevertheless, Mrs. Adair and, indeed, her presence did strike me as being rather unusual.”
His lordship laughed. “Unusual is the least of it.”
She tipped her head. “Do you know the Adairs well?”
“Quite well, and although I admit that I appealed to them for assistance with resolving this case, their involvement is actually at the behest of the commissioner of Scotland Yard.”
“They mentioned as much, and I have to say that’s quite intriguing.” The clock on the mantelpiece chimed discreetly, and Madeline was surprised to realize she’d been chatting to his lordship for half an hour. She didn’t know what it was about him that she found so relaxing or so inviting of her confidences. “Good heavens! I’ve taken up quite enough of your time.” She leaned across and set down her empty glass on the side table.
He rose as she did. “It’ll be dark outside. I realize I won’t be able to persuade you to stay for dinner, but I really must insist on driving you to the rectory.”
She had to admit, “I’ve moved back to Lavender Cottage.”
“Even more reason, then. That’s even farther, and after all, we have a murderer somewhere near.”
She hadn’t thought of that, but now he’d mentioned it…and he looked utterly determined to prevail. Graciously, she inclined her head. “Very well, your lordship. You may drive me home.”
He beamed. “Excellent! And please, call me Henry.”
As he went to tug the bellpull, Madeline realized she was smiling. Smiling and much more settled inside than she had been since she’d arrived in the village.
CHAPTER 5
In their private parlor at the King John Inn, Barnaby settled beside Penelope on the old-fashioned settle angled before the fireplace and looked questioningly at Stokes as his old friend sank into the armchair opposite.
Stokes sighed contentedly. “This inn seems to have only improved since I was last here. That dinner was excellent.”
“It was,” Penelope agreed. “I feel quite energized, mentally speaking.” She glanced at Barnaby, then at Stokes. “Should we begin by going over all the facts we’ve gleaned?”
“I believe,” Barnaby suggested, “that it would help to construct a time line of events, such as we know them.”
“Agreed,” Stokes said. “Let’s start with when this ‘secret admirer, H,’ came into our victim’s life. When was that?”
Penelope duly supplied, “According to her sister, it had to have been sometime in August, after Madeline returned to London. It was later in August when Viola started mentioning H in her letters to Madeline.”
