“Uh…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “No, milady, but please make yourself available for the magistrate when he arrives.”
I nodded, my smile tight. Mr. Taylor’s little outburst might very well have placed me near the top of the suspect list. And if the investigation centered around me, it would ignore the true culprit.
I left the room, chin high, with as much dignity as I could muster. I heard Jane following behind, but I didn’t turn my head.
“My lady.” Jane wheezed behind me. “Don’t take what that young scoundrel said to heart. He knows nothing.”
“I realize that.” Even if Taylor believed Perrin’s ravings, he would know little of the truth. I pushed into my bedroom. “You should have told me you saw Taylor sneaking about. You know I’m investigating Perrin’s murder.”
Jane shut the door behind her. “Oh, is that what we’re going to talk about? Nice diversion.”
“No diversion.” I went to the window and peered out. The surface of the pond glinted in the sun, blinding. “That is the only topic worth speaking of.”
Jane went to my bed and sat on the edge. “Fine. I hesitated to tell you because I know you are investigating. I’m not sure it’s good for you.”
“Investigating?”
Jane pointed a crooked finger at me. “The last time you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong, your club was almost burned down and you were almost killed.”
I arched an eyebrow. “That is a gross exaggeration.” Though the repair bills to The Minerva Club might argue to the contrary.
Jane sniffed. “You run a ladies’ club. You’re the aunt of a duke, a member of high society. I don’t think becoming a lady detective is an asset to either of those endeavors.”
The edges of my lips curled. I quite liked the sound of ‘lady detective.’ But my humor was short-lived. “Someone in this house killed Perrin. The authorities might very well think I had a hand in it. You must see that I have to look into the matter myself.”
Jane shook her head sadly. “No. If it were any normal person, I wouldn’t see that.” She sighed. “But since it is you, I will have to accept it.”
I went to the small desk in the room and busied my hands straightening the few pieces of paper resting on top. Jane should know my character by now. We had seen each other through both great joy and sorrow. Still, there were some things I had thought remained private.
“How did you know?” I asked softly.
She pushed off the bed and came to stand behind me. She rested one hand on my shoulder. “About the decision you and Cavindish made?”
I nodded.
“It’s near impossible to keep a secret from one’s lady’s maid, and absolutely impossible when that lady’s maid is me.” She squeezed my shoulder. “I knew how much you and the master wanted children. What you decided…it was hard, but it was the logical thing to do.”
I crossed my arm over my chest and grasped her hand. The back of my throat burned, and it was a moment before I could speak. “Hiring you was the best decision I ever made.”
“In point of fact, you didn’t hire me. Your father did, and then your husband continued my employment.”
I huffed out a laugh and pushed her hand away. The other advantage of having Jane as my maid was she always knew when to lighten the moment. “And I could have terminated your employment at any point. I still can.”
She snorted and went to lay out a dress for dinner.
I returned to organizing the already organized desk. Jane was right. It had been the logical action to take.
But I didn’t know any longer if it had been the right one.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lady Mary
Well, we hadfinally done it. We had given in to Miss Walker’s imprecations for an after-dinner entertainment, and now we all paid the price.
I huddled in my chair, hoping the large wings on it would make me invisible to the woman. I had refused to play Blindman’s Bluff, much to her irritation, and I feared I wouldn’t be able to escape her next suggestion, either.
Miss Walker clapped her hands together. “Charades it is,” she exclaimed, even though no one had agreed to that idea. “Who will go first?”
