Chapter 14
ALEX COULD NOT be sure he had figured out anything, but when one stripped away all the excess chatter and concentrated on the essential, it became obvious there was one person within Thornwycke Hall present from the beginning, manipulating the clues, and doing his best to focus suspicion on others.
One name alone stood out among the rest.
But Alex needed to be certain before he said anything, for there was more information to be gathered.
First, what was this suspect’s motivation for harming Mrs. Granger?
Having come up with a name, he could now probe backwards to find out what had made the man desperate or angry enough to harm her and beyond this, to commit murder…assuming his predecessors had been murdered.
However, having a motive was not enough.
Alex needed to figure out how each murder was accomplished.
Who had the means and intelligence to carry out these villainous acts? And to cleverly position Mrs. Granger’s body in the salt marshes to make it look like an accidental drowning once the tide ebbed and her body was found?
And what of Mr. Carver’s daughter, Martha, and poor Elspeth?
Well, Elspeth’s disappearance and probable death might have been at someone else’s hand…his grandfather’s, Alex would guess, even though the old man had supposedly denied it to Mrs. Granger.
But who could trust that wily hound?
What was certain was that Elspeth’s unfortunate end was the inciting incident that had led to all of these revenge killings.
Yes, they must have been killings.
His instincts were never wrong…even if the evidence said otherwise.
He could wrap this all up before tonight’s dinner party, he realized with much relief.
As soon as Mrs. Granger was properly settled, he would start interrogating the elder staff members who had been in service here longest. He intended to start with Mrs. Crabbe, ready to endure her taking a rolling pin to him for distracting her from her meal preparations.
Yes, she had an important feast to cook for tonight.
But he wanted to start with her because it was her food delivered to Mr. Carver’s daughter when the poor girl became ill.
Mrs. Granger had requested this be done, but he doubted the housekeeper ever delivered the food herself because her own duties would have kept her tied to the house.
Both women had the opportunity to tamper with the meals prepared, but they weren’t the only ones. Besides, he knew from Perty Hester and even from Mrs. Granger’s own mouth that she rarely went into Burnham.
So, she must have arranged for someone to deliver the food to the Carver residence.
Who next had the opportunity to tamper with it before it got to poor Martha Carver?
Mrs. Granger had started to figure this out. The killer must have noticed, got scared, and tried to kill Mrs. Granger only a few minutes ago.
Which confirmed the killer was in their midst.
Lurking dangerously close.
And desperate to complete what he hoped would be another perfect crime.
Alex had to admit that knocking Mrs. Granger unconscious and letting the incoming tide swallow her up was quite clever.
The coroner would easily dismiss the gash to the back of her head as an accidental occurrence and conclude death by drowning, for her lungs would have been filled with water when examined.
And everyone would believe she was a distraught woman who had been too overset to realize the tide was coming in…or who intentionally meant to drown herself.
A good plan, except Alex and Mr. Carver had foiled it.
His suspected killer also had to be someone who had time to plant those vials in Mrs. Granger’s drawer in order to make it appear as though she was the one who had drugged Tulip’s food and next meant to poison her…or poison him.
That part was foiled by Tulip who had searched Mrs. Granger’s room earlier and knew for a certainty that those vials had not been in the drawer.
But the killer did not know this.
Mr. Carver returned with two maids in tow. “Is there anything more you need of me, Your Grace? If not, I’ll get the men back to work.”
“I do have another request of you,” Alex said. “I need you to ride to Burnham and summon the magistrate. Have him bring along two constables.”
“Yes, of course. I should have thought to suggest it when you sent Ernfield off. He could have attended to both.”
Alex gave Mrs. Granger over to the two maids who were built like bulls and could easily manage the unconscious woman, ordered them to remain in the room to guard her and not leave her side until further notice, and then steered his estate manager out of the room.
He was not surprised when Tulip scampered after him as he marched down the hall to his study with Mr. Carver.
“I want you to be very careful and avoid being seen by Ernfield while in Burnham,” he instructed his estate manager as soon as the three of them were ensconced in his study.
Tulip gasped.
She then eeped, obviously bursting to ask questions.
But she knew better than to interfere.
Mr. Carver also appeared puzzled. “Your Grace, may I ask why?”
Alex sighed. “I want the magistrate and his constables to be present before I say more. Do not tell anyone where you are going. No one, Mr. Carver. This is vitally important. You are the only one I can trust to accomplish this task.”
Mr. Carver eyed him warily. “This is about more than Mrs. Granger’s near drowning, isn’t it? Your Grace, I beg you to be honest with me. Do you think I am the guilty party? Is this why you are sending me off on this task? Hoping to keep me out of the way while you set your trap for me?”
Alex gave a curt, bitter laugh. “You? No. You are the only one I can trust without doubt or hesitation. You have Tulip to thank for that. Her faith in you is unwavering. We know you were not involved in any of the deaths connected to Thornwycke Hall. More important, upon your return, I will ask you to guard Tulip while I am busy interrogating the staff.”
