As I returned to the library it seemed that Brodie’s conversation with Sir Mallory was also at an end.
“I have told you everything, Mr. Brodie. Now I must insist that you leave us in peace.”
Brodie bowed his head in acknowledgement, his expression cordial. However, that dark gaze that briefly met mine was sharp.
I expressed my condolences as well. And as if on cue, the head butler appeared.
“A coach is waiting,” Mr. Hobbs informed us.
How convenient, I thought. He had thought to call ahead, so that there would be no delay when it was time for us to leave.
Eleven
“Ye visitedwith Mrs. Mallory for quite some time,” Brodie commented as our driver pulled away from the residence, Mr. Hobbs standing sentry at the entrance to make certain that we left.
“Hmmm.” I wasn’t certain what I had learned, if anything.
“The poor woman is grieving,” I explained. “She and Charlotte were apparently extremely close, and planning Charlotte’s wedding to Daniel Eddington.”
“Aye, to be expected. However, ye managed to speak with her at length and obviously learned something.”
“It is more an impression than something specific that she said.”
“Is that anything similar to yerwoman’s instinct?”
“Or, perhaps a police investigator’s sense of something when interviewing someone?” I suggested.
I caught the twitch of a smile at one corner of his mouth. It did seem that at least he knew when not to argue the matter.
“Ye were saying.”
“I explained the situation of our first inquiry case, how difficult it was, that even the smallest clue was important.”
“Sharing yer experience, no doubt.”
“You were the one who explained that it is important to build rapport, that it might bring about something remembered.”
“I will have yer promise that ye won’t be explaining other details about things we have shared.”
“Whatever do you mean?” I asked with wide-eyed innocence.
It was endearing to hear that he didn’t want me sharing the more intimate aspects of our relationship. Not that I would. As for a man? I had heard rumors of conversations men had among themselves.
“What else did ye speak of?”
“The planning of the wedding. I asked her if Charlotte intended on having roses for her wedding flowers… red roses.”
That dark gaze angled toward me. “That is direct. What was her response?”
“There wasn’t one. Yet, her manner immediately changed. She became quite agitated when I mentioned red roses, and ended our conversation.”
“It might simply have been that the poor woman was overwrought over the death of her daughter.”
“It was not that,” I insisted. “I know what I saw. She became quite upset, and then seemed to think that someone might have been listening to our conversation.
“She left, and there wasn’t an opportunity to question her further. What were you able to learn from Sir Mallory?”
“The man has not changed since my encounter with him some years before in a case that was brought before the court. He has a reputation for being thorough and aggressive, and has won several well-known cases before the court.”
