I stood, ignoring his sarcasm. I suppose I might have sounded a tad patronizing, but speaking from experience was one of the benefits of age. I paused at the door. “Most of the guests are quite eager to return home. Might I suggest that you advise them to remain until the magistrate can arrive? Questioning suspects would be difficult once they have dispersed about the country.”
“Had experience with that, have you?”
As his question was not anticipating a serious response, I merely gave him a small smile and left to do as he’d asked. Hopefully my fellow guests wouldn’t be too put out with me for advising that they remain.
The interviews seemed to go on forever. I’d had four cups of tea in the rear sitting room and one trip to the necessary as the guests and servants went to the constable one by one and gave their statements. I finishedSumma Theologica, much to the amusement of Mr. Ryder when he saw it in my hands. I pondered which of Aquinas’s four temptations, wealth, pleasure, power, or honor, would most likely seduce me into murder. I tallied up the remaining renovations that remained to be completed on The Minerva Club after a fire had damaged it last year. I was starting to count the fleur-de-lis on the paper that lined the wall when the constable joined us.
“Oh, thank heavens.” I sat up straight. “Have you finished with everyone?”
“For the most part.” He tucked his notebook into his jacket pocket. “I’d like to see the body now.”
Mr. Evans and I both rose. “Of course,” I said. I assumed the role of macabre host, showing the constable the dead body, before the attorney could. Holding out my hand, I indicated the main hall. “We can go out the front door.”
It was when I was digging out my walking stick from the cloakroom by the front door that I realized everyone was coming with us.
I couldn’t blame them. We had been trapped indoors for days, then forced to remain at a host-less house party. The tedium would make an excursion to the ice house seem exciting.
We tromped across the front drive and towards the hut by the pond. The ice house was circular, about ten feet in diameterand dug partially into the ground. Three worn steps led down to the wood door.
Constable Adams told us all to wait outside as he ducked his head and stepped inside. He had been sensible enough to bring an oil lamp with him, and a faint glow came from the open doorway.
We waited in hushed anticipation, as though we expected the constable to shout ‘Aha!’ But when he came out, he only shook his head sadly. “Thank you all for your continued patience. I’ll send for the magistrate immediately. He should be here either tomorrow or the next day. Remember, remain at Perrin Manor until then.”
There were some angry mutters, a few glares.
I lifted my chin. Really, what did they expect? The group started drifting back to the house.
“Miss Smith?” the constable said. “A moment.”
He didn’t ask me to remain, as well, but I felt it prudent.
Mr. Evans also stayed. “What is this about?” He took a step closer to Miss Smith.
“I only wanted to ask if Miss Smith was certain she didn’t strike Lord Perrin around the face.” Constable Adams crossed his arms over his chest. “If he was attacking you, it would be understandable that you would strike him.”
Miss Smith’s forehead wrinkled. “No, I don’t think so. I remember he grabbed my arm, then his hand went to my…” Her face flushed. “I pushed at his chest, just to try to get him off of me.”
“So you didn’t strike him?”
“She has answered that question.” Mr. Evans put himself between her and the constable, drawing his shoulders back. He seemed to grow taller, and for the first time I could imagine that he would be a force at the negotiating table. “If you are treatingMiss Smith as a suspect, I would recommend that she not speak to you without first consulting with a barrister.”
Constable Adams held up his hand. “I’m merely trying to get all the facts straight.”
I pushed my spectacles up my nose. His questions seemed specific. Had the constable seen something on the body that I’d missed? I hadn’t noticed any signs of a struggle when I’d looked at Perrin, but perhaps they had taken time to appear.
“I’ve gathered all the information I can for today.” The constable looked at me. “Lady Mary, before we leave, can you give me the direction for Lord Perrin’s sons? I’m certain the magistrate will want to contact them.”
I looked at the constable’s expectant face then at the ice house. I wanted to have another look at the body, but I didn’t think Constable Adams would allow it. My eyebrows drew down. “One moment,” I said to him before walking to Miss Smith and Mr. Evans.
I lowered my voice. “Check for any marks on Perrin’s head and face. It sounds like we missed something.”
Miss Smith’s mouth dropped open. “You want us to what?”
Evans looked at Miss Smith. He nodded. “I’ll take care of it.
“We can’t—”
“Lady Mary?” Constable Evans interrupted Miss Smith’s objection.
