He shook his head as he compressed his lips briefly. “We need to remove you from this inn as soon as possible. I do not wish to see you sick again.”
“I agree.” She tugged on the lapels of his jacket. “—But tell me of Soothcoor.”
“A moment, let me order the carriage.” James left the room to call down to one of the inn staff to have his carriage brought around. Another illness was more than unsettling. He wanted Cecilia out of the inn as soon as possible.
“How is Soothcoor?” Cecilia demanded when he’d returned and closed the door behind him. “What did he have to say about Mr. Montgomery and his death?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Not much more than we already knew. Mr. Montgomery was alive when he left him, standing outside near the edge of the canal. He’d told Alastair he’d requested his Scottish solicitor to take divorce papers to Scotland to file.
“Getting a divorce will take time; however, it is doable, especially under the circumstances, I would assume,” Cecilia said.
“Yes. He did tell me one crucial detail that Mrs. Montgomery failed to relate to us.”
Cecilia’s head tilted to the side. “What is that?”
“Mrs. Montgomery is enceinte.”
“What? Oh, dear.” She sat abruptly on the edge of the bed, her thoughts racing through all the ramifications of that information.
“While only circumstantial evidence exists to suggest Soothcoor murdered Mr. Montgomery, her condition does point to a clear motive.”
“Yes, I see that,” Cecilia said.Oh no, oh, no!she thought. She rose from the bed to pace the small bedroom while wringing her hands. “I must get into Camden House as soon possible.”
“Agreed. After I get you settled there, I want to seek out the magistrate and see why he focused on Soothcoor as the murderer so swiftly. While I am not in favor of you becoming a patient at the sanatorium, it might be the healthiest place for you to be,” he said grimly. “Are you packed and ready?”
“Almost. I have just a few more things to gather. Can I ask you to call Sarah?”
“I’d rather you did not,” he said.
“Why?”
“She has been in other parts of the inn that have contagion. We should limit the risks to you.”
Cecilia rolled her eyes, but she agreed. “I’ll gather everything together.”
“I’ll help. The sooner I have out of here the better.”
“Oh, James! You are being melodramatic.”
“Maybe.” He crossed to the wardrobe in the corner of the room and pulled out her portmanteau and her cloak from where it hung. He checked a drawer in the bottom and discovered her bonnet and pulled that out along with a stack of lace-edged handkerchiefs. He held those up.
“I can see you are well prepared for the role,” he said with a small smile.
“I always carry a stack. They have come in so handy,” she said, taking the stack from him. She tucked a clean one up the sleeve of the dull-green gown she wore. She rearranged her fichu higher around her neck, draped her shawl over her shoulders, pulling in close, then put on her cloak over the shawl and clasped it at her neck.
“I should be bundled well enough for the weather,” she said as she tied her bonnet on, glancing at a mirror hung on the wall.
James nodded approval at her bundled appearance, then picked up her portmanteau and escorted her out of the room and down the stairs while Cecilia kept her features wan and weak.
Mr. Price saw them and scurried over to them.
“Are you leaving?” he asked, worry edging his tone.
“I am taking Lady Branstoke to Camden House.”
“But we have prepared a luncheon for you,” the man protested.
“Allow Miss Hammond and my servants to enjoy the food,” James said. “With illness here, I want my wife out of here as soon as possible.”
