Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next morning began a little behind schedule, due to some quite understandable occurrences between a couple so newly married. However, they managed to drag themselves to the parlor for breakfast only an hour later than usual. Something which, given their morning activities, might have been considered quite speedy.
“You two look like…” Grace hid a laugh in her napkin. “Well, let’s just say you look married.”
Perry, who was finishing off his toast, nodded. “Agreed. I was rather surprised to get your note this morning. I’d assumed, mistakenly it would seem, that you would both be recuperating from yesterday.”
“We were.” Max poured tea, and helped himself to eggs.
“Hmm. I’ve not heard it calledthatbefore.” Grace raised an amused eyebrow.
“Grace.” Kitty sat down. “I’m shocked.”
“Enough,” sighed Max, knowing this banter would continue unless he put a stop to it. “I wanted you both to be here, not because I can’t get enough of your witty comments, but because I have information I think you’ll find quite surprising.”
“Oh yes,” Grace sat up. “The ball. You were going to find Miller-James’s mistress, weren’t you?”
“We did,” said Kitty. “I’m not quite sure what to make of her, but I think she was genuinely distressed at his death.”
“We managed to get her talking,” added Max. “She confirmed Dancey owned the carriage company, but that he wasn’t a business man of much repute. He left most things to his managers.” He sipped tea. “However, she let on that he was extremely competitive about his company being the best, and so on. She commented on his association with some people who were not of the first stare. Did she know they were sabotaging other carriages? I’m not sure.”
“I think she had a strong suspicion, Max,” Kitty put in. “She might not be brilliant, but she’s not stupid either. And there was no surprise when you mentioned the accidents happening to Whetstone and Frank’s carriages.”
“So you think these other people were doing the actual sabotage?”
“Probably yes.” He stood and fetched more eggs, returning to the table and seating himself before continuing. “Dancey wouldn’t want his hands dirty, and I doubt anyone who took pride in what they made would deliberately then make it fail. So that eliminates the workers. Whether the manager knew or not, I have no idea. But I wouldn’t put it past Dancey to buy him off if he had to. The man had a goodly sized fortune and could have done so without a blink.”
“All well and good, Max,” said Perry, his expression serious. “But none of this helps us understand why Miller-James took your carriage. If he was behind these heinous acts, or had the remotest idea they were going on—which is pretty obvious that he did—surely he wouldn’t be stupid enough to actuallyuseone himself?”
“I have the same question, Max. Something is wrong with the picture you’re painting.”
“You’re right, and I have to say that caused me no end of frustration.” Max looked at the three faces staring at him from around the table. “And I was unable to come up with an answer until I put two small pieces of this puzzle together.” He paused, simply because he couldn’t help himself. They were hanging on his every word and he was enjoying every minute of it.
“Max…” threatened Kitty.
He grinned. “All right. Remember we’re dealing with two carriage makers, newcomers, both of whom have excellent andsimilardesigns.”
Perry sucked in air and sat back, but said nothing. Grace and Kitty both frowned.
“We detoured last night on the way home, back to the DuClos mansion, where all this began. It took me quite some time and more than a few shillings, but eventually I found a boy loitering who remembered my carriage, and the couple who took it. Your sister, Kitty. She is somewhat of an angelic presence, according to this lad, but his description was close enough. He remembers Hecate.”
“He saw them take the carriage?”
“More than that,” answered Max, his face sober. “This lad was finally persuaded to reveal what he was doing hanging around the carriages at that hour. It took several shillings for him to tell me the man had paid him to saw through a couple of spokes earlier in the evening.”
“Which man?” said Kitty, “Which man, Max?”
“None other than our own villain, Dancey Miller-James.”
Silence fell around the table as they digested this impossible statement.
“Wait…” Kitty held up a hand. “He paid a child to saw through the spokes of a carriage he knewhewas going to ride in? That makes no sense…”
“Did he know it wasyourcarriage, Max?” Grace was looking confused.
“I believe he did, Grace. I also believe, thanks to Lady Weston, that Dancey himself had made a huge mistake…”
“Oh,” cried Kitty. “He thought your carriage was aKanehall. He told her so, didn’t he…she boasted of that last night.”
