“Yes. I just wanted to confirm that our last guest arrived after Lord Perrin’s body was found?”
“He did.” The man rubbed his bristly jaw. “We had a hell—” He cleared his throat. “A difficult time getting his carriage from the road. We’ll be cleaning mud from the axles for a long time.”
I nodded. I hadn’t truly thought Mr. Ryder would be involved in Perrin’s death, but it was nice to be able to eliminate him as a suspect altogether. “This is a delicate question, but with your master dead, murdered, the time for delicacy is over. Do any of you know any reason why someone would want to harm Lord Perrin? Has he had any threats made against him recently? Any enemies you know of?”
Everyone looked to the butler. He grimaced. “I think I can speak for all the servants when I say the master wasn’t the easiest man to work for. He was as free with his tongue withhis associates as he was with us.” He ran his fingers through his thinning hair. “But I know of no specific threat against him.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. I said my goodnights and made my way up to the first floor where my guest room was. My lady’s maid, Jane, was there to meet me with a small brandy and an exasperated look.
“I can’t say I’ll cry any tears over your brother-in-law, but another murder?” She shook her head, a lock of iron-grey hair escaping from her cap. Jane had been with me since I was but a child of ten. Although her back may have bent and her step become unsure, she had lost no strength in her tongue.
Toeing off my slippers, I dropped into the tufted chair by the window. “You act as though it is my fault another person has been killed in my vicinity.” I sipped the brandy, feeling the need for a good brood coming on.
Jane dragged the dressing chair from its position and sat across from me. “Of course, it’s not your fault, but you’re going to put your nose into this, aren’t you?”
I slouched deeper into the cushions. “We are staying under the same roof as a killer.” Perhaps. Perhaps Perrin had simply fallen down the stairs? But why put the knife in his chest? “I must ask some questions, at least until the magistrate or constable arrives.” I looked toward the window. The curtains were drawn, but the sound of pounding rain hadn’t lessened one whit. It might be days until a message could be sent out, much less have the authorities arrive. I handed Jane my glass, and she tossed back the rest of the liquor.
“I’ve asked the servants whether they know any reason someone would harm Perrin and received no answer other than Perrin’s disagreeable nature.” My mind flashed to all the little digs he’d thrown my way in the short time I’d been at his home. My husband’s brother had certainly been unlikeable. He’d had a motive with his pointed remarks toward me, one I probablynow would never know. “But they aren’t likely to be completely forthright with me. If you could ask around, see if you can learn more….”
Jane sighed heavily. “I suppose there isn’t anything better to do, what with being trapped indoors. I’ll see if I hear anything.”
If boredom was the only reason to gain her assistance, I’d take it. Jane hadn’t approved of my investigation into the murder at my club last year, and it didn’t seem as though her view had changed even though the victim was now a relation.
Perrin had been one of the last connections I’d had to my husband. I blinked against the burn in my eyes. I mourned that loss, but I couldn’t say that I mourned the man himself.
I sighed. I wasn’t the sort to dwell in malaise, but this day was trying my self-possession.
And the worst part was, most of my sorrow was just me feeling bad that I didn’t feel sadder about Perrin’s death.
Chapter Six
Lady Mary
The house wasquiet at this time of morning, only the incessant rain sounding as it plinked against the slate shingles while the sky lightened to mercury gray.
The maid from last night, the one who’d asked about looking for employment, emerged from the rear sitting room, a bundle of cloth held as far from her body as she could possibly stretch her arm. When she caught sight of me, she grimaced. “Oh, milady. I didn’t think any guests would be awake yet. I’ve just started cleaning the sitting room.” She shook the bundle. “I think this fellow partook too much. I found ’im nose-down in the spilled wine.”
“The wine?” My mind raced, any cobwebs from sleep quickly evaporating. “You found an animal dead in the wine?”
There was a scrabbling of nails, an excited yip. Southey ran circles around my skirts, his rear end wriggling like mad.
The maid sniffed. “If this one ’ad done ’is job, I wouldn’t ’ave to be cleaning up dead mice.”
The terrier got a little too familiar poking his nose under my skirt, and I gave him a gentle tap with my toes. “Can I have it? The mouse?” I held out my hand.
She blinked. “All right,” she said, drawing out the words. She passed it over and wiped her hands on her apron.
“What’s your name?” Southey must have sniffed out my new possession because he started leaping for the bundle, barking to wake the house.
“Marie Murphy.” She gave me a quick curtsy. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get rid of it?”
“Get rid of what?”
I started at the voice behind me. Mr. Evans stepped to my side and looked down at the dog. “Hush.”
Amazingly, the dog did.
“A mouse died in the sitting room.” Marie nodded her head back toward the room. “Lady Mary asked to ’ave it.” The maid’s tone indicated what she thought of my request.
