Rani looked up, her eyes wide.
“Yes,” Cecilia said. “James asked his solicitor to get more information about Paradise Medicinals and discovered two other people involved, one being the Earl of Soothcoor, and the other, Mr. Damon Partridge. With Soothcoor not yet in London, James went to visit Mr. Partridge today. Mr. Partridge told him thatyouare Paradise Medicinals, that the plans for the company are nothing without you. He told James you are a talented Ayurvedic practitioner and that it is your skills that have provided Owen Sedgewick’s relief from arthritis.”
Rani bit her lip a moment, then nodded. “I am sorry to lie to you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “But Sahib, he say to tell others it was Memsahib who created medicine. Memsahib had some little knowledge. I have more. When Sahib get sick, he try to hide it from me. I want to help, but he not let me. I don’t know why. I talk to him many times, but he not take any medicine from me,” she said, shaking her head sadly.
“Mr. Partridge told Sir James that Owen was afraid you would be accused of poisoning him. He sent a letter to Mr. Partridge saying this, about a month before he forced you to leave.”
“Oh! But who would do that?”
“We don’t know. You can expect all of us to be asking you questions to see if we can push your memory to bring more details forward. Do not be angry with us.”
She shook her head, then wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. “No, I understand. I will not.”
“Good,” Cecilia said, giving Rani’s hand a squeeze. “Why don’t you rest before dinner. I’ll send Dorothy to sit with Christopher for a while.”
Rani nodded. “Yes, yes. I need to rest, to meditate. So much. It is all so much.”
Cecilia rose and Rani stood as well. “Thank you, Lady Branstoke.”
“For what?”
“For being nice to me, and not angry for not telling all truth.”
Cecilia laughed. “You are an easy person to be nice to. And how can I be angry when you were fulfilling your employer’s instructions? Now go on to your room to rest. We will see you at dinner.”
* * *
“Mr. Martin,Mr. Thornbridge, thank you for coming to dinner on short notice,” James told the gentlemen when they arrived. After the footman took their coats, James led them to his library.
“Your note said you have discovered someone with information about Mr. Sedgewick’s business affairs that has relevance to this case,” Lewis said.
“Yes. Gentlemen, please take a seat. I expect our other guest to be here momentarily. Can I get you a drink? Brandy?”
Lewis and David accepted, and James got out the cut-glass brandy decanter and glasses. “You remember Miss Rangaswamy had a packet of papers?” James asked as he poured the brandy.
“Yes,” Lewis replied. “And you were going to look them over for any clues.”
James nodded. He passed out the brandy glasses.
“When I went through them, I saw a few mentions of Paradise Medicinals. I asked my solicitor’s office to see what more they could find out about this venture. This morning they brought me the names of the principals.” He sipped his drink. “The Earl of Soothcoor, Owen Sedgewick, and Damon Partridge.”
“Damon Partridge?” David repeated.
“Yes, the same Damon Partridge whose father is purchasing Waddley Spice and Tea.”
Lewis drew out a small notebook from his vest pocket, along with a pencil. Frowning, he flipped through his book. “Billy, Peasey’s apprentice, said his master told him he could scout all of London for work; however, he was to stay away fromthe pear tree. I asked him what that meant and he said, ‘You know, from Mr. Partridge.’ I didn’t ask which one or why.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Damnation! Why did I not follow up on that?”
“There was no reason for you to tie the Damon Partridge or anyone in his family to this case. Regardless, this indicates Mr. Peasey knows more than he admitted to,” James said.
“Yes, it does,” Lewis said slowly.
“Excuse me, Sir James,” interrupted Charwood from the doorway. “Mr. Partridge has arrived.”
“Please bring him here to the library and inform Lady Branstoke.”
“Very good, sir.”
“Welcome, Mr. Partridge,” James said, when Charwood showed him into the library. “Please come in.”
