Chapter Eight #2
Felix nodded. “How well did you know Lord Danforth?” he asked as he removed his small notebook from his jacket pocket along with his pencil.
“Since he was in leading strings. Our families have been friends for years.”
“What sort of person was he?”
“A decent man, from a good family. At one point, I thought he would have proposed to Caroline.”
This time, she couldn’t remain silent. “So to be a decent man in your eyes, a man should have a handful of vices and treat women horribly?”
The outburst sounded overly loud in the silence.
“Every man has flaws, Caro. He would have been a good husband.” Her mother waved a hand in dismissal. “And he was only an arse when he drank to excess.”
“Ah, so then any woman worth her salt should have just endured that side of him and hoped it didn’t spill out into the other days?”
Her mother eyed her askance. “That is how men are in our world, dear.”
Softly, Felix cleared his throat. “We have gotten wildly off topic.” He tapped the end of his pencil against his notebook. “Lady Beckham, during the time you knew Lord Danforth, can you think of anyone who would want him dead?”
“Don’t be silly, Major. Everyone adored Danforth. He was a charming, outgoing man with the world at his feet. Yes, he did scandalous things while with his friends in London, but marrying the right woman would have tamed him.”
Caroline blew out a breath, but a look from Felix kept her from making another comment.
“Did you invite him to the wedding?”
“Not directly.” Her mother dropped her gaze to her embroidery basket.
Felix frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Well, since he was friends with Andrew and they often went to their club together, I might have convinced my son to invite Danforth to the wedding.”
“To what purpose?” Felix asked as he scribbled down a note.
Her mother shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now.”
Caroline shook her head. “Answer the question, Mama.”
“Fine.” Her mother huffed. “I wanted Danforth here. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when Caroline caused a scene at my garden party, he’d been half enamored with her.
” She rested her attention on Caroline. “I’d hoped Danforth would voice an objection at the ceremony and somehow convince you to marry him instead of the major. ”
“What?” Shock flitted over Felix’s face.
“I beg your pardon?” Surprise and annoyance filled Caroline’s chest as she stared at her mother. “How dare you!”
Of course, her mother appeared unphased. “Danforth was the logical choice.”
“According to you, but neither you nor Papa bothered to ask me what I wanted.” Heat slapped at her cheeks as the anger took root. “I would never be with Danforth.”
“You had a tendre for him years ago.”
“That quickly died when he…” She stopped herself at the last moment. “It doesn’t matter. He’s dead now.”
“Caroline…” Warning rumbled in Felix’s voice.
“Right.” She nodded and briefly rested her gaze on him before giving her attention back to her mother. “I love Felix. Why would I jilt him on our wedding day for some dilletante skirt-chaser?”
Her mother shrugged. “Danforth has a title.” As if that settled everything.
“Good heavens.” Caroline snorted. “It’s an honorary title, Mama!
It’s as meaningless as he was. The man did nothing to uplift society and neither did he champion any causes.
He used his father’s coin to fund his vices.
At least the major—or rather my husband—has substance to him, so find some way to accept him into this family, because he is mine for the duration. ”
It was quite possibly the most meaningful speech she’d ever given, and the look of admiration on Felix’s face was more than worth it.
Silence reigned in the room for a very long minute after she spoke, but finally, her mother nodded.
Once again, Felix cleared his throat. He pulled a folded handkerchief from an interior pocket of his jacket.
With careful movements, he tugged back the edges to reveal the letter opener, the blade still stained with Danforth’s blood.
“When Danforth’s body washed ashore yesterday morning, I found this jammed into his neck.
It no doubt went through a vital artery, leading to him bleeding out in a relatively fast manner.
Can you tell me why your letter opener, the one I gifted you, was used for the murder weapon? ”
A gasp escaped her mother, and her eyes widened as she gazed at the letter opener. “Where did you find that?”
“I just told you. In Danforth’s body.” Felix’s tone suggested he was explaining something to a small child, and with infinite patience. For that, Caroline loved him even more.
“I’d lost track of it and just assumed someone had borrowed it, even though I’m the one who usually opens all the mail.”
Felix frowned. “How long had it been gone?”
“I’m not certain.” Her mother shook her head. “At least a couple of days before the ceremony.”
“Could someone have borrowed it?”
“I suppose, but I don’t recall anyone asking for the loan of it. Of course, I was quite busy and distracted by all the things needed before the ceremony and breakfast.” Her mother bounced her gaze between them. “How is this possible? That something of mine was used in a killing?”
“People bent on murder will use anything around them,” Caroline said in a soft voice. She patted her mother’s hand. “Do you know if someone used your morning room since the time this townhouse was rented?”
“Anyone could have come in!” A slight hysterical note had entered her mother’s voice. “There were many people in and out. And of course, the dinner two nights ago, we’d hosted a fair crush. If someone wanted to slip into this room, I would have never known it.”
Caroline nodded. That would have fit the timeline. “Did Andrew ever mention something amiss with Danforth, that he’d made someone angry, fought over a woman?”
“He did not. Such vulgar things. Danforth was above that.”
She kept her own counsel about that. Instead, she asked, “Is there a particular maid that takes care of this room or the others on this level of the house?”
“Uh, I think her name is Lily? I don’t know. She has strawberry-blonde hair and freckles.” Clearly agitated, her mother glanced toward the door. No doubt she was ready to quit the interview.
“One last question, Lady Beckham.” Felix jotted down a note then looked at her mother.
“Since Danforth hadn’t approached Caroline in the days leading up to the pre-wedding dinner, could you have been so incensed that your plans weren’t working that you grabbed up your letter opener, met him somewhere, and then stabbed him in a fit of pique? ”
“How dare you, Major!” In a huff, her mother shot to her feet, accidentally knocking over her handiwork basket with her skirt hem.
“I would do no such thing, and besides, if Danforth didn’t speak with Caroline at the dinner, he would have interrupted the ceremony.
That was the plan.” She glared at Felix with her hands on her hips.
“There was always someone around me since we arrived here. Feel free to interview the staff or anyone that was here, but I refuse to linger here and let you assume such things about me.”
With that, she swept across the room to the door.
Then she turned and leveled a look on Caroline.
“To say I am disappointed at what you’ve let yourself become since meeting the major is an understatement.
Working at a trade to make a living is so below you, Caroline.
” She tsked her tongue. “At least with Danforth, you would have been a lady.” Seconds later, she left the room.
Silence followed as Caroline peered at Felix.
“Well, I can see who you inherited your spirit from,” he said with a heavy dose of sarcasm in his voice.
“Bad form, Major,” she whispered as she stood. “I will never be like my mother.”
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Thank goodness for that.” Once he struggled to his feet, he tucked the notebook, pencil, and letter opener back into his jacket. “Perhaps we should continue the interviews.”
Caroline nodded. “We might as well. The sooner we solve this case, the sooner we can enjoy our holiday.” And perhaps she could finally put Danforth and the memories behind her.