“And it includes you?” Lady Mary asked.
Frederick shot her an annoyed look. Her provoking remarks could insult Bannister into leaving.
Bannister remained silent.
“I’ve been told that you and your mother exchanged many cutting remarks.” She patted the lace cap over her ivory hair. “That you were expecting some blunt from your father, which your mother put a stop to.”
The charcoal in Frederick’s hand almost snapped. He didn’t know if he was more annoyed at her brash questions or the fact that he hadn’t been privy to that information.
“It’s no secret my mother kept a tight fist on my father’s purse.” Bannister’s nostrils flared. “She was a greedy, petty woman. She said I didn’t deserve it.Me.What did she ever do to deserve her wealth but spread her legs?”
Frederick had seen and heard much in his time at Bow Street, but even that managed to shock him. “There is a lady present,” he reminded the younger man sternly. “Watch your language.”
“I am a widow of a certain age,” Lady Mary said dryly. “There isn’t much about human nature I don’t know about.” She turned back to Bannister. “Including the disrespect of children, even though I had none of my own.”
“What was there to respect? It wasn’t only me my mother insulted.” Bannister gripped the arms of his chair. “She insulted my father in the worst way a woman can. Do you think she joined your club to take tea with her friends? It was an easyanswer to where she was going when she left the house. Even when that wasn’t her intended destination.”
“An affair?” Lady Mary pursed her lips. “With whom?”
Bannister looked toward the door. “I don’t know. I don’t care. But if you’re looking for her killer, look in that direction. A man will only take such nonsense from a mistress for so long.”
Frederick turned to a new page in his notebook. Bannister might not have intended it, but if he spoke the truth, he’d just given his father a motive for the murder, as well.
Once again, Lady Mary’s thoughts were in line with his. “Did your father know?”
“No.” Bannister dropped his chin in his palm. “He was oblivious, as usual.”
“And now that your mother is gone?” Frederick cocked his head. “Will your father give you the money he’d earlier promised?”
Bannister’s eyes briefly gleamed before returning to their sullen set. “Who knows? Who cares? I’m well taken care of either way.”
Lady Mary gripped the handle of her walking stick, the veins in her hands showing faintly blue through her thin skin. “But Miss Lynton said—”
“Miss Lynton? Ellie?” Bannister jerked upright. “Has that mouse been telling tales? What does she know? Nothing.”
The back of Frederick’s neck heated. Just how well did Edgar Bannister knowEllie? And why hadn’t she told him of Bannister’s poor relationship with his mother when he’d questioned her?
Lady Mary patted her white lace cap. “She knows enough. You didn’t deny that your mother put a stop to you getting money, and Miss Lynton is familiar with financial difficulties.”
Bannister smirked. “Her father’s windmill did dwindle to a nutshell. She lost several seasons of prime husband huntingwhen her family lost their money. Probably why no one wants her now, even if she is flush.”
Frederick wished his notebook pages were larger. Or his handwriting was smaller. He was going through his book at an alarming rate. Wealthy or not, he found it difficult to believe that Miss Lynton didn’t have lots of men vying for her attention. Not with her large, taffy-colored eyes and appealing curves.
“I’d heard,” Lady Mary said carefully, “that the Lyntons had fallen on difficult times once more.”
“The Lyntons? Rolled-up?” Bannister snorted. “Not again in this lifetime. When Mr. Lynton gained back his fortune, it was the only time I ever saw my mother feel regret. She’d given Mrs. Lynton the cut direct when they’d first lost their money, and she’d burned that bridge but good. When the Lyntons came back into society, they wanted nothing to do with Lady Richford.” A sincere smile stretched across his face, making the man look happy for the first time since Frederick had met him.
A knock sounded on the door before it opened. A gangly man with a shock of red hair poked his head inside. “Are you done yet, Eddie? The rest of the lads are leaving for the theater.”
Bannister popped to his feet. “I’m coming. I think I’ve said all I need to these two.” And without even a by-your-leave, he trotted from the room.
“Well.” Lady Mary arched her eyebrows. “Perhaps being childless isn’t such a tragedy if they turn out like that. There was no love lost between him and his mother. He’s just gone to the top of my list of suspects.”
Frederick put away his notebook and stood. “No. It doesn’t mean he killed her, however.”
Lady Mary rose, as well. “It doesn’t mean he didn’t, either.”
“How would he get into your club unobserved?” Frederick nodded as Blodgett flapped his hands at them, in a hurry to show them out. A man must have gained entry to The MinervaClub. He had a hard time envisioning a woman committing such a crime, or even having the strength to accomplish it. He was curious what Lady Mary’s thoughts were on the holes in her club’s security.
