Chapter Ten #2
“Ah, my chin has a bruise from where I hit the steps, and also the muscles in my left thigh still ache from the odd angle my leg landed in, but otherwise, I am well.”
The door opened and the driver put down the steps.
“Stay out of trouble, Major,” he joked as he stood back so Felix could exit the vehicle.
“What a jokester you are, Daniel.” Sarcasm flowed through his voice, but he extended a hand to help Caroline down the steps. “We shouldn’t be long, then it’ll be on to the next location.”
Daniel nodded. “It’s not raining or snowing, so I’ll enjoy the time regardless.”
When Felix put a hand to the small of her back and escorted her up the short walkway to the red-painted door, Caroline couldn’t help a smile. His touch was so comforting as well as a bit energizing, and the fact that he didn’t shy away from such things gave her hope for their future together.
Ten minutes later, they were shown into a small parlor done in a soothing color palette of light green and pastel peach.
Ivory stripes on the green wallpaper on one wall featured tiny painted, ivy leaves.
The brocaded upholstery seemed fairly new.
Had she redecorated the modest townhouse because of Withington or despite him?
Quite promptly, a woman came into the room.
Of average height and build, the one thing that set her apart from Withington ’s widow was her burnished copper hair and big green eyes.
Clad in a day dress of navy edged with black satin ribbon, she carried a handkerchief edged with the same trim.
Her eyes were also suspiciously red-rimmed as if she’d been crying.
Did that mean they’d finally found someone who mourned the peer?
Frankly, Caroline thought her far too good for the likes of the dead man, but perhaps he was singularly competent in the bedroom.
Felix greeted her first. “Good afternoon, Miss Rodgers. I’m Major Kourier, a consultant with Bow Street, and this is Miss Ives. We are working the Withington murder case and would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Of course. I’d been expecting you after I heard the news.” She gestured to a grouping of furniture. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.” With a sniff, she seated herself on a delicate Louis XIV chair.
Caroline sat in a matching chair and turned slightly toward the other woman. “I am sorry for your loss, Miss Rodgers.”
“Oh, I am not crying because I mourn him.” With a wry laugh, she dabbed at the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief. “Withington was only a decent lover at best. He was a foul man in every other area of life though.”
Caroline frowned. “Then why are you crying?”
“Because I won’t be able to keep my house or pay my servants now.
” A note of truth rang in the response. “I stayed under Withington ’s horrid protection for so long because he was free with his coin and gifts.
I couldn’t aspire to things like that on my own.
And now I realize I should have asked for more pin money in the event something like this happened. ”
She shared a glance with Felix, who shrugged. “I suppose that is the risk of a woman in your profession.”
Miss Rodgers narrowed her eyes. “My mother was Irish. She came to London twenty years ago with my father to seek out a better life. Then I was born, followed by my two brothers. One of the last things she said to me was not to let a man beneath my skirts without a promise.”
Felix softly cleared his throat. “Did Withington make you a promise?”
“Not in so many words.” The mistress sniffled again.
“He told me he could give me things other men couldn’t, yet he was already married, and I would only aspire to being his mistress.
” She struggled. An expression of resignation filled her face.
“I knew that from the first, but I tried to stay in his good graces.”
“I’ll wager that was impossible,” Caroline said beneath her breath.
“Yes, it was.” The other woman nodded. “Yet despite the beatings, his drunkenness, his foul treatment of me, I remained with him.”
Felix frowned. “Did you love him?”
“Absolutely not. He was a means to an end.” With a sigh, she focused on the major.
“The Irish aren’t fully trusted even in these enlightened times, and it is difficult to gain work.
I endured what I did in the hopes of meeting someone else through Withington, but he rarely entertained, spent most of his time at his clubs. ”
How odd. “What of your own network of friends?”
“What of them? I can’t very well ask one of them if their husbands are in need of a mistress.”
Perhaps she should try a different tactic. “Uh, Withington ’s sister said that you were close friends with his wife. Is that true?”
“Yes.” Miss Rodgers nodded. “We met by accident a few years ago and discovered we were being used by Withington. After that, we decided we were stronger together against the likes of him.” A faraway expression overtook her face. “Soon she’ll be a mother.”
“Is that something you aspired to with Withington?” Caroline asked in a soft voice.
