“The very one. He courted Mary for several years. I don’t remember all the specifics, as I was only six when they parted ways. What I do know is, my father did not approve of the match and Mary was devastated.”
“Then why would she do the same thing to you?”
Byron ran a hand through his hair. “Just two years after that, she lost one of her closest friends and confidants.” He looked away, his voice going hoarse. “Our sister Catherine.”
Mira’s mouth went dry. “I didn’t know you had any other sisters.”
“There were three others, actually. Catherine, Edith, and Alice. And each of them died when they turned twenty-one.”Byron swallowed. “It felt like a curse. One after another, a few years apart. And then father died. With each funeral, Mary became more and more protective of the rest of us.”
“Oh.”
“As I’m the youngest, and younger than her by sixteen years, she’s all the more protective of me.”
Mira laid her head on his shoulder. “Then no one will ever be good enough for her.”
He brought her hand up to his lips. “Thank goodness she’s not the one who gets to decide.”
They fell into silence for the rest of the ride, Byron running his thumb over the back of her hand.
***
If the Risewells were surprised to havethe police on their doorstep again, they hid it well. They spoke briefly to Mr. and Mrs. Risewell, learned that Theresia was out riding again, and headed out to the top of the West Ledge.
Byron crouched by the edge. “The ice has melted some since yesterday, but you can see the tracks well enough, can’t you inspector?”
“Yes. I can.” Rutledge folded his arms, puffing on a cigarette. “But I don’t see how this changes anything. He stole a horse and fell from it.”
“If I’m right, it’s a bit more complicated than that.” Byron stood, brushing himself off. “Come down to where we found the dagger.”
They trekked along the path and found the place marked with sticks. “Miss Blayse, would you refresh our memory on where you found the body?” Byron asked.
Mira frowned, looking up the slope and then out past the fence line, determining where it had been. She moved to stand a few feet away from where they found the dagger.
“About here, I’d say.”
“I’d agree to that,” Inspector Rutledge said.
“If the dagger had merely fallen from his pocket, surely it would have been found closer to the body, or underneath it,” Byron said. “But if the knife was in his hand at the time, the distance can be accounted for. And what reason would he have to draw his knife, unless there was an assailant?”
“You think it was murder?” Constable Welter asked.
“I think there is more to the story than meets the eye. Whether it was murder or not does not preclude the necessity of discovering the truth.”
“Ho there!” Walker called from the top of the ledge.
The whole group looked up at him.
Byron waved, calling back. “Was I right?”
“Down to the letter!”
Byron let out a satisfied sigh. “I thought I would be.” Louder, he said. “Meet us by the stable!”
Walker nodded and disappeared from view.
“What’s this all about, Constantine?” Rutledge asked.
“The missing necklace. We’ve found it.”
