“If I have to, yes. I’d like the full list, but it would be helpful if you indicated the members who’ve been vocal about finding new treatments for syphilis.”
“Very well,” he agreed, but his reluctance was palpable.
“We can narrow the list down even further if you include everyone’s age. Whoever killed Lady Westford was strong enough to throw her over the railing, and young enough to chase Edwina down the street.”
Munroe’s eyes were shadowed as he met hers for a brief moment before he turned away. “I’ll get you your list, my lady.”
Chapter 24
“Well, that was miserable,” Rebecca said softly.
Kendra looked over at her friend as they walked ahead of the men, emerging from the anatomy school. “Are you all right?”
“If you are referring to my earlier . . . reaction, I apologize.” Rebecca’s tone was as crisp as a winter morning. “I didn’t . . . I wasn’t expecting what was done to her eyes.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not easy to view a dead body, especially in that state.”
“You mean it’s not easy for me, because I’m a lady.” Rebecca’s jaw tightened. “You share Mr. Muldoon’s belief that I’m a fainthearted, feebleminded lady, that I need to be coddled and shouldn’t view such ugliness? That I’m not likeyou, and ought not try to be.”
Kendra slid a cautious sidelong look at Rebecca, then glanced over her shoulder at Muldoon walking with Alec, the Duke, and Sam. Far enough behind to not be overheard.
“Is that what Mr. Muldoon said when he followed you out of the autopsy room?” she asked.
Rebecca let out a hiss. “Yes. He seems to think I am a chicken-hearted female prone to having vapors or hysterics. Just because I-I . . . I nearly cast up my accounts. But Ididn’t. And even if I had, I am not some silly creature that needs to be cosseted and comforted. It’s insulting.”
Kendra had never had any close female friends before Rebecca, but she knew there was a code. You supported your friend, especially if they were fuming against a man.
“The bastard,” she finally said.
Rebecca made a noise between a gasp and a laugh. “Kendra!” She said nothing for a long moment, then went on, “He views me as part of theTon, you know. And he thinks the females of the Ton are silly, timid creatures who spend their days shopping and their evenings attending balls.”
Kendra actually didn’t believe Muldoon viewed Rebecca in that way at all, but she wasn’t stupid enough to try to defend him.
“He thinks we live our lives wrapped in cotton-wool,” Rebecca muttered darkly.
“Jeez. He’s never been to Almack’s,” Kendra said lightly. Almack’s was the most exclusive social club of the day, where young debutantes put themselves on display as potential brides, to be scrutinized by society’s most august ladies. Talk about nerve-wracking.
Rebecca laughed. Her amusement faded, though, as they continued to walk. “Are you really going to interview everyone on the list Dr. Munroe gave you?” she asked Kendra.
“Eventually. But right now, I want to interview Lord Westford.”
“I thought you were of the mind that Lady Westford’s murderer is on the list.”
“Yes, but Lord Westford might know more about his wife’s activities. We need to find out how Lady Westford’s path crossed with Clarice’s.”
And, she added silently,how both of their paths crossed with a killer’s.
***
Alec directed Coachman John to Lord Westford’s black-crepe-embellished townhouse. Kendra wasn’t entirely surprised to learn that the earl was not at home—andreallynot home, as opposed to being at home but refusing to see them. When she asked the butler where they could find Lord Westford, he gave her a thousand-yard stare and told her that he couldn’t presume to know.
Alec suggested that she return to the carriage while he had a word with the butler.
“Let me guess—Lord Westford is at his villa in St. John’s Wood,” Kendra said when Alec climbed back into the carriage. “What did he think I’d do? Faint at the mention of a mistress?”
“He was being considerate of your ladylike sensibilities.”
Kendra drummed her fingers on her knee. “I’m starting to understand why Rebecca was ticked off at Muldoon.”
