Chapter Fourteen
Mayfair, London
“Good heavens, how is it nearly Christmas Eve?” Caroline asked as the major’s carriage rolled to a stop in front of Lady Withington’s townhouse.
His low chuckle sent tingles through her chest. “We have been quite busy the past few days.”
“We have, and there’s even been a murder,” she couldn’t help but jest. Yet a glance at the board that covered the gaping window hole had a shiver coursing down her spine. It only made her remember the assault from yesterday. “Do you think we’ll solve this case by Christmas Day?”
“That is the hope. Though I will say, at the moment, confusion grips my mind. I have no idea who the culprit might be.” He frowned as the door opened, and the steps were put down by the driver. “In any event, we owe the widow an update.”
“We do, and we should interview the maids that were sent away to other employment for a time because Lord Withington couldn’t keep his hands to himself.”
“Indeed.” Felix exited the vehicle then offered a hand to help her out. “After that, I’d like to track down the groom who is married to one of the maids. We’ve forgotten that Withington was stabbed through multiple layers of fabric, which requires force.”
“So many suspects.” Caroline shook her head. “And everyone without an ounce of compassion for the dead man.”
“To be fair, he was a horrible man. Which reminds me, I need to inquire at Bow Street about getting my knife back,” he said as they walked up the short path to the front door. “That knife saved my life once.”
“I don’t believe I’ve heard that story.” How interesting.
He rapped smartly on the door. “I’ll tell it to you once this is all over.”
Again, they were shown up to the drawing room where Lady Withington sat on a sofa with her legs stretched out over the cushions in front of her.
“Ah, Major Kourier! How lovely to see you again.” Her face lit with a smile when Caroline and Felix came into the room. “And Miss Ives. It’s good to have visitors.”
“It’s hardly a social call, my lady,” Felix said, but his voice wasn’t as gruff as it usually was, which made Caroline frown. Did he fancy the widow? “We’re here to give you an update on your husband’s case as well as to interview two of your maids.”
“Well, no matter. I’m glad to have visitors.” The lady waved a hand. Then she rested it on her very pregnant belly. “I’m missing my friends. None of them have come to call since Withington turned up dead.”
“Murder has a way of putting a damper on things,” Caroline said as she perched on a chair near the lady’s sofa.
“So it would appear.” When the widow’s gaze fell upon Caroline’s emerald ring, she uttered a tiny sigh but said nothing about it. “Have you caught my husband’s killer?”
“We have not,” she said with a look at Felix. “Everywhere we go, new suspects come to light.”
“Yes, and just last night, we discovered that your husband had lost a veritable fortune at a gaming hell.” As Felix came toward the grouping of furniture, he rested his gaze on the widow. “Did you know he gambled?”
“My husband had many vices. Ours was an arranged marriage, so there was no love lost between us.” Pain and surprise went through her expression, but she didn’t comment upon what had made her look that way.
“He had his life; I had mine. Rarely did those paths cross within the marriage. It was better that way.”
As surreptitiously as she could, Caroline removed her small notebook from her reticule, along with her pencil. “Were you aware that he was having financial difficulties? From all accounts, he owed money to a few people above and beyond the gaming hell.”
Lady Withington heaved out a long-suffering sigh. “I’d heard rumors and had a few glances at the account ledgers to know that things weren’t looking bright for our future.”
That was definitely motivation to kill one’s husband, or to order him to be killed. Did she ask the butler to do the deed, or did she perhaps hire someone else?
A frown tugged at the edges of Felix’s mouth. “That couldn’t have sat well with you knowing an infant was soon on the way.”
The widow shrugged. “It wasn’t the best news, but what could I do?” She rubbed a hand over her belly. “As I said before, I would do anything to protect this child. In many ways, the young one’s life will be better now that its father is gone.”
“That will remain to be seen.” Caroline jotted a couple of notes. “How do you hope to continue in your lifestyle if your husband hasn’t left you much in the way of an income?” At the back of her mind were Withington’s mistress’ words that he hadn’t left her anything.
“Oh, I have a few choices. I’ve discussed my predicament with my friend, Miss Rodgers.
Since she is about to encounter difficulties of her own, we have talked about pooling our resources and becoming housemates.
” Her gaze went to her belly. “Besides, it would be lovely to have help once the babe arrives.”
