“Do the maids ever leave the house at night?”
“Of course not,” Mrs.Riley said, genuine shock in her eyes.
April set the key from Edward’s pocket on the table in front of her.She had extracted it from Piers before breakfast.“Do you recognize this key?”
“No.”It was too quick.And it was another lie, which the cook hastened to justify.“I only deal with the kitchen door keys.The rest’s Mr.Langton’s responsibility.He’s the butler.”
“So in his absence, it was Edward’s responsibility to see all the doors and windows locked at night, and unlocked in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“Wereall the doors still locked this morning?”
“As far as I know.”
April picked up the key again.
“Leave it here, if you like,” Mrs.Riley said quickly.“I’ll ask the girls.”
“No need, Mrs.Riley,” April said.“I’ll ask them myself.Thanks for your help.Oh, who is the magistrate around here?Is it Sir Dominic?”
“No, it’s Mr.Alexander over at Tatley Manor.You’re not going to involvehim,are you?”
“We’ll have to, if there was a crime.”
***
SINCE SHE HADN’T HADtime yet this morning, April went from the kitchen to her own room to practise her handwriting.She also had an ulterior motive for lurking there, for she could hear the maids’ voices further along the corridor and she wanted a word with Becky.
Her opportunity came when, after a quick knock, Becky’s face appeared around the partially open door.“Pardon me, but can we make your ladyship’s bed now?”
April put her pen in the stand and her notebook in the drawer.“In a moment.Come in and close the door.”
The girl obeyed, looking slightly alarmed.April let her come closer, further away from the door, where she suspected the other girl, recruited from the village, was listening.
April kept her voice low and unthreatening.“Becky, what were you doing up and dressed in the middle of last night?”
Becky’s face flamed.“I told his lordship—”
“I think we should forget what you told his lordship, don’t you?You didn’t wake and dress, unless you always put on stained and crumpled clothes.You hadn’t yet been to bed, had you?”
Becky stared at the floor, tears welling in her eyes.
“No, my lady,” she whispered.
“What kept you up?”
“Nothing really, just wasn’t tired.”
“Becky.You rise early and right now are doing the work of about three people.You were tired.”
The maid shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
“Did you leave the house, Becky?”April asked.
The girl’s head jerked up, her eyes startled as they met April’s.“Oh, no, my lady,” she said, with what seemed to be genuine shock at the very idea.
“Why did Edward go out?”April asked suddenly.
