Chapter Ten #3
Every time they talked to someone, they learned something even more heinous about the dead peer. “How was his mindset after he lost big at the tables?” she wanted to know.
“How do you think, Miss Ives?” The valet blew out an annoyed breath. “Withington was quite angry whenever he lost. Blamed it on the men not liking him or that they conspired against him when he’d stepped away to take a piss.”
Felix snorted. “Couldn’t own to the fact that he wasn’t the cardsharp he thought?”
“So it would seem.” The valet nodded. “There isn’t any more to tell. Am I sad that Withington has met his end so violently? No, I am not.”
Felix narrowed his gaze. “Yet you could have killed him.”
“Indeed, I could have.” The other man shrugged. “In fact, there are a few rumors circulating throughout the staff that I tried to poison my employer at least once.”
Caroline stared. “Did you?”
“Possibly, but it doesn’t matter now, does it? That isn’t how he died.” There was no regret in the man’s expression.
A few moments passed while Felix rested his gaze on the valet. “Answer me this. Did Withington have a knife in his possession?”
For a moment, Mr. Pavers hesitated while Caroline strained to hear his answer. Finally, the valet nodded. “He did. Made a big show of it a couple of years ago. Said he stole it from one of his former Runners. Said the man was a disgrace to Bow Street, so he wouldn’t need it any longer.”
Before Felix could cause a scene, Caroline laid a hand on the major’s arm. “Thank you, Mr. Pavers. All of this was most helpful.” She nodded. “Oh, which clubs did Withington frequent most?”
“White’s, at times. When he was down on his luck, he resorted to a gaming hell in a seedy part of London.” When prompted, he gave up the name.
“Thank you.” Felix nodded. “You may have your luncheon now, but don’t leave London until the investigation is over.”
Once the valet cleared the area, Caroline turned to Felix. “What do you think?”
“That we have much work ahead of us.”
Before they could make their way toward the entry hall, Lady Withington hailed Felix from the top of the stairs.
“Major Kourier? A word?”
He glanced at Caroline then squeezed her hand. “I think we’ve been summoned.”
“Well, you have.” Yet she came halfway up the staircase with him. Now that the woman was free, she might have designs on the handsome major. “Good afternoon, Lady Withington,” she said with a smile. “Is there something you needed?”
“There is, Miss Ives.” With a hand resting on her swollen belly, the widow turned her gaze on Felix. “Has there been progress on the case?”
“Not much, my lady.” The rumble of Felix’s voice beside her sent faint tingles down Caroline’s spine. “We are interviewing everyone who had dealings in some way with your husband.”
The ever-present handkerchief in her hand fluttered out of her fingers to the floor.
Before Caroline could move, the widow put a hand beneath her belly and bent at the knees to retrieve the handkerchief.
She flashed Caroline a tired grin. “Apologies. It’s habit to do for myself.
” Then she looked at Felix again. “And?”
He shrugged. “We won’t know anything until we do deeper digging.”
Movement from down the corridor behind Lady Withington caught Caroline’s eye.
She waved to the maid who she recognized from yesterday.
The young woman had folded sheets in her arms. Her pinafore apron only slightly hid her rounded belly.
“Hullo there. I thought you were a maid for the household next door?”
“Oh, I was,” the maid answered with a slight smile. “Just today, Lady Withington asked that I return to her employ since….”
“Since Lord Withington is dead,” Caroline finished for her.
“Of course.” Lady Withington nodded. “She is no longer in danger.”
Caroline climbed another few steps. “What is your name?” she asked the maid.
“Betsy.”
“Thank you.” She nodded. “How far along in your pregnancy are you, Betsy?”
“I am just behind my lady in months, I think.”
“Does the child belong to Lord Withington?”
Both the maid and the widow gasped, but the maid shook her head.
“No. It is my husband’s.”
“And where is he?”
The maid frowned. “He is a groom with the Bentons in Hanover Square.”
“Ah.” Familiarity went through her. “They are my father’s neighbors. One of the grooms once helped my mother’s beagle when she birthed a litter of pups.”
The maid nodded. “He has an affinity for animals, wishes to apprentice as a veterinarian soon.”
“How lovely.” Caroline glanced at her notebook. “How are you managing your duties while in your condition?”
“Oh, I suppose I haven’t thought about it. Things must be done, and I am a maid.”
It was a reasonable answer.
“Lady Withington promised to hold my position while I am forced to be away in order to birth my child.”
“That is quite lovely of you, Lady Withington,” Caroline said as she bounced her attention back to the widow.
“It’s the least I can do. I don’t even mind when Betsy constantly stops my midwife after she concludes her visits here. The poor girl can’t afford her services, obviously.”
“Right.” After scribbling a few notes in her book, Caroline put it into her reticule while the widow sent the maid on her way.
Lady Withington smiled. “I have rehired the two maids who were run off by my husband. Now that he’s gone and can’t bedevil them or try to rape them, I wanted them back, for they know how my household is run, and I want comfort while I go into my confinement.”
“Of course.” She nodded. “Thank you for your time. I trust you’ll rest for the remainder of the day.”
“I will.” The lady sighed. She rested her gaze once more on Felix. “Where do you go now in the investigation?”
“To a gaming hell your husband frequented.”
“With Miss Ives?”
The woman had overstepped. “Of course. I shall be in disguise,” she promptly replied.
“We shall see,” Felix said. “Again, thank you for your time, my lady. I’ll be in touch.”