Mrs Coggins shrugged. ‘We got on well enough.’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
‘But you just said she wanted you to be replaced by someone new. Perhaps a housekeeper who wasn’t quite so loyal to Viscount Beachley, but deferred to her instead? Surely, that would create some bad feelings between you.’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Shrugging, Mrs Coggins shifted in her chair. ‘She was young. Didn’t always know what the viscount might want or how to run a household befitting of his status. She needed help, but the prideful woman would never ask a lowly servant like myself. She had a rather high opinion of herself for someone who married above her station.’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
‘Do you think the viscount was better than his wife?’
The housekeeper’s eyes darted to Clio’s fingers as she fiddled with an apron frill.
‘More esteemed within society, certainly. And his family. Hissister is a duchess, you know. She was kind to Lady Beachley, but it was clear Her Grace was disappointed by her brother’s choice.’
‘Did you agree with Her Grace?’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Clio leaned back in her chair, her finger never missing a beat.
The woman snorted. ‘I wouldn’t dare disagree with a duchess.’
The tapping stopped.
Clio’s smile sent a shiver down Grey’s spine. ‘So, you didn’t like Viscountess Beachley.’
Realising her misstep, Mrs Coggins’ face grew red, her eyes popping wide as she looked from Clio to Thomas and back again. ‘I didn’t say that. I had no issues with the viscountess. We worked well together.’
The tapping started again.
‘Except that she had a rather high opinion of herself. Wouldn’t ask for your help. Wanted to replace you with someone new…’
Slamming her hand on the table, Mrs Coggins’ voice shook. ‘I held no ill will towards the woman. But I do now.’
‘Why is that?’ Clio kept her voice steady and calm.
‘Because she killed her husband!’ The housekeeper became shrill. ‘Make no mistake of that. The nasty witch couldn’t wait to be rid of him.’
Clio’s body stiffened again. It was the second time she reacted to the insult from two different members of Viscount Beachley’s staff. Her tapping paused for a moment as her gaze flicked to Grey.
Yes. I noticed. I notice everything about you, Clio Blair.
Turning back to the housekeeper, Clio sat straighter in her chair, her lips pressing into a determined line.
Thomas leaned forward, speaking before Clio could. Her scowl brought him immense joy. ‘Did you see something? Hear something to make you believe she might be responsible for his death?’
The housekeeper bit her lip, her brown eyes narrowed. ‘It was no secret among the staff the viscountess wasn’t fond of her husband. We are trained to understand the needs and desires of our employers. Lady Beachley’s desire was clear: to avoid her husband whenever possible. When they were together, the rows they got into were so loud, you could hear them from the attic to the cellar. But that afternoon was different.’
‘How—’
‘How—’
They spoke together, then stopped. Clio’s glare could have singed his eyelashes. He actually felt heat wash over his face like opening a furnace door. It was enough to stall him and let her ask the question.
‘How was it different?’ Clio returned her focus to Mrs Coggins. The temperature immediately cooled.
