Then his fingers hovered over a dark bishop before picking up a pawn. “Rebecca Lane.”
She sucked in a breath.
“Only a pawn?” Thomas teased. “I think she ranks higher than that!”
Frederick sent him a quelling look. “In this ‘game,’ one does not wish to rank high in terms of suspicion.”
“Oh.”
“I did suspect Miss Lane initially. Not of killing Ambrose Oliver, but I knew she had lied to me. And I knew she was hiding something—or several things.”
Rebecca dipped her head, clearly mortified.
He looked at her with compassion and gentled his voice.“I also know you had compelling reasons. Reasons of family loyalty and the desire to protect those you love.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
Frederick went on, “Miss Lane went into room three disguised as a maid and gave Oliver her brother’s manuscript, asking him to recommend it to his publisher. Instead, desperate for a new novel to pay his debts, Oliver began to rewrite that manuscript as his own, as he had done once before.”
“The devil!” Thomas said. Then his eyes widened. “Ah! John Lane was the young writer you mentioned?”
“Yes.” Frederick picked up the dark bishop. “John set a trap for Ambrose Oliver. This time armed with copies and witnesses that the novel was actually his.”
With a look at his well-meaning but indiscreet brother, Frederick chose his next words carefully, “We know he was tempted to ... take revenge. We know he changed his mind and sneaked back to retrieve his manuscript. For a time, I wondered if he had struck the author while he was in the room. As much as I hated to think it, John Lane was the most likely suspect. He had the motive and the opportunity.”
Thomas blinked, then sent Miss Lane a pained, sidelong glance.
Countenance pale, she said, “You use the past tense. Does that mean John is no longer your primary suspect?”
Frederick heard the plea in her voice and wished he could assure her all was well. But the most he could say was, “He is not my only suspect.”
He picked up the second dark bishop. “Mary Hinton. She helped Miss Lane enter Mr. Oliver’s room in secret. Beyond that, however, I don’t believe she was involved in any wrongdoing.” He removed her piece from the board.
He next picked up a white bishop. “We shall let this representDr. Fox. He has been exceedingly helpful throughout this process and will hopefully continue to offer his services.” He set the piece beside John’s on the edge of the board without further explanation.
Then he selected another pawn. “Robb Tarvin met Mr. Oliver in Worcester and delivered him here in his fly. Robb offered to review the author’s next book for errors and was soundly rebuffed. He was not pleased to be rejected, nor to receive no gratuity.”
“Sounds like Robb,” Miss Lane murmured. “But I can’t see him taking revenge for something so minor. He might resent the man’s success and strike out with words, but not with a weapon.”
“I agree with you.”
Frederick began clearing away the remaining pawns and several other pieces. “After questioning everyone, I don’t believe any of the other hotel staff were directly involved, including Mayhew and Mrs. Somerton.” He lifted the white rooks and set them aside.
“Who is the white knight?” Thomas asked eagerly. “I do hope it’s me.”
“It is,” Frederick agreed. “Although your role has been more dupe than gallant knight.”
“Dupe?” Thomas protested, lower lip protruding. “You must be joking. I am chivalry personified.”
“Yes, yes. Very well.”
“And when you questioned me earlier, you said you believed I was not involved.”
“Not knowingly. But you certainly played your part in instigating our stay here and meeting with Miss Newport.”
“Miss Newport? What has she to do with this? Nothing, surely.”
“I will get to that. But first...” He lifted the remaining king. “Before you chide me for making myself the other king, I would be happy to make myself a pawn, if you prefer. Either way, I don’t think it right to exclude myself from examination.”
