“Mr. Montgomery was her mentor?” Cecilia said as they walked toward the stairs.
“Just developed that way over time and did her a world of good. Child always feels inferior due to that birthmark on her face,” the woman said.
Cecilia held her handkerchief to her lips as she coughed mildly. “Lady Stackpoole told me her mother won’t even look at her.”
The matron compressed her lips. “That be true. Dr. Worcham says before he died, her father gave her attention and never minded the birthmark. Not the mother. Because Mr. Montgomery did pay attention to her and gave her lessons, she followed him around everywhere. Now the poor thing is lost.”
Cecilia stopped at the top of the stairs. “Thank you, Matron,” she said, “for telling me more about Liddy. It helps my understanding of her actions.”
“You’re welcome, milady,” the matron said, bobbing a small curtsy, and Cecilia started down the stairs.
She found James in the grand hall, studying a large painting of Camden House before it became the sanatorium.
He turned at the sound of her footsteps.
“How did you know that was me?” she asked.
“I’m accustomed to the sound and the scent of you, my love,” James said, taking both her hands in his. He brushed her cheek with a light kiss. He looked down at her, concern in his expression. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “The same. I am getting more rest, and the coughing spells don’t seem quite as harsh today as yesterday. I went walking this morning, then laid down. I think that was helpful.”
James frowned. “Now, where can we talk that won’t fatigue you.”
“I think outside is best, that’s why I brought my cape. There are plenty of benches outside,” she said, silently holding the cape out for James to take it from her to drape about her shoulders. She smiled up at him as he did so. “Don’t worry, I shall lay down again after our visit.”
James tucked her arm in his and led her outside. There were others enjoying the outdoors as well. Cecilia directed him to the left path.
“If no one has yet claimed it, there is a bench in a wind-protected area this way,” she said. She led him to one of the benches she and Julia stopped by that morning. She sat down and James sat down next to her, pulling her close.
“Tell me about the magistrate,” Cecilia said as she pulled her cape about herself.
James sighed. “He’s a man more concerned with his properties right now than with the death of a man in a sanatorium. He quickly took the suggested scenario that fit the few facts that were known, ignored others, and leaped to Soothcoor’s guilt.”
“What few facts?” Cecilia asked.
“That Soothcoor visited Mr. Montgomery, that he knew Mr. Montgomery, and he wanted to marry Mrs. Montgomery so he had motive and, by the fact of being on the Camden House grounds, had opportunity.”
“That’s it? Did he have witnesses? Does he know the cause or time of death? Or is it all circumstantial—and how did he even know that much?”
“When Dr. Worcham sent for the magistrate, he also sent for Mr. Montgomery’s cousin and executor, Mr. Boyd Ratcliffe. He lives not far away, so he arrived nearly at the same time. He is the one who gave the information to Squire Eccleston and strongly suggested that of course it was Soothcoor who committed the crime, due to motive and opportunity.”
“I see.”
“He did tell me that Mr. Montgomery was held under water until he drowned.”
Cecilia’s brow furrowed. She looked over at one of the canals that made Camden House sit on an island. “There are steep sides to these canals. How does one hold someone under water here? Unless they are in the water with them. How deep are the canals?”
“I don’t know. I will find out. I have already checked with Mr. Price. Soothcoor clothes were dry when he arrived back at The New Bell Inn. There were comments made of how lucky he was as it started to rain almost as soon as he walked in the door.”
“Sounds like you need to visit Mr. Ratcliffe.”
“That is my plan. Have you learned anything here?”
“There is a woman here, Miss Dorn, who had relations with her employer’s nephew and found herself pregnant. As she was of good family, he agreed to marry her to avoid scandal. She lost the child after a few weeks, and he cried off the marriage. Now she keeps importuning men to get her pregnant again so shecan claim she didn’t lose the first babe. She has become quite delusional. She harassed Mr. Montgomery, trying to get him to service her. He refused.”
“Are you thinking she could have killed him in a fit of rage at his refusal?”
Cecilia shrugged. “I’m not saying she did, all I’m saying is she is as likely a suspect as Soothcoor, don’t you think?”
