“Remember the Christmas we all spent here, you and Cavindish, me and my wife and sister?” Bertram turned, his gaze looking as though it were seeing something far away. He tapped his hand against his thigh. “What a grand time we had.”
Bertram had forgotten to include Lord Perrin in that assembly, but I understood why. The holiday would have been all the more merry if Perrin had stayed more to his rooms. “It was a lovely time,” I agreed. And it had been. We’d come together at a time when my marriage was still young and hopeful. Even when we’d lost a bit of that hope, Cavindish and I had still enjoyed our life together, but once we’d tasted that first bitterness of sorrow, even the good times were slightly tainted.
I cleared the lump from my throat. “I remember your wife leading us in the carols. She was quite an accomplished musician.”
“I can play the pianoforte.” Miss Walker leaned forward. “After dinner tonight, I can entertain us.”
Only Mr. Ryder made a sign of encouragement for that idea.
Bertram cocked his head. “I wouldn’t think those would be fond memories for you, Lady Mary.”
“Why is that?”
He lifted one shoulder. “Perrin mentioned you weren’t happy in your marriage.”
I sucked in a breath, my jaw locking. I didn’t know what angered me more: that Perrin would say such a thing or thatBertram would repeat it here in front of others. Bertram had forgotten his manners.
My spine went straight. “I can assure you that wasn’t the case. Cavindish and I were very happy.”
“As you say.” Bertram ran his hand up the back of his head. “I should go. I have a letter to write.” He put his cup down on the sideboard and left the room.
His exodus started the others leaving. Mr. Ryder rose. “Can I interest you in a game of speculation?” he asked me.
“I thought you didn’t approve of card games.” I was still annoyed at Bertram and might have let that irritation flow unjustly onto Mr. Ryder.
His chocolate eyes twinkled. “I’ve never said that, though it is amusing how you try to twist my words to keep me your bogeyman. Perhaps another time.”
Hmph. And because I didn’t know to which room Ryder had retreated, only knowing he was no longer in this one, I refilled my cup of tea, added an extra lump of sugar, and reseated myself. Only I and Mr. Evans remained.
Mr. Evans moved chairs to sit across from me. “I hope you don’t mind my joining you for another cup of tea.”
I inclined my head.
Evans took a sip then gently placed his cup before him. “I also hope you won’t mind the impudence, but was there an issue in your marriage?”
“I do mind the impudence.” I glared at the attorney. “Very much.”
He sighed. “I don’t mean to pry, and if Perrin hadn’t been killed I wouldn’t dream of it, but as you yourself have pointed out, we need to investigate anyone who might have a reason to want the earl dead.”
“And you think I have one?” My eyebrows shot up.
He tapped his index finger on the table. “I hope not. Perrin asked me a couple months ago about England’s libel laws. He wanted to write a letter toThe Times,hoping it would be published for all and sundry to see. He said someone had wronged his family and wanted that person to pay.”
I drew back. “Me?”
“He didn’t say. But he also said he had to consider his actions carefully as he didn’t want disgrace to fall on his family by the association, which led me to believe it was someone close to his family. And Perrin never had anything nice to say about you.”
I swallowed. What exactly had Perrin known about my marriage to his brother? There was no way he could know the truth. Cavindish would never have spoken of it, not even to his brother, and I had never unburdened myself to anyone, not even to Jane.
But Perrin had been needling me since I’d arrived, seeming to hold some specific animus against me.
No. I pushed my spectacles up my nose. He couldn’t have known. “I don’t know whom Perrin was speaking of, but I can assure you he had nothing to write to a paper about me. I wasn’t overly fond of my brother-in-law, but I had no reason to kill him.”
Evans studied me and slowly nodded. “Of course, my lady. I had to ask.”
As I was poking my nose into everyone else’s business, I had a hard time faulting him for turning the tables on me. That didn’t mean I liked it.
I stood. “Good day, Mr. Evans.” I swept from the room, my mind going back again and again to one question.
