“Does it?” Byron made a face. “It doesn’t enrageme.”
“But I suppose there could have been another reason to kill her. Someone might have been angry at her for some other reason. And it might not have even been a man,” said Jane.
“Hmm,” said Byron. “Well, who would have been angry with Miss Seward?”
Jane tapped her chin. “What about, um, Mr. Beaumont’s wife? What if she found out about what passed between Beaumont and Anne in their youth?”
“Possible,” said Byron.
“Of course, she did just give birth, so it seems unlikely,” said Jane. “After a woman gives birth, she usually stays in bed for some weeks, just resting. I find it hard to think she would have gotten up and come all the way down here to administer poison to Miss Seward.”
“She could have left the poison here at some other time and Miss Seward didn’t actually ingest it until much later.”
“That’s possible,” said Jane. “We would need to know how the poison was delivered.”
“Is there anyone else that would have wanted Miss Seward dead?” said Byron.
Jane shook her head. “I haven’t any idea. You?”
“I don’t live here. I don’t know these people,” said Byron.
“Oh, true,” said Jane, sighing. “But I don’t pay them any mind, I’m afraid.”
“Too busy thinking about those novels you don’t write?”
“Yes, something like that,” she said. She tapped her chin again. “But you know who would know, who pays absolutely everyone in town a great deal of attention?”
“I don’t, because I don’t live here,” he said.
“Mrs. Ditterswith,” said Jane. “We’ll simply have to get ourselves invited to tea at her house. Once we do that, we can say but three things and she’ll be off and running, happy to tell us anything and everything. She would absolutely know everyone who would have been pleased that Miss Seward is dead.”
“All right,” said Byron. “How do we get invited to tea? Shall we just show up at her doorstep?”
“No, that’s the way you would do it, but that’s a wretched way,” said Jane.
Byron shrugged. “All right. I suppose you’ll think of another way, then.”
Jane gave him a withering look, ready to say something else, something extremely cutting, as soon as she but thought of it.
However, they were interrupted as Betsy went by them to go into the door of the tavern. She gave them a wave. “You lot still hanging about, are you? What is it you want today?”
“We were looking for Mr. Hardy,” said Jane. “Do you have any idea where he is?”
“None at all,” said Betsy. “I haven’t seen him since last night when he was locking up after Mr. Fields left.”
“Oh, Mr. Fields was here,” said Jane.
“Yes, indeed,” said Betsy.
“And he examined Miss Seward’s remains?” said Jane.
“I suppose,” said Betsy. “I’d best get inside, if you please. I’m sorry, but I can’t stay and talk all day.”
Jane waved her off.
Byron peered after Betsy as she disappeared inside. “Well, shall we simply go to Mr. Fields?”
Jane nodded. “Yes, that’s a very good idea. We’ll ride out to see him, and then he can answer any of our questions.”
