Chapter Fourteen #2
“None of that, Major,” the widow chided.
“Betsy’s husband is a groom and a decent sort.
They’ll make an adorable family.” Lady Withington patted her own belly.
“Betsy should have her child a few weeks after I will have delivered mine.” Pain and worry jumped into her face.
“Though I’m now wondering if I might go early. ”
“Why?” Felix bounced his gaze between the two pregnant women.
“Oh, I…” She blew out a breath. “I’ve been having pains today and part of yesterday.”
“Goodness, my lady, you should have said something,” Betsy said with an expression of alarm.
“I agree.” He looked at Caroline with his customary frown before landing his gaze back on the widow. “Do you want us to fetch the midwife?”
“No, no.” She waved a hand. “I’ll send someone if I think she’s needed.”
“Oh, dear.” Caroline shook her head. She put her notebook and pencil into her reticule. “I think it might be needed, and you are here alone.”
“It is probably nothing.” But the widow huffed out a breath. “Anita, please bring paper and a pencil.”
“No need. You can put the address in my notebook.” Springing up from her chair, Caroline dug those two things once more out of her reticule then handed them to Lady Withington.”
“Thank you.” In some annoyance, the widow scribbled an address then handed the things back to Caroline. “My midwife rents a few rooms at this address as a clinic of sorts but mostly, when women need her, she calls on them. I’m told she has a large patient list, so she’s rarely in the clinic.”
Caroline nodded. “We will send her to you later this afternoon. It would set my mind at ease, at least. Is that acceptable to you?”
Lady Withington slowly nodded. “Yes, I suppose it is. If this child comes early, I should be ready.” She pressed her lips together. “The nursery isn’t fully done, though…”
“Don’t worry about that, my lady,” Anita said with a bit of panic in her eyes. “We will see you through.”
“Oh!” The exclamation left Betsy’s throat as she put her free hand to her swollen belly. “I wonder what that feeling means.”
Dear heavens, would both women start their labors at the same time? Caroline put a hand to her chest. “Anita, perhaps you should tell the housekeeper to be prepared, and have one of the footmen notify Miss Rodgers that a birth might be impending.”
“Of course, Miss Ives,” the blonde maid said before scampering out of the room.
“One last question for you, Betsy. Where do you and your husband live? Since you work here in St. James Place and your husband is a groom for my father’s neighbors in Hanover Square, I’d imagine you live close to Mayfair.”
“Oh.” She sucked in a breath. For a distraction or because she was experiencing contractions? “In rooms not far from Covent Garden. My husband drives me here then takes the small carriage back. But he’s trying to better himself to eventually get a new living working with animals.”
“Ah, I see.” It wasn’t a good area to raise a babe, but people had to live somewhere, and a groom and a maid wouldn’t make much of a living. It was a life, and Betsy seemed happy. “Thank you for your time. Rest, the both of you. We are going out to interview Mr. Brown.”
Surprise and something akin to panic jumped into the maid’s eyes. “Please don’t tell him that my pains might have started. I don’t want him to worry if he doesn’t need to.”
“It will be my secret,” Caroline promised, and with a wave, she left the drawing room with Felix in tow.
Dean’s Mews
Near Hanover Square
Caroline sneezed the moment she and Felix stepped into the mews, which was located a couple of blocks away from Hanover Square, since that neighborhood didn’t have specific mews just for them.
“Pardon me,” she said with a sniff. “I think the straw bothers my nose, or else it’s the horses themselves. ”
“That sneeze was adorable,” Felix told her as they waited for Mr. Brown to join them near the front entrance of the mews.
Inside, a few horses softly waffled or stamped their feet while a couple of groomsmen attended to equine needs or polished tack and repaired leather reins.
A few minutes later, a man of average height and build walked over to them.
There was nothing striking about him or his overly brown clothing, but there was something about his eyes that Caroline couldn’t ignore.
He wasn’t all that compelling or handsome, so why did she feel as if she’d met him before?
Then she remembered Debra’s beagle and his help when the dog went into labor.
Felix cleared his throat. “I’m Major Kourier. This is Miss Ives. We are consulting with Bow Street regarding the murder of Lord Withington, and would like to ask you a few questions.”
“I suppose.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t know that I’ve ever met the lord.”
“That very well may be true, but we need to do this regardless.” Felix glanced at her, and she nodded. “We spoke with your wife about an hour ago. She mentioned that you worked as a groom here.”
