Her aunt laughed.“I am delighted to hear it.I did not think John Farthingale would ever approve of the marriage unless he thought highly of His Grace.Of course, we all know your story and are relieved you turned out nothing like your predecessors.”
“You know my story?”Alex leaned forward, eager to hear Perty Hester’s version of it.
“Oh, yes.It was all anyone spoke of for months afterward.Your mother was very wise to take you away from Thornwycke Hall.”
“I am very well aware,” Alex assured her.
“Very brave of her, too,” she added.
Alex looked forward to Tulip’s aunt telling him more about his mother, but those were questions for another time.His priority was to discover whether there was a killer on the loose who intended to strike again.
“Where was I?”Perty muttered, serving each of them another slice of cake while preparing to spill more gossip that Alex was eager to hear.
“You mentioned Mrs.Granger,” he said, definitely interested in learning more about her now that Perty had made the connection between his housekeeper and Elspeth who was likely the girl his grandfather had mentioned in his journal.
“Oh, yes.She managed the old duke quite well and learned how to maneuver herself around those…er, free-spirited ladies of his.She never complained about the old duke or any of his successors, as far as I know.But I don’t think the succeeding dukes were as nice as the old man.They took on all of his vices, but had none of his charm.”
Alex grunted.
The Davenport dukes were all depraved and everyone knew it.Even his ‘kindly’ grandfather was a wretched specimen of a man.That he did not force himself on women was a point in his favor, but he was reprehensible in so many other ways.
The local residents just did not openly state it.
“We hoped you would turn out different, Your Grace,” she continued.“I’m so glad your mother was able to save you from your grandfather’s influence.”
The conversation stopped when Mr.Hester rushed in.“Tulip!Dear girl!”
She leaped to her feet.“Uncle William!”
He was a big, jovial bear of a man, and obviously sentimental.He swallowed Tulip in his beefy arms.“My sweet girl!How good of you to stop by to see us.”
Tulip laughed and hugged him back.“We’ll have you and Aunt Perty to Thornwycke Hall very soon.We only arrived yesterday and have yet to get our bearings.”
She quickly introduced him to Alex.
William Hester regarded him warily, unlike his wife who seemed to accept him without hesitation.But William was probably aware of the depths of the depravity that went on at Thornwycke, things Mr.Carver had told him about that he would never repeat to his wife.
“You are going to adore my husband,” Tulip insisted.“He is nothing like his horrible ancestors.In fact, he is wonderful in every way.Just ask Mr.Carver if you do not believe me.”
William managed a smile.“Glad to hear it.”
“He is,” Tulip insisted with a vehemence that made Alex feel warm inside.
They did not stay long afterward, for the clouds were beginning to thicken and the sky had turned gray.“We had better start for home,” Alex said, thanking them for their hospitality and promising they would receive an invitation shortly.
William kissed his niece’s cheek.“I see that you are happy, Tulip.I pray it shall always be this way,” he said quietly in her ear.
She tipped her chin up.“You will soon find out what a marvel he is.Rest assured, my husband is the best of men.”
They climbed back in their carriage and made haste toward Thornwycke before they were caught in a downpour.
Tulip was full of questions for him during the ride back.“What was all that about?Were you investigating Mr.Carver and Mrs.Granger?You had Aunt Perty going on and on about them.”
“Why should I not know more about them?They are in our employ and in important positions within our household.”
“Do you think one of them is a murderer?”
Alex did not immediately answer.
