“And why is she here?” The detective’s keen gaze was holding her own.
“Lady Adelia was wearing the perfume her brother gave her,” Owen pointed out as if that warranted her appearance at the station. “My sister’s!”
She glanced at his harsh expression. She supposed at any instant, he might turn her in for burning the handkerchiefs.
The detective sighed. “Lord Smythe—oh,smithandanvil, I see—what do you say to these charges?”
“I am innocent. I didn’t know Lord Burnley’s sister, and I had no reason to kill her. Even Lord Burnley must acknowledge that.”
Adelia watched Owen carefully. He frowned.
Detective Garrard asked him, “Did your sister ever make mention of Lord Smythe?”
“No,” Owen said, “but she did not make mention of any man who might be ready to kill her. That signifies nothing.”
“True,” the detective agreed, and Adelia’s heart sank. “But there is always a motive, especially in a case with premeditation such as this one.”
“Excuse me, detective,” she said, drawing his attention to her, “but could…could you explain what…what you mean?”
Blazes!She was so upset she could hardly speak.
“It means Lady Sophia’s murderer wasn’t unknown to her. He sent her a message, probably intending to kill her if she responded. And she did.”
Owen whirled away from them, apparently trying to pace, but the room was too small. He fisted his hands and took a step, then another, before turning back, his face flushed with anger. She ached for him, too.Poor man!
“In other words, this wasn’t a crime of strangers,” the detective continued. “It wasn’t a result of thievery or a moment’s passionate violence, if you’ll excuse my using such language.”
He paused and looked at her brother again. “On the other hand, I suppose the note could have been intended to invite her for a romantic assignation, which she refused. And thus, the murderer might have killed her, either intentionally or unintentionally.”
Owen made a sound of frustrated fury. “How could he kill her unintentionally with a rope around her neck?”
Adelia winced at his harsh words.
The detective hesitated, then said, “We shouldn’t discuss it in front of the lady, but there are people”—he coughed—“who engage in rough relations, including with ropes and whips.”
“Enough,” Owen bit out, although she had no idea why this angered him, nor did she understand what the detective was talking about.
“I did not kill her,” Thomas insisted as fervently as ever.
“Nevertheless, Lord Smythe, you shall have to be detained due to the evidence, which sounds substantial.” The detective spoke to Owen. “Please turn over everything you have. It will be needed in court.”
“Court!” Adelia hadn’t realized she’d said the word aloud.How was this possible?
“Don’t you want to ask my brother where he was on the day and at the time of Lady Sophia’s death? You can ask him questions now and discern his innocence.”
Owen had begun to empty his pockets—two handkerchiefs, one stained with Thomas’s blood, and the bottle of perfume.
“You already have the infernal note,” he said to the detective, who nodded.
“I am sorry, my lady. With such tangible evidence, I must keep your brother in custody, regardless of what he tells me tonight. Of course, he will be questioned, and he will be allowed to retain his own counsel for the trial. Perhaps you can go to one of the Inns of Court later today, after the sun comes up, and find him a lawyer who works with a criminal barrister in good standing. Take care to avoid the pettifoggers. There are plenty of sublime rascals, I assure you.”
Her mouth had dropped open as the detective spoke. Snapping it closed, she glanced at Thomas, feeling terror as she observed his grim face.Dear God!The outcome of the trial might depend upon the quality of the counsel she hired.
The small room suddenly seemed airless. If she didn’t keep breathing deeply, she thought she might faint. She looked at Owen, whose hooded gaze showed no affection or pity—no longer her friend, decidedly her foe.
If she swooned again, she had a feeling he would not catch her as he had once done.
“Very well,” she spoke directly to Thomas. “I promise, I’ll find you good counsel. I shall return later and tell you how I fared.” She put her arms around him.
