“They don’t know,” said Jane.
“It could have been either of them is what I’m saying,” said Byron. “What I truly don’t understand is why Mr. Eves agreed to the arrangement at all. It seems there’s nothing in it for him.”
“Maybe he’s in love with Mrs. Beaumont.”
Byron made a face.
“Well,” said Jane, “how did you do it? What did you tell the magistrate?”
“You mean about Mr. Lovell?”
“I do,” said Jane. “I’m quite curious.”
“I said he climbed the ladder and dosed the sleeping draught,” said Byron.
“Why did you say he did it?”
“Because he didn’t like Mr. Hardy,” said Byron.
“That’s it?” said Jane.
“Best to keep these things simple,” said Byron. “I had a number of servants in the Cannar Hall household who were happy to agree to say that Mr. Lovell had disliked Mr. Hardy and wanted him dead. They were all quite keen to say anything they could to get rid of him. He was not well liked.”
Jane’s shoulders sagged. “So, then, it’s all over and done with.”
“It seems so,” said Byron.
“It’s the most anti-climactic thing I think I’ve ever experienced,” she said. “I feel full of a dreadful nervous energy that I have positively nowhere to put.”
“Hmm,” said Byron. “Well, that’s what walks are for, I suppose.”
She glared at him, and then began to pick up the pace and walk even faster.
He hurried to catch up to her. “You hate me now, I suppose.”
“Oh, I already hated you,” she said. “Didn’t I tell you I was done with you and done with trying to figure out the murder, and I wish that Ihadbeen done with it then instead of sticking around for this bit, which is simply a travesty.”
“Ouch,” he said. “Don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
She huffed again. She had not known she had so much huffing in her. “What happens to Mr. Hardy?”
“What do you mean? Nothing.”
“Well, when Mr. Beaumont tries again, then what?”
“He won’t,” said Byron.
“Sure of that?”
“He told me he would not.”
“Oh, yes, and he’sever sotrustworthy.”
“I think he was quite devastated that it went wrong,” said Byron. “The fact that Anne died instead of his intended target, it was absolutely impossible for him to handle. He could not bear it. He swore off the whole business after that. And I think he’s decided that if Mr. Hardy wishes to extract money from him, perhaps it’s a lesser price to pay, a bit of coin, rather than the life of a young and vibrant woman, who I think he felt a great deal of affection for.”
“Yes, as if she was a wild horse he couldn’t break!”
“Oh, you’re misunderstanding all of that. I don’t think he meant it the way you are taking it. I don’t truly think he thinks of women that way at all, but Beaumont has this way of saying things to make himself sound as if he is attracted to women.”
