Jenny gave her a woman-to-woman look. “’Xactly. Lily made plenty o’ other mistakes, too, but got away wif it on account o’ ’er charms. ’Ad Billy—’e’s the second footman—running in circles doing ’er chores.”
“Do you think Billy might know her whereabouts?”
“Nah.” Jenny rolled her eyes. “’E was just a pigeon and didn’t know ’e were getting plucked. Cried like a babe, ’e did, when Lily up and left.”
“Did she mention any places she frequented, anywhere she might have gone?”
Jenny shook her head. “Quiet as a clam, that one. Lily ne’er breathed word ’bout ’erself.”
“Actually… she did mention something once,” a timid voice said.
Emma’s gaze shot to the other maid, whose cheeks now matched the color of her hair.
“Why didn’t you mention it before?” Jenny demanded. “To the master or the investigators?”
“I couldn’t say it in front o’ gentlemen. It’s embarrassing,” Gretchen mumbled. “Besides, I’m certain it isn’t important.”
“Anything you remember could be helpful, Gretchen.” Emma gave her a reassuring smile. “Please, I’d like to hear it.”
Fingers twisting her skirts, Gretchen said haltingly, “Me and Lily, we were cleaning up ’is grace’s bedchamber this one time. Suddenly, she curses—on account o’ snagging ’er stocking, you see. Since it was just us two, she pulled up ’er skirts to take a closer look, and bless me, if my jaw didn’t drop at what I saw.”
Emma’s spine tingled. “What did you see?”
“’Er stockings, miss. Made o’ the finest silk they were, with clocking that stretched from calf to knee.” The girl’s eyes were as big as dinner plates. “She must have seen me staring, for a strange smile came over her face, and she said,I’ll bet a little maid like you hasn’t ever seen something so pretty in all your life, have you?I told ’er,No, Lily, I ’aven’t.And then she… she showed me something else.”
“Yes, Gretchen?” Emma leaned forward.
The maid bit her lip. “She made me promise to keep it a secret.”
“If she’s a murderer, you best not be keeping ’er secrets,” Jenny said in stern tones.
In a small voice, Gretchen said, “She let me see… ’er petticoat. Lord, it was beautiful.” Her voice hushed with wonder. “Embroidered with bumblebees and vines and all sorts o’ fancy flowers.”
Emma’s pulse sped up. What was a maid doing with such expensive undergarments?
“Do you know where Lily got the petticoat and stockings?” Emma said.
“Come to think o’ it, she did mention a name.” Concentration lined Gretchen’s forehead. “When I said ’er petticoat looked fit for a queen, Lily laughed and said,’Tis a king’s ransom Madame Marieur charges, but for me, she offers a special discount.”
Madame Marieur. A lead.
With thrumming excitement, Emma said, “Can you recall anything else, Gretchen?”
“That’s it, I swear. I—I didn’t think talk o’ undergarments was important.” The maid’s bottom lip trembled. “Am I in trouble, miss?”
“On the contrary, you have been extraordinarily helpful,” Emma said. “My thanks to both of you, and now I must take my leave.”
Because she had a suspect to find—and a trail to follow.
Chapter Fifteen
Alaric stood before the cheval looking glass in his dressing room. While his valet fussed with the folds of his cravat, Alaric’s thoughts returned to the letter he’d received from the dowager duchess. Lady Patrice’s spidery cursive had spilled over several pages, with words like “Catastrophe,” “Doom,” and “Rescue” written in underlined capitals.
His aunt had always had a flair for the dramatic.
The idea of her coming here, filling his house with her nervous, overabundant concern, made him cringe. He’d sent off a reply assuring her that he was fine and telling her to stay put in Lanarkshire. Although he was indebted to Lady Patrice—she’d done her best by him, after all—her constant worries about his health and happiness were draining to say the least.
His plan to find himself a new duchess was, in part, a means to ward her off. Since Laura’s death, the dowager had offered tireless support, once again taking over the mistress’ duties at Strathmore Castle. Having run the household during her husband’s reign, she’d declared it was no trouble at all. Alaric’s gratitude had quickly transformed into an intense desire for escape.
