The constable held up his hand. “This discussion is fruitless. What I would like to know is if anyone saw someone in the attics who shouldn’t have been there. Marie said she heard noises two nights past.”
“That was the night the windows in Perrin’s study were broken.” Miss Smith rested her hand at the base of her throat. “The night Lady Mary and I heard noises in the hallway and went to investigate. I saw something by the stairs up to the servants’ quarters, but I thought my eyes were merely playing tricks on me.”
Lord Havenstone hmphed. “You most likely just saw a servant retiring for the night.”
Possibly. It did seem odd that the killer would wait so long to dispose of the vial, but someone disturbed enough in mind to murder might not be thinking clearly. I thought about the shadow that I’d seen days earlier. Had it been the killer creeping up to the attics to hide the vial?
I was surprised when my Jane stepped forward. “It wasn’t the middle of the night like Marie said, but I saw Mr. Taylor going up to the attics that evening.” She shrugged at my look. “My rheumatism was flaring up. You know I like to walk to ease the pain.”
Mr. Taylor pushed off the wall he was leaning against. “I had every right to be up in the attics. It’s where the paper supply is kept.”
“As your employer is now dead, what did you need the paper for?” Mr. Evans gave the secretary a smile worthy of a shark.
“I have inquiries to make, don’t I?” Mr. Taylor’s face went red. “A new position to find. I won’t be the one who is implicated in his death.”
His excuse made sense. A secretary who suddenly found himself without a position would send out inquiries. However, if his boasting to Miss Smith about having enough money to marryher bore any truth, then he might not be looking for another position. On the other hand, if his claim to future blunt was his assumption that Mr. Smith would provide for the married couple, and Miss Smith turned him down, perhaps he had gone back to seeking honest employment.
I rubbed my temple. “I don’t suppose you have any evidence of these inquiries? The addressed letters? Any responses?”
“I’ve already sent out the letters, and it’s too early for any responses, but the butler can tell you I gave him letters for the post.”
We all looked to the butler, and he nodded. “They went with Lady Mary’s letter and two of Mr. Smith’s.”
Mr. Taylor sneered. “I can understand why you would want to divert attention to someone else. With what Perrin knew about you, you have the most reason of anyone to wish him dead.”
My stomach turned a lazy spiral. “What are you talking about?”
“The earl wanted to ruin you,” Taylor said. “He knew the truth about your marriage to his brother. Knew you weren’t the doting wife you pretended to be.”
I slowly straightened in my seat. “There was no pretense. I loved my husband.” And there was no way Perrin knew about my and Cavindish’s issues. Cavindish would never have spoken of them to anyone.
Mr. Evans stalked forward, looming over the shorter man. “You’d best be careful what you say next, Mr. Taylor. We have laws against slander in this country. Your insinuations against a respected member of society would not go without a response.”
“It isn’t my words but Lord Perrin’s,” Taylor said. “I’m merely repeating what he told me, on many occasions. He asked my opinion on how best to format his letters to the newspapers.”
“And did Perrin explicitly state just what he was accusing Lady Mary of?” Constable Adams asked.
“Well, no.” Taylor frowned. “He gave hints and insinuations, but it wasn’t difficult to surmise his meaning. Let’s just say Lady Mary is no lady.”
I barely heard the shocked gasps in the room over the blood pounding through my ears.
Next to me, Mr. Ryder gripped the armrests of his chair, his fingers going white.
Jane hobbled forward. “That’s all that I want to hear from the likes of you.” She poked Taylor’s thin chest. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. My mistress—”
“Jane.” I held up my hand, pasting on a smile I was nowhere near feeling. “There is no need to defend my honor, mainly because I have done nothing to injure it. My husband and I had no secrets between the two of us, and we loved each other very much.” Love hadn’t been the problem. But love hadn’t been enough to solve our problems.
Mr. Smith dipped his head in my direction. “Those of us who know you would never doubt that, my lady. No one of value will heed any such rumors.”
I appreciated the sentiment, especially considering my acquaintance with the gentleman extended less than a week. I didn’t know if I would be so fortunate in my support back in London, however. I was already thought eccentric. I ran a club for women that was disgraceful in many eyes.
I made a point not to look in Mr. Ryder’s direction. I could only guess his thoughts on the matter.
No, I was under no illusions that if Perrin’s accusations became public knowledge, my reputation would take a severe hit. Aside from the effect it might have on my club’s membership, I wasn’t sure I cared.
I did care if anyone thought worse of my husband, however.
I pushed to standing. “As exciting as this conversation is,” I said dryly, “I have correspondence of my own to attend. I assume my presence is no longer needed this afternoon?” I asked the constable.
