“As for His Grace’s grandfather, he might have indulged in his younger days.But he was old and frail by the time I came to work here.He did not take any ladies into his bed…and, if it is any consolation to His Grace,” she said, referring to Alex, “I do not believe his father ever participated in those sort of revels, either.”
“He didn’t?How can you know this for certain when his father died years before you ever arrived here?”This was important to Tulip because she knew it would mean a lot to Alex.
“His Grace’s grandfather and I used to have long chats toward the end.He confessed his regrets to me, one of those being how he had kept his sons too much under his thumb.He felt they had turned out weak because of it.He called them all useless wastrels, except for the one son who had married for love.He blamed himself for poisoning that marriage and believed his son had died of a broken heart after the wife left and took their little boy with him.The old duke would not allow his son to follow them.”
Tulip struggled to hold back her tears.“My husband was that little boy.”
“Please tell him what I have told you.He deserves to know the truth about his father, just as I deserve to know what really happened to my aunt, Elspeth.”Mrs.Granger took a deep breath and continued by telling Tulip much that she already knew.
Tulip did not interrupt or stop her because it was important to hear whatever her housekeeper had to say.“Do go on, Mrs.Granger.”
“I arrived here about five years ago, hoping to land a good position in a respectable household and start conducting my investigations on my afternoons off.But I quickly saw my mistake.I think whatever happened to Elspeth must have occurred right here at Thornwycke Hall.”
Tulip gripped the arms of her chair.
Was this the evidence Alex had been hoping for?
“I was scared to death.How could I stay here with all ofthatdebauchery going on?But that was the least of it.I thought it possible your husband’s grandfather had killed Elspeth.Or perhaps one of his sons had done it and he’d helped cover it up.”
“Did the old duke confess this?”
She shook her head.“No, he actually seemed to have no involvement in her disappearance.If anything, I got the impression he genuinely adored her.”
Tulip’s head began to spin.
How did this make sense?
If the old duke and the other Davenports had nothing to do with Elspeth’s disappearance, then why were they killed off?
She refused to believe those deaths were accidental.
But Mrs.Granger would have no motive for plotting their deaths.
“I was in over my head, but I had no funds and where was I to go?I intended to keep my head down, mind my own business, and get out of here as soon as I had saved sufficient wages.But then, I began to hear things.”
Tulip edged closer.“What things?”
Mrs.Granger let out a ragged breath.“Oh, I cannot tell you.”
“You must.Let us work on this together.You mustn’t view my husband and me as enemies.Let us help you find out the truth.Do you believe your Aunt Elspeth was kept prisoner here?In the tower room?”
“No!The old duke would never have imprisoned her.But I don’t believe she ever eloped with a naval officer.Someone killed her.I am convinced of it.”She placed a hand over her stomach as though in pain.“It is a terrible thing to discover my sweet, beautiful aunt never made it out of here alive.”
Tulip could hardly breathe, for her heart was overcome by anguish.“Oh, Mrs.Granger.I am so very sorry.Please, go on.What else do you know?”
“Little else.I had never met Elspeth.My mother and grandparents were always so mysterious about her.Why had they suddenly moved away from here?Who had given them their sudden inheritance?I knew the story they gave was a lie, for we had no wealthy relatives.I think the old duke must have paid them off to buy their silence.”
“But why would he do this if he had nothing to do with her death?”
“I don’t know.Perhaps he thought one of his sons had done something.As father, he might have wanted to protect that son.I think now I should never have come here.My mother, on her deathbed, warned me to keep away.I should have listened.”
“It took great courage for you to seek out the truth.”Tulip might have done the same if she had no one left in the world and sensed a terrible thing had happened to her family in the one place she was warned never to go.
“No, it was foolish.But I had to learn the truth about Elspeth.I began to ask questions.Ernfield was most helpful because he was around back then and knew my mother and Elspeth.”
“You got him to talk to you?”
She laughed softly and nodded.“Yes, he surprised me by being most forthcoming.”