“I see.” She exchanged a look of surprise with Felix, who shrugged. “Is this Miss Rodgers the same as your husband’s mistress?”
“She is.” Lady Withington nodded. “There is no shame in it. We both survived him and his horrors, and there has been a lovely friendship to come out of it. I admire her in many ways.” This was said with a bit of defensiveness that Caroline wondered about.
Did that mean the two women were more than just friends? Not that there was anything wrong with such an arrangement, unless the government wished to become involved. “It’s good you have someone in your life who supports you unconditionally.”
Another round of surprise went through the widow’s expression. Slowly, she nodded. “It is, rather. I’m sure we’ll come about, but I’ve yet to speak with my husband’s solicitor. Perhaps it won’t be as bad as we fear.”
Felix nodded, but concern reflected in his eyes. “If you could, please call in the two maids that were driven from the household by your husband. I have a few questions for them. Then we’ll be on our way and leave you in peace.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze implored him. “If you could just ring the bell pull so I don’t have to start the ordeal of standing?”
Of course, the major did her bidding, but to be fair, he hadn’t yet sat down. At his heart, he was, indeed, an honor-driven individual.
Eventually, both maids arrived in the room, and Lady Withington greeted them with genuine warmth in her voice.
“These two young women have helped to keep me sane during these days of confinement when I’ve been stuck in the house due to pregnancy and the death of my husband.” She flashed a tired smile at them both. “Anything you need, they’ll give you.”
“Thank you.” Caroline nodded. She rested her gaze on the younger of the two. “I’m Miss Ives. What is your name?”
“Anita Ballard.” The blonde offered a tentative smile. “I have been in my lady’s employ for three years. Well, with the exception of the last four months, until a few days ago.”
“Of course.” Caroline nodded as she jotted down a note. “Tell me about your relationship with Lord Withington.”
An expression of fear crossed her face. “I didn’t have a relationship with him.”
Tamping on the urge to huff, Caroline said, “I meant, how did he interact with you?”
Immediately, her gaze went to the floor.
“He was a disgusting man, Miss Ives. Always trying to put his hands on me, trying to get under my skirts.” She shook her head.
“Once, he came into the parlor—drunk—where I was cleaning out the flue, and his frontfalls were down with his prick fully on display.”
Caroline’s eyebrows rose. “What happened then?”
The maid shrugged. “I screamed for the butler and darted behind a sofa to separate us. I didn’t want that touching me.”
“Good heavens,” she breathed and wrote another note. “That’s terrible.”
Anita nodded. “I’m not sorry he’s dead, miss. He was a scourge.”
“I believe you.” Caroline cast a look to Felix.
He took up the interview reigns. “Thank you, Anita.” Then he addressed the pregnant maid. She’d carried a feather duster in with her. “What is your name?”
“Betsy Brown.” The maid nodded. “We met the other day.”
“Right.” The major offered her a grin. No doubt he wanted to disarm her. “Did you have to fight off advances from Lord Withington?”
“Yes.” She tucked an escaped strand of brown hair behind her ear.
“Once, he cornered me in an upstairs bedroom. I kicked him between his legs. When he doubled over, I ran out.” In her excitement to reveal that, she dropped the feather duster.
At her next breath, she bent down and retrieved it.
“After that time, he would call me horrible names each time he saw me in the corridors. It was bad, so I had to leave for another household.”
The way the pregnant maid moved seemed odd to Caroline, but then, she’d never experienced pregnancy, so didn’t know how to contort her body in order to carry out day-to-day activities. It must be uncomfortable.
“How long do you have before your babe is born?” she asked the maid.
“Just over a month.”
“You must be excited and probably frightened.” She looked at the woman who was only a few years younger than her as her pencil lead hovered over her notebook.
“Oh, yes. My husband and I have had difficulties conceiving so many times. Now, we will soon be parents.” Though her eyes were teary, she kept her focus on Caroline. “It’s worth every challenge we have gone through.”
“I can imagine.” Caroline nodded. “What made the difference this time?”
Betsy shrugged. “Perhaps a miracle?”
Felix, with an expression of speculation, asked, “Are you certain Withington didn’t put you in this state?”
While Lady Withington gasped, Betsy frowned at him with annoyance in her eyes.
“He never touched me that way.”