“Heavens.” Gigi paled. “What did you do?”
“I sent an anonymous note to the police with Murdoch’s address,” James replied. “I couldn’t risk further involvement. To do so might alert the blackmailer to my activities—or stir up scandal I cannot afford.”
“Do you suppose that Murdoch was involved with the blackmail scheme?” Gigi asked. “And someone—his partner, perhaps—murdered him to ensure his silence?”
“Or to take his share of the payment,” Mama said coolly.
Xenia’s forehead pleated. “Do you think Merrow is responsible for both the extortion and the murder?”
“It is possible,” Evie said. “He struck me as a scheming fellow—one who would do anything to get ahead. His devotion to Wilmington was likely self-serving: he viewed his master as a ladder to reach his ambitions. By taking Wilmington’s life, I deprived Merrow of his livelihood and foiled his plans. I still remember how he cornered me, shouting, ‘What have you done?’”
With flooding terror, she felt him shoving her against the wall, his eyes blazing with violence, his spittle stinging her face. Warmth encircled her shoulders—James’s arm. His strength drew her back into the present.
“All right, love?” he murmured. “Perhaps we ought to take a break?—”
“No, let us finish this.” Composing herself, she shared the theory she and James had deliberated upon. “It is possible that Merrow persuaded Dr. Murdoch to keep the poisoning a secret. Accusing me would have gained him nothing save perceived justice for his employer. But I don’t think loyalty was his driving motivation—self-interest was. He might have decided that while I was useless to him as a penniless adolescent girl, perhaps one day I would be worth something. Perhaps one day I could give him the wealth he’d been robbed of…and he would have an unbreakable hold on me. He could get whatever he wanted because he knew my secret.”
“He played a long game.” Mama nodded briskly. “That takes intelligence and self-control, which makes him a dangerous nemesis indeed.”
“Should we keep to the plan and try to lure him out?” Gigi bit her lip. “Before, we didn’t know Merrow was capable of murder, but now…”
“Now we need to stop him more than ever,” Evie said. “James and I have discussed this.”
“I wouldn’t say we are in full agreement on using you as bait to capture Merrow,” James muttered. “But, yes, in principle, we agree: he must be stopped.”
“I won’t be in danger with everyone looking out for me,” Evie said soothingly. “By the by, we picked up the necklace from Garrard.”
Reaching into her traveling bag, she removed the velvet case and opened it. The fine paste diamonds sparkled in the sunlight, the riviere pattern an exact replica of her original necklace.
“Quite convincing,” Mama said. “It would fool most people.”
“I plan to wear the genuine article at every affair. If the blackmailer has eyes on me, he will see it and hopefully be enticed to make another demand.”
A sudden silence descended upon the room, and she caught the glances traded between the other ladies. A sense of foreboding quickened her pulse.
“What is it?” she asked.
It was Mama who spoke. “There is a reason we wanted to speak to you in private upon your return. We made a discovery ourselves. I am afraid it has to do with Harkness.”
Disquiet spread through Evie. “What about her?”
“After you left, she was acting strangely. There was a certain furtiveness to her behavior that caught my attention. One day, I followed her,” Mama admitted.
“You did what?” James frowned. “Were you alone?”
“Dear boy, you ought to know by now that I can take care of myself. I could hardly bring a coterie with me on a covert mission, could I?” She waved off his concern. “At any rate, I followed Harkness to Chudleigh Crest, where she visited a coaching inn. From what I could ascertain, she was inquiring about the schedule to the Reading train station.”
The lines deepened on James’s face. “Evie, did you know Harkness was planning a trip?”
“No.” Her dread turned into denial. “However, I am sure there is a good explanation?—”
“I did not wish to say it then, but I must now.”
Seeing Mama’s sober countenance, Evie shook her head, as if she could ward off what was coming.
“Back when you discussed potential suspects—those who were present at the time of Wilmington’s murder and knew your secret—you missed one key person.”
“I had the same thought,” James said quietly. “And I mentioned it to Evie.”
