“Why do you say that?” I asked.
Marie wrinkled her nose. “She’s not as nice as she puts on. She can be cruel, she can. Said some right nasty things to Mrs. Draper, and when that lady fell off of the master’s ’orse, Miss Walker laughed. Didn’t think anyone was around to ’ear it, but I did.”
Miss Smith gave me a look full of triumph. “She has a streak of viciousness in her, it would appear.”
I flapped my hand at her. “Was Mrs. Draper badly injured?”
“Some nasty scrapes and bruises, but nothing more serious.”
Miss Smith leaned against the back of a settee. “How did Mrs. Draper fall from the horse? Did someone startle it?”
Did Miss Walker startle it, she meant. Miss Smith was determined to make Miss Walker the villain. But was she wrong?
“No, miss. The girth snapped, throwing ’er off while she was galloping.” Marie picked up her bucket.
The maid seemed eager to get back to work, but I was loath to let her go. She was turning out to be quite the valuable font of information. “Were you able to check the case in Lord Havenstone’s room?” I ignored the look Miss Smith shot me. I wasn’t going to feel guilty that I’d asked the maid to keep spying on the guests.
“Oh, I forgot.” She put the bucket back down and slid a folded bit of paper from the cuff of her sleeve. She handed it to me. “A list of the labels for each potion. None of the vials were empty.”
“Why is that significant?” Miss Smith asked.
I scanned the paper as Marie answered. I didn’t recognize many of the potion names, but one did catch my eye.Belladonna. So it was confirmed. Havenstone did have access to a potential poison.
“I just thought if I were to poison someone, I’d dump the whole lot in the wine. Make sure to get the job done.”
And the belladonna vial hadn’t been empty. Havenstone could have brought a second vial. Or perhaps a lethal dose was smaller than I’d expect. “Thank you, Marie.” I tucked the paper up my own sleeve. “You’ve been most helpful.”
She dipped a curtsy, picking up the bucket in the same motion. Most economical, I thought. “Yes, ma’am. Well, more pawprints to clean. I’m off.” And with that parting shot, she left.
“I told you Miss Walker was a good suspect.” Miss Smith walked around the settee and dropped onto it, pulling one of her books off the side table and onto her lap.
I sniffed. “What are you reading?”
“These are home apothecary books. I’m looking for any garden remedies that could be poisonous in excess and what the symptoms of the poisoning would be. If we can match Lord Perrin’s symptoms with one of the poisons, it might narrow down the suspect list.”
I was impressed. “I thought you weren’t going to investigate, only keep your eyes and ears open?”
Miss Smith raised a shoulder. “Reading is only using my eyes. Besides, Miss Walker has mentioned she has gardens of her own. I’ll wager that the poison used was one she grows at home.”
I sat next to her. “Don’t close your mind to other possibilities. Now, give me a book. I’ll help with your research.” And see if any of Havenstone’s potions were listed in these books.
But Havenstone didn’t seem as promising a suspect as he once had. Could Miss Walker have tampered with the saddle’s girth? And if she had tried to kill once before, how much easier would the second attempt have been?
Chapter Fifteen
Henry
The red ballmeandered toward the corner pocket, hovering at the edge of the drop before dipping inside. Henry put his cue stick down and nodded to Lord Havenstone. “Thank you for the game.”
Havenstone blew out a breath. “Nice for you, perhaps. I need a less talented player to go against. Withers?”
Mr. Withers appeared to take no offense and picked up the cue.
Henry turned to the other men in the room. It was after dinner, and all of the men had gathered in the billiards room, drinks of their choice clasped in their hands. Henry hoped the alcohol would loosen tongues.
He went to the sideboard and picked up the decanter of whiskey. “A refill, Mr. Smith?”
“Damn right.” The man of business held up his glass and took the generous pour with a smile.
