She frowned. “You suggest I am idle?”
“No. Merely wondering where you spend your time.”
“In my room. I sew for my lady. Take care of her clothes. Remove the small stains or dirt from the hems.”
“And do you dine with the staff, or ...?”
She shook her head. “The chef sends up the special food to my room. He cooks for me his favorite dishes he says the English would not appreciate. Oh. I should not tell you that part.”
“I shan’t repeat it, never fear. And what did you do before you started with Lady Fitzhoward? Had you been lady’s maid for someone else first?”
“Non. I worked in a dress shop, so I knew how to sew. And she taught me to arrange the hair. She is quite particular and likes it just so. And I learn to apply the cosmetics. My lady is most patient, though she says I make her look like ... what is the English saying, the mutton as lamb?”
He nodded. “And have you been to Swanford before?”
“Me?Non.But I think my lady was here long ago. At least, she has some acquaintance in the area.”
“Do you know who?”
“Not the name. After she delivered Miss Lane here to visit her brother, she planned to send a note to this acquaintance and see if the invitation arrived.”
“No invitation was forthcoming?”
Miss Joly raised her hands. “She did not send her note. She changed her mind and decided to stay in the hotel.”
“Did she say why?”
Miss Joly winced in memory. “Something like, ‘It is best to leave the past in the past’?”
“I see.”
Her dark eyes studied him. “How inquisitive you are! I thought you would ask about the night the author died.”
“I am getting to that.Didyou see or hear anything the night of Mr. Oliver’s death? Anything that might help us?”
“Non.” She scrunched her face in thought. “Wait. The night before last?”
“Right. The body was discovered yesterday morning.”
She considered. “Most often my lady goes to bed early. But that night, she wanted to sit on her veranda and think.
“She said she would call for me when she was ready to retire.But Monsieur Marhic made for me thecoq au vinand sent up the French bread and wine.” She kissed her fingertips. “Ah! Delicious. I confess I ate too much and fell asleep.
“In the morning I awake with a start and realize if my lady had called during the night, I did not hear. I hurried into her room, afraid she would be vexed. But no. She had removed her over robe herself and went to bed that way. She said she had stayed up late and did not wish to disturb me.”
“Is she always so understanding?” he asked.
Miss Joly shook her head. “Sometimes she is peevish, but more often she is... understanding, as you say.”
“And did you venture out of your room that night?”
“No. I wanted to go down and thank Monsieur Marhic, but I fell asleep as I said.”
He made a note. “And lastly, have you seen or heard anything unusual since you have been here?”
She tilted her head to one side, her long, narrow face puckering. “Unusual ... how?”
“Well, I don’t mean to lead you, but one person staying here reported seeing a ghost. Or at least, someone dressed as a nun or abbess.”