“I do. What of it?”
“Well, as a groom, you are often out and about throughout Town. Do you remember seeing Withington on the streets? Have you heard any gossip about him throughout your network of friends?”
The younger man frowned. “Not that I can remember. I keep to myself, get through my duties, and then go home to my wife. At night I do a bit of studying.”
“Why?”
“I want an apprenticeship with a veterinarian; I have an affinity for caring and doctoring animals.” He glared at Felix. “Nothing illegal about that.”
“I never said there was. In fact, it’s admirable you aren’t content to merely be a groom,” the major replied with a bit of his own dander up. “Why are you so prickly? I’m only asking benign questions about a man most people couldn’t stand.”
“Perhaps he is nervous about the upcoming birth of his child,” Caroline said as she took a glance around the mews.
She’d never admitted this to Felix—or anyone, really, because they’d make jest of her—but she was afraid of horses.
They were a dodgy sort of animal, and one never knew what they were going to do.
Add that to the fact that something about Mr. Brown’s voice aggravated unease within her, and she just wanted to go home.
To rest. To think. To not need to talk to people.
“I am, that.” The groom nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll be a good father. My own father wasn’t a decent man.”
Felix nodded. “I can sympathize with you there.”
Mr. Brown blew out a breath. “Seems like everything is moving so fast. Don’t have time to think about things.
” He shrugged. “I hope I can take care of my wife and a babe. Money didn’t stretch far enough before, and now with a babe?
And I haven’t been offered an apprenticeship yet.
It’s all quite alarming, especially after everything… ”
“Like what?” Caroline wanted to know. Frankly, she just wished to leave the mews. The scents of horseflesh and excrement were rather horrid.
The groom didn’t answer her question. Instead, he said, “My wife has been a bit mad the past few months.”
“Ah, pregnancy must take over a woman’s mind, hmm?” Why was Felix staring so hard at the man?
“I wouldn’t know.” Mr. Brown shook his head. “She makes decisions I don’t necessarily agree with, tells me to do things that are questionable.”
Felix snorted with laughter. “I believe that’s marriage, friend.”
What was this? Caroline frowned at him. Why was he joking about marriage?
Mr. Brown offered a weak grin. “I’m not sure any of this was a good idea.”
“Too late now considering your wife will give birth soon. From the looks of things, she’ll pop off within the next few days.”
“Oh, God.” The groom went green about the gills. “You have no idea what’s happening…” His words broke off, but he didn’t connect his thoughts again.
Clearly, he was having second thoughts of being a father. Were all men like that?
Caroline cleared her throat. “Did your wife tell you how she was nearly assaulted by Lord Withington?”
“Yes, but she told me he never went through with it.”
“Didn’t it make you angry?”
“Slightly, but what are we supposed to do? We have duties, positions, without the luxury of complaining against the aristocracy.”
“That’s true. Once your child arrives, you will both have new outlooks on life, I’ll wager,” she said. Silence was her response. When neither the major nor Mr. Brown continued, she sighed. “Well, thank you for your time.”
Felix gave his head a shake as if he were pulling himself from his thoughts. “Don’t leave London, Mr. Brown.”
The groom frowned. “Why? Am I a suspect?”
The major huffed. “Not overtly. It’s standard practice to say that to everyone we interview in the event we need to ask you additional questions.”
Caroline offered him a soft smile. “Best wishes on your impending fatherhood.”
He glared at her in return before turning about and vanishing into a stall.
“Well, he was singularly unpleasant,” Felix said as he escorted her from the mews.
“Agreed. There is something not quite right with him, but then, he’s distracted by his child that will arrive soon.” She blew out a breath. “Both he and his wife were nervous. I suppose that’s to be expected.” Unless they were hiding something, how was that possible? “What now?”
“Come back home with me. I’m in the mood for luncheon, and Felicity can chat with you while I glance over our notes.” He took her hand and slipped it through his crooked elbow. “Then, we will go to your house and hopefully, your brother will make an appearance. I especially want to talk with him.”
She nodded. “I could use some quiet as well.” The week had been a whirlwind, and she hadn’t had a chance to slow down and think. “Perhaps this evening you and I could enjoy some quiet time together?”
“We will make certain that happens,” he said with a wink.
At least then they could soak up part of the Christmastide season before they were due at dinners and routs or the like.