Roen moved to his right and forfeited the chair where he had been sitting, as it was closer to Ridley. He waited until she was comfortably situated before he took his seat. Ben offered his wife coffee, but when she declined, he dropped back into his chair and regarded her expectantly. “Well?” he asked.
“Indeed. You might very well ask that.”
“I thought I just did.”
“This is not the time to amuse yourself. I am here on important business.”
Roen observed that Ben did not look particularly contrite although the effort was made.
“Perhaps if you told us what it is...” Ben let the suggestion lie there and waited for Ridley to pick it up.
She did, but not before she took in a breath and then released it slowly, calmly. “Did you know that Mr. Shepard was seen escorting Lily up and down the boardwalk? Parading her is the way it was put to me. The wags have the tale already, and they are not being kind. It hardly matters that it’s repeated out of concern for her; there is an element of shaming in the retelling. Lily will be mortified when she learns of it.”
“First,” said Ben, “yes, I did know. I was preparing to discuss that in more detail with him when you came in. Second, how will Lily learn of it if no one tells her?”
“Oh, Ben.” Ridley shook her head sorrowfully. “It’s inevitable that someone will think they’re doing her a favor by telling her, or at least it will be presented in that fashion. Truly, what you don’t know about women could fill a book.”
“Ellie said pretty much the same thing the other day.”
“She’s right.” Not desiring to belabor the point, Ridley turned her attention to Roen. “What is your interest in Lily Salt? Better yet, what are your intentions, Mr. Shepard?”
It occurred to Roen that the doctor had every bit the same skill as the sheriff when it came to interrogation. “Mrs. Salt asked me a similar question, and I told her I would be pleased to have her company.” When Ridley subjected him to ajaundiced look, he added, “I am not using ‘company’ as a euphemism, Dr. Madison. I mean just that. Company.”
“Hmm. Then you know there is a brothel a block off Main Street.”
“The Nightingale. Yes, I’m aware.”
Ben broke in. “Buzz told him about it.”
She sighed. “Of course he did. Did he tell you that the locals don’t go there? They scratch that itch in Liberty Junction or over in Harmony. Men from both those places come here.”
Roen wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say to that. “I’ll keep that in mind, I guess.”
“My wife sees to the ladies at the Nightingale,” said Ben by way of explanation. To Ridley, he said, “And that’s plain speaking even for you.”
Ridley considered and dismissed it. “Sometimes plain speaking is what’s called for. Did I offend you, Mr. Shepard?”
Roen shook his head.
“Very well. Then I shall try harder.”
Ben rolled his eyes while Roen merely chuckled.
Ridley went on as if she hadn’t seen or heard either man’s reaction. “Are you married?” She looked sideways at her husband. “Do you even know if he’s married? Has a fiancée? A sweetheart?”
“I believe I mentioned I was getting around to that when you came in.”
“Well, we’re getting to it now.” She turned back to Roen. “Are you, Mr. Shepard? Married, that is?”
“No. No fiancée. No sweetheart.”
“No mistress?” asked Ridley.
Thinking of Victorine Headley made Roen hesitate and Ridley seized on that.
“A mistress, then.” She pretended she didn’t hear her husband’s audible, much-put-upon sigh. “Can we expect that she’ll be joining you?”
Roen held up a finger. “A point of clarification, please?”
