Well, well! Nate thought.And so the plot thickens.
Chapter Twenty
“So, Lady Mathesonlikely knew George Otis before they ‘met’ here in Westmorland,” Bridget said in wonder, her brain still digesting the information after they’d dismissed Louisa and sent for Gerald.
“Yes, it seems that way.” Nate ran a hand through his wavy black hair and went to pour himself a brandy. “I am forced to question myself at every turn now.” He sat beside Bridget with his drink in hand. “I was utterly convinced that Collins had killed Otis. It made complete sense—what with their contentious history and the symbolism of leaving his desecrated body in the daffodils. And now it appears a jealous footman, turned driver, may have done it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, when Sir Roald died, his entire estate went to his heir, and Gerald helped Lady Matheson steal valuables from the house and then aided in her escape. So, he was likely in love with her. In which case, he’d have been jealous of her relationship with Otis. And if Lady Matheson rejected him after Otis’s death—well, a spurned lover is a powerful motive.”
“True, but let’s not jump to conclusions again….” Seeing the sharp look on Nate’s face, Bridget stopped her words. “I didn’t mean to say that you were—”
“No, you’re right. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing.” Nate drained his glass and set it on the desk. “First Collins, then Angert, now Gerald. We have no proof whatsoever.”
“We are theorizing. It’s a process of elimination. That’s all. It’s necessary.”
“Except we have eliminated no one,” Nate said dryly.
Just then, a knock sounded on the door, and Gerald entered. He was a strikingly tall and well-built young man, with a head of short dark curls, hazel eyes, and a sharp face.
Nate started with the questions the moment the young man sat down. “Can you tell us what position you held in Sir Roald’s home?”
The young man’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed. “I were a footman, sir.”
“For how long?”
“Just over three years, sir.”
“And after Sir Roald died, you decided to leave with Lady Matheson. Why?”
“There were to be a new baronet coming, and none of us knew if we were to keep our positions. I thought it were best to go with the lady. She promised me permanent employment.”
“So you left to secure your future?” Nate scoffed. “I think not. You would have been better off staying and getting a reference to find a new position had the new baronet decided not to keep you on. After all, you knew that Lady Matheson didn’t have a lot of money—didn’t you? She was reduced to stealing jewelry, candlesticks, and banknotes from her husband’s estate before she left. So your reasons for giving up your position in the house don’t make sense. It seems like you took a great risk.”
Gerald shifted in his seat.
“I think your motives were somewhat different,” Nate said. “By leaving with Lady Matheson, you were helping her escape, rather than helping yourself. The question is, why?”
“Louisa said the new baronet would have Lady Matheson locked away in one of those asylums. They are horrible places. She didn’t deserve that. She always treated me well.”
“But she was kept upstairs, away from the rest of the household. When did you have contact with Lady Matheson?”
“During her walks, mostly. I would follow behind Lady Matheson and Louisa to make sure everyone was safe.”
“Hmm. So, I expect you got to know Lady Matheson well during those times.”
Gerald shrugged.
“She was a very handsome woman,” Nate said. Bridget watched for Gerald’s reaction, but he appeared unmoved and simply shrugged again.
“Were you in love with her?” Nate said abruptly. Bridget held her breath. She could not help but feel sympathy for the driver.
“Inlovewith her?” Gerald frowned. “She were the age of my mama, sir. How should I have been in love with a woman of those…years?”
“That is of no matter. She was beautiful and richer than you were. Why else would you risk helping her escape—with stolen goods, I might add?”
“I told you why,” Gerald said, shifting in his seat again.
