The butler hesitated a moment before he said somberly, “It’s Elise Coventry. I’ve taken the liberty of putting her in the front parlor.”
Richard’s wife was here?“Thank you, Barton. I’ll join her shortly. Will you please send in some tea?”
As the butler bowed and took his leave, she couldn’t help but sigh. She could only imagine what Elise might have to say to her. If Richard’s recent actions were any indication, then Lyra could only reason that his wife was here to cause more trouble, especially now that they had likely been told that all charges against her had been dropped.
It wasn’t a confrontation she was looking forward to when she was already feeling low. But seeing as how she had no choice but to get it over with, Lyra took a bracing breath and made her way to the parlor—where she was immediately embraced in a warm hug.
At first, Lyra wasn’t sure how to react. Thankfully, it was her sister-in-law who spoke first.
Elise pulled back and offered a hesitant smile. Even though she was covered in black, her green eyes were still vibrant and shining with empathy, while her equally black hair was pulled back into a simple bun at the nape of her neck. “My dear, Lyra. I have been completely remiss in coming to see you before now, but I daresay I was just too embarrassed to call. How can I ever make amends? My husband’s actions have been deplorable, and Georgianna is just as horrified by her brother. She wanted to come with me, but living so far away in Dover and recovering from a recent illness, she just didn’t think she could make the journey.”
Again, Lyra was saved from having to speak as the maid appeared with their tea. She took the brief reprieve to gather her scattered thoughts. For years, Elise had hardly acknowledged her. At the funeral she’d barely spoken two words to her, and Georgianna, Roger and Richard’s older, widowed sister, was much the same. Now Elise wanted to act as though they were old friends? Odd wasn’t even the word to describe how Lyra felt, but perhaps Elise truly was ashamed of her husband’s behavior.
So, in an effort to give her the benefit of the doubt, Lyra sat beside her sister-in-law on the settee. The maid set out their tea with a cinnamon scone for each. “I admit Richard hasn’t made things easy for me, but now that I have been acquitted of all charges regarding Roger’s death, maybe that will give him some closure and he will realize I am truly innocent.”
“When I received that letter from Mr. Lyridon yesterday, I couldn’t have been happier for you,” Elise replied brightly. “I came to London to try and talk some sense into my errant husband, but I couldn’t confront him without coming to see you first.” She took a dainty bite of her scone. “I pray you are doing well?”
“As well as can be expected. Although I imagine the gossip will endure for some time.”
“Undoubtedly.” Elise shook her head. “It’s just an awful business. To think that Roger committed suicide…”
Lyra frowned. “Didn’t Mr. Lyridon tell you? Roger was murdered, but it was by another hand, not mine.”
The other woman gasped in horror. “Are you quite certain? Is there any proof?”
“Not yet, but Mr. Lyridon is still working to find the guilty party.”
“In that case, I’m surprised that they released you.”
“I suppose my testimony was enough to convince the House of Lords that I was innocent.”
“Indeed,” Elise murmured. “Well, I can only hope Mr. Lyridon is able to apprehend the true criminal and put Richard’s poor mind at ease. He did love his brother so.”
Lyra wasn’t completely confident of that statement, though she merely smiled. “I imagine it will.”
“I understand that Mr. Lyridon wasn’t alone in his investigation, that he had the Duke of Albright to assist him.”
“That’s right,” Lyra admitted slowly.
“How fortunate that you managed to acquire such persuasive men of society to rise to your aid.” Elise’s green eyes fluttered. “How did you do it?”
“The duke actually came to me when I was in the Tower,” Lyra explained. “He said that he held my brother in high regard, and since Roarke wasn’t here to plead my case, he acted on his behalf.”
“Now that is odd.” Elise leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “The way I understand it, the duke hardly knows the viscount. I heard that he works for the Home Office and that you were only released under his protection to find evidence of treason against you.”
“Treason?” Lyra felt the blood recede from her face. “Where would he even get the idea that I was guilty of sedition?”
Again, Elise spoke in that conspiratorial whisper. “Because Roger was suspected of it.”
With trembling fingers, Lyra set aside her tea before she dropped the cup and its contents all over her gown. “I’ve never paid much heed to gossip. Besides, surely such talk is unfounded.”
Her sister-in-law shrugged. “I would normally agree with you, but since something as serious as this is being bandied about all over town, I knew I had to come to you straightaway.”
“I’m glad you did,” Lyra murmured. “Rest assured, I will send a letter to Mr. Lyridon as soon as possible to clear up this misunderstanding.”
“I do pray he can smooth it all over. I would hate to see you endure yet another terrible ordeal when you have barely recovered from Roger’s death.”
Lyra’s mind was spinning, but she had the wherewithal to say, “Thank you, Elise.”