“Of course,” he said with affection while staring at Tulip.
She smiled back at Mr. Carver but frowned lightly at Alex. “Should I not remain beside you while you question our staff? Have I not been immensely helpful so far?”
“Yes, you have,” he said, tossing her a wry smile in return. “But you are my wife and I will not have you anywhere near a murderer as I unmask him.”
“Can you not simply tell us who it is? Why keep it a mystery?” She was obviously frustrated that he was not providing her more information.
He regarded her soberly. “Accusing someone of multiple murders is no light matter, Tulip. I need to be certain before I charge the man who will face certain hanging upon his conviction. Also, I must rule out any accomplices. It is important to have all my facts straight before presenting the evidence to the magistrate.”
He gave her a surprisingly tender kiss on the cheek.
“Let me go about my business without interference. I am trained for this, not only for putting all the clues together, but keeping others out of harm’s way – and that means you in particular, my lovely but snoopy Farthingale.
I need you to remain safe while I gather the evidence necessary to convict this villain. ”
“Snoopy! Do not think giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek absolves you of this insult.” But Alex saw she was not really angry with him, for she was laughing softly as she spoke.
Mr. Carver grinned, but quickly turned serious. “Let me change into dry clothes and I’ll be off.”
Alex took Tulip’s hand as they watched him leave. “I need to change out of these wet clothes, too. Come upstairs and help me.”
“I don’t think you need my help so much as want to keep me in your sight,” she muttered as they walked upstairs.
“And why not? Aren’t you the most beautiful vision a man can behold? And am I not the luckiest man to wake up to your smile every morning?”
“You do not have to flatter me because you are about to shut me out of your investigation. But you really ought to confide in me.”
“I will, Tulip. Just give me a moment to gather my thoughts.”
But she knew he already had his ideas in place and it was time for him to share his knowledge with her.
“Who do you think is the killer?” she asked as soon as they entered their bedchamber.
“I suppose this incident now rules out Mrs. Granger. I told you she seemed innocent to me. Do you really believe it was not Mr. Carver, or were you sending him off as you did Ernfield because you believe it is him? Or perhaps you think those two colluded? Him and Ernfield working together? I will never believe it of–”
“I trust Carver. Everything I told him was true. And I fully intend to have him guard you upon his return.”
Tulip let out a breath. “I’m glad you have faith in him.
He’s the soul of kindness. Nor could it be Uncle William, even though Mrs. Granger seemed to be scared of him.
He is a good and loving man, and I will never, ever believe he could do anything evil, no matter what Ernfield told her.
Besides, Uncle William has a busy mercantile to run and everyone would notice if he were gone even for a few minutes much less the hour or two it would have taken him to come here, set up an elaborate murder of a duke, and get back.
And someone would have noticed if he returned to his mercantile all wet just now. ”
“The tide had not come in yet, so he would have got out of the marshes with only his boots wet. But he is off my suspect list, as well. He was not the one to harm Mrs. Granger this morning.”
He busied himself by removing his own wet boots as she continued to toss questions at him. “Nor do I believe Mrs. Crabbe was ever anyone’s accomplice, Tulip. I only mention this since you seem to be curious about all the old retainers.”
Tulip nodded. “I agree that she could not have been involved. She is a complete curmudgeon and does not hold back if she is irritated with you. A killer or his accomplice would be sly and never reveal their feelings, is that not so?”
“Yes, love,” he said softly, now unbuttoning his shirt.
“So…that leaves Ernfield. Am I right? He was the only other staff member in service back in Elspeth’s day, still working here now, and who could move about the house without suspicion raised.
It must be Ernfield. But why would he harm his employers?
And how? What is his possible connection to all the murders?
Yet, who else but Ernfield could ever get so close to any of them that easily?
It is him. Isn’t it? I sensed it as he stood beside me and watched you carry Mrs. Granger back to the house.
He wasn’t concerned so much as agitated, no doubt worried she was going to wake up and accuse him.
Oh, we must protect her. Tell me, Alex. I’ve guessed it, haven’t I? It’s Ernfield.”
He sighed as he studied her determined expression. “Yes. Why else would I send him off to find the doctor? I needed him out of the house while I gather the evidence against him. But Tulip, you cannot let on to anyone else that he is the guilty party.”
“I’ll try my best,” she said in earnest.
He gave her a light kiss on the lips. “That’s the hard part for you, isn’t it? You cannot help but show your feelings.”
“I’m sorry, Alex. I will try, I promise.”
“I know, love. Nor am I complaining about it. I like that you are soft and compassionate. Just try to remain stoic while I interrogate the long-time retainers. I’ll start with the ladies first because they tend to notice details and share information among themselves. Men don’t.”
Her eyes bulged when he took off his shirt.
He frowned. “What’s wrong? Why are you gaping at me?”
“You’re shirtless.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Too distracting for you?”
She blushed profusely. “Yes.”
He grinned. “Then turn around, love. I’m about to drop my trousers.”