“There was always the hope, but it never happened. Whether my body just couldn’t manage the feat or his constant beatings prevented it, I’ll never know.”
That was sobering. With a glance at Felix, Caroline said, “I’d imagine it’ll be much easier now that he’s out of the way. His widow can raise her child without fear.”
“Of course.” Miss Rodgers nodded with enthusiasm.
“Everything will be so peaceful. I’m looking forward to spending time with her and the little one, and can’t wait to hold the babe.
Life will finally prove lovely.” She went silent once more before sighing and giving her head a shake.
“Does it truly matter who killed that horrid man? London is much better off without him.”
“So we have been hearing, but the law is the law, Miss Rodgers,” Felix said with a stern look at her.
“More’s the pity. He was the cause of so much upheaval.”
“Be that as it may, did you kill Withington so you could help his widow raise the babe he didn’t want to begin with?” One of Felix’s eyebrows rose. “It would make sense.”
“Of course not.” She huffed and her eyes flashed annoyance. “How did he die, anyway?”
Caroline answered that one. “He was stabbed.”
“Ah, well you should know, the sight of blood makes me faint, so I couldn’t have killed him. The whole business of death upsets me stomach.”
“I’ll note that.” Felix scribbled on a page of his book. “What else can you tell me about Withington?”
“Well, he was excessively good at running off countless servants. Lady Withington couldn’t keep maids after four months.
They’d rather live on the streets in filth or work on their backs than continuously fight him off.
” She shook her head. “Why, two of the maids now work at the household next door to her.”
One of Caroline’s eyebrows rose. “How interesting.”
“Yes, and he didn’t like when the midwife came to visit either.”
Felix frowned. “Why?”
“Aside from not wanting a child?” Miss Rodgers twisted her handkerchief around her fingers. “Each time the midwife called, one of the maids from next door waylaid the woman with questions. Not that I could blame her, but Withington hated the thought of anyone gossiping about him.”
“Were they gossiping?”
“I rather doubt it.”
Caroline tilted her head to one side. “Was it the pregnant maid?” That made sense as well.
“Perhaps. I don’t really know.”
“Thank you for your time, Miss Rodgers. If we have any other questions, we’ll call again.” Felix rose to his feet. “But please remain in London until the case closes.”
Once outside and walking to the carriage, Caroline asked, “Do you think it might have been the midwife who killed Withington? Since the blade was jostled about in his gut to hit vital organs, that would have required a modicum of medical knowledge.”
“It is a good theory, and one we will certainly investigate,” he said with a nod. “But first, we need to interview the valet.”
No. 22 St. James Place
Mayfair, London
Thankfully, they were able to catch Mr. Pavers as he was coming down the main staircase just as they were being shown into the parlor from yesterday.
“If we could have a moment of your time, Mr. Pavers?” Felix asked as the butler called the valet over. Caroline was perfectly content to let him guide this round of questioning. “I understand you were valet to Lord Withington.”
“I was.” The middle-aged man of rather ordinary looks nodded. “I was headed down to indulge in luncheon.”
“While I understand that, you were the person who knew Lord Withington more intimately than anyone else, perhaps excepting his wife, and since Miss Ives and I are investigating his death, we do need to ask you a few questions. Luncheon can wait.”
The dark-haired man wasn’t best pleased, but he gave a curt nod. “What do you wish to know?”
“Did Withington have any overt enemies that you know of?”
“Overtly?” The valet snorted. “Not quite, but there were plenty of people in London who wouldn’t have looked twice if he was in trouble.”
“Can you give me an example?” Felix glanced at Caroline, and she shrugged.
“Lord Withington often berated acquaintances in public. It was no secret that he beat his wife and his servants. He consistently attempted to undermine everyone he’d ever met. Also, there are rumors that he cheated constantly at cards.”
“Did you know any of this for truth?”
“Some.” The valet nodded. “He was quite chatty when drunk, which was often. Once, while in his cups, he terrorized a tavern near the Dials.”
“There was apparently no place in his existence where Withington didn’t touch,” Caroline said as she jotted a few notes in her book.
Mr. Pavers nodded. “I’m afraid Lord Withington had no redeeming qualities. He was horrid sober, insufferable drunk, but recently, he’d become addicted to gambling. In the course of one week, he could win a fortune and lose it as well.”