Isobel took a long moment before going on. “We enjoyed each other’s company.” She looked at Wrexford, a glint of humor in her eyes. “You might say there was a certain chemistry between us. And, well, he asked me to be his wife. I accepted, but only after revealing my history. He said it didn’t matter.”
“I-I assumed . . .” stammered Octavia. “You were so very beautiful . . . b-but so very cool and distant.”
“It wasn’t easy for me. I felt I must present a very prim and proper façade. And of course I sensed your dislike. Unsure of what else to do, I decided to make the best of it, so as not to upset Elihu, who loved you dearly.”
“I . . . I . . .” Octavia blinked, the candlelight catching the pearling of tears on her lashes. “I-I’m sorry if I misjudged you. But—”
Wrexford cleared his throat with a brusque cough. “Perhaps we could leave recriminations and reconciliations for some other time. We’ve a murder to solve, and the mystery has just grown more knotted.”
“F-Forgive me, but I just have one more question concerning that.” Octavia fixed the widow with a searching stare. “Benedict and I are quite certain that our workroom and desks were searched. We assumed you were trying to take the final plans because . . . because Eli had decided that he didn’t want to profit from the patent. He was planning to share the profits from his inventions with his workers. We discussed plans for building housing, and a school, and—”
“And a hospital,” interrupted Isobel. “Yes, I know all aboutthat. Indeed, Elihu and I came up with the idea together.” She drew another document from the case and placed it on Octavia’s lap. “You know his handwriting—and mine. There is his first draft for how to use the money, along with my notes in the margin suggesting some minor changes.” She held up a second sheet. “Here’s the final version.”
Secrets within secrets within secrets.Charlotte gave an inward sigh at the serendipitous twists that Fate could take. A knot here, a knot there, and all of a sudden, the threads have formed a disastrous tangle.
Octavia needed only a moment to check over the paper. “I’m so sorry. It seems I have much for which to apologize,” she whispered. “But as Lord Wrexford said, let us leave that for later. What matters now is to figure out who was riffling through our work.”
Isobel made a wry face. “My study was searched as well. I confess, I thought you and Hillhouse might be the guilty parties. You would have made a pretty penny by taking the invention for your own.”
“We wouldneverhave done that.”
“You may be certain of your own intentions, Miss Merton,” interjected Wrexford. “However, the evidence against Hillhouse is rather black.”
“Yes, he made a mistake in the past.” Octavia glanced a little guiltily at Isobel. “But as we have learned, that shouldn’t damn a person for life.”
“He let a desperate need for money overcome his scruples,” pointed out Sheffield. “We can’t overlook that.”
Frowning in thought, Wrexford began pacing back and forth before the unlit hearth. Charlotte clenched her teeth in frustration. Would he think of the right questions . . .
To the devil with it.She had already cast caution to the wind.
“Oiy, m’lord,” she said, pitching her voice low and rough.
His head jerked up.
Charlotte gestured for him to join her.
“The lad is welcome to join us,” said Isobel.
“He’d not be comfortable doing so,” replied the earl quickly. Several swift strides brought him into the shadows, where he took up a position with his back to the others, effectively blocking their view of her.
“Numbers,” she said hurriedly. “Remember Hollis’s last words—he said numbers will reveal everything, so it stands to reason that we should find out who, if anyone, knew of Ashton’s plans not to profit from his patent.”
A flicker of understanding lit in his eyes. “A good point,” he growled.
“And ask Octavia if she knows anything further about what Jeremy is doing to find Hillhouse. He didn’t tell me his plans, but he may have confided in her.”
The earl nodded. “Anything else?”
“Not at the moment,” she answered, though something was nibbling at the edge of her consciousness.
A moment passed and yet he made no move to return to the others. “What think you,” he asked slowly, “of the widow’s revelation?”
“I think she’s telling the truth,” replied Charlotte without hesitation.
The answer seemed to settle some of his uncertainties. His shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Furthermore, my sense is she’s a formidable ally. She’s highly intelligent and thinks with incisive logic. Press her on any scientific connections Kirkland might have had. I find it hard to believe his death is not in some way connected to Ashton’s murder.”
