“From a decorating standpoint, the presence of a second yellow pillow makes sense,” Mrs. Kent said. “Pillows oft come in matching pairs; it would be odd to have just one of a design.”
“Billings,” Kent said, “will you alert your staff to look for the mate to the yellow pillow?”
Their host’s nod was reluctant.
“So one hypothesis would be that Monique hit her head, loss consciousness, and came to… only to be smothered by a pillow?” the duchess said meditatively.
“That would be a logical possibility, yes. And there’s one more thing.” The physician removed a folded handkerchief from his pocket and placed it on Billings’ desk. Unwrapping the linen, he removed a thin gold chain, letting it dangle for all to see.
“This was caught inside the bodice of the victim’s gown. The chain is broken. It might have happened during the attack, but I can’t be sure.”
Richard had a sudden hunch.Had Monique been wearing Wick’s ring on that chain? If so, the killer might have seen it and recognized the golden opportunity…
Billings rose, his face set in determined lines. “We can’t let any of this leak out.”
“For the safety of the guests—” Kent began.
“Trust me, my associates can take care of themselves. As for the others,”—Billings waved a brusque hand—“I’ll hire on extra footmen for security. Moreover, Magistrate Jones has insisted upon posting his men at the gates. He’ll be monitoring everyone going in and out. Now I’ll leave the rest to you, Kent—but do it tactfully, understand? Discretion is everything.” Billings straightened his waistcoat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have guests to attend to.”
After the door closed behind him, Kent said with a scowl, “Did he just tell me to solve a murdertactfully?”
“I’m afraid so.” Mrs. Kent touched his arm. “Never mind him, darling. We need to focus on our strategy.”
“Quite right,” Strathaven said. “Now that we know how the victim died, we’ll have to refine the list of suspects.”
“Beginning with Miss Ashe,” the duchess said. “Strathaven and I did speak with the maid she mentioned, Mary, who attested to the fact that she helped Miss Ashe to bed. We don’t know that Miss Ashe stayed there, of course, but she can be vouched for from one to two in the morning.”
“If, as I estimated, Monique’s death occurred an hour or two before she was found—thus between one and three in the morning—that gives Miss Ashe at least a partial alibi,” Kent muttered. “Given Dr. Abernathy’s conclusions, I propose that we draw up a new list of all those who had a connection with the victim. Who might have a motive to kill her.”
“Lord Wormleigh ought to be on that list,” Violet blurted.
Kent’s gaze swung to her. “Why do you say that?”
Her eyes met Richard’s briefly; he sent a prayer up that she knew what she was doing.
“Because I, um, heard some ladies gossiping about it last night. At the ball. I don’t know who they were since there was a screen between us. But they, um, claimed a servant saw Lord Wormleigh and Monique having words the night she died,andWormleigh was seen outside the library later on that evening.”
“Excellent observation skills, dear.” Her Grace sounded impressed.
Violet flushed, squirming a little. Richard could tell it made her uncomfortable telling her family a lie. On the other hand, she couldn’t very well announce the truth: that she’d overheard Mrs. Sumner and Price whilst she and Richard had been hiding together beneath the wardrobe.
“Yes, well done, Vi. We’ll put Wormleigh at the top of the list.” Kent jotted in his notebook.
“Cedric Burns should be on there as well,” Richard said, “seeing as he was Monique’s colleague.”
Kent scribbled. “Any progress on the victim’s maid?”
The duchess shook her head. “The sleeping draught that the housekeeper, Mrs. Hopkins, gave Jeanne put the woman out like a light. Jeanne was still asleep this morning. But after this meeting, I’ll try to speak to her again.”
“I’ll go with you. If anyone knows a lady’s secrets, it’s her maid,” Mrs. Kent said.
Fear came as a sudden rush. In the commotion, Richard had forgotten about the maid and what she might know. Wick had said no one knew about his affair with Monique, but he probably hadn’t considered the woman’s servant. Was Jeanne aware of her mistress’ lovers? Would she identify Wick as one of them?
“May I come too?” Violet said quickly. “I met Jeanne before, so perhaps she’d be willing to talk to me.”
“Good thinking,” her sister said.
Violet looked at him, and the message in her eyes was amazingly clear.
