“Oh?” I held my knife poised above the meat. “I thought you and your husband had also ridden yesterday, before lunch.”
Mr. Ryder caught my gaze and shook his head. To him, at least, my subterfuge was apparent. But I’d always known the man had a brain behind his handsome face. Unfortunately, he’d used said brain once too often in opposition to me.
“No, we rested before lunch.” She shivered. “After nearly being shot by Mr. Taylor, I needed time alone in my room.”
“Alone?” I brought a bite of the bird to my lips. My eyes involuntarily closed in appreciation at how succulent the meat was.
“Well, alone with my husband.” Lady Havenstone also popped a bit of pheasant in her mouth and paused in appreciation. She patted the baron’s hand. “Though I’m afraid I wasn’t very good company for him. I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.”
“Just being in your presence is company enough, asleep or no.” Havenstone met my gaze. “Why the questions?”
“Just making conversation.” I busied myself with my meal. So Lord Havenstone had no alibi. A sleeping wife couldn’t attest that he’d remained in their room. He could have snuck out to kill Mr. Taylor.
How much blood would have been on the killer’s clothes? Would his wife have noticed any stains once she’d awoken? And if the killer had gotten blood on his or her clothes, would they have been foolish enough to leave them out for the servants to clean?
I needed to speak with Marie again, but I couldn’t do anything until dinner was over. So I put thoughts of murder out of my mind and enjoyed the meal with everyone else. I would also need to speak with Cook Clem again. I needed him in my kitchen. I’d never tasted a dish so exquisite.
Mr. Ryder must have agreed. “I do hope I’ll have a chance to partake of Clem’s cooking after we leave. I’ve never tasted the like.”
“Only if I invite you to my house for dinner.” I dragged a piece of meat through the sauce pooled on my plate. I chuckled at the thought. “And that is highly unlikely, as you know.”
Mr. Ryder dipped his chin. “‘Count not thy chickens that unhatched be.’”
I pressed my lips together. I had my own sayings. “‘Fortune favors the bold.’” And boldness was something I never lacked.
Lady Havenstone frowned. “It is most unseemly the two of you trying to take Cook Clem. Have you no thought for the nextLord Perrin? How he might wish to keep his father’s chef in his employ?”
From what I remembered of Perrin’s sons, I liked the boys, but the next earl would have to make his bid for the cook along with the rest of us. However, perhaps that was a point better left unsaid.
The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. The mood of everyone seemed to lift with the intake of the excellent food. Accusatory glances faded and friendly conversations ensued. The power of a well-cooked meal was not to be underestimated. When the last morsel had been devoured and the plates scraped clean, we all stood to retire once again to the sitting room.
Marie stood at the door leading from the dining room into the hall. She held the end of her apron clenched in her hands, and when she caught my eye, used the hem to wave me over. The rest of my compatriots were filing into the sitting room through the adjoining door. I held back so they might not notice my clandestine meeting with the maid. But before half of the guests had left the room, something caught Marie’s notice and she froze. A blush darkened her cheeks and she dropped her gaze to the floor.
I looked over, wondering who could have caused that reaction in the bold young miss. Only the Havenstones, Bertram, and Mr. Ryder lingered by the door, waiting for the slow moving crowd to push through the doorway so they, too, could make their way into the sitting room.
I pushed my spectacles up my nose. How very odd. Yet another question to ask the girl.
But when I turned back toward the outer doorway, I found it empty. Marie had disappeared.
Chapter Thirty
Lady Mary
Ihadn’t sleptwell, and I let the cause of my insomnia know it was her fault. “You said you’d come back to speak with me. I waited up half the night but you never showed.”
Jane ran a brush down my ivory locks, pulling a bit harder than necessary at a knot. “I saidifI learned anything I’d return. I didn’t, so I didn’t.”
I glared at her wrinkled face reflected in the sitting room mirror. It looked to be the start of a glorious day. Birds chirruped outside my window. The rising sun glinted off the pond. The color of the sky was almost an exact match to my eyes.
I appreciated none of it. “You knew I’d wait. What happened? Was there another card game you felt too important to miss?” My tone was snappish. I didn’t like it, but couldn’t quite find it in myself to moderate it. I needed a large cup of chocolate this morning if my mood was to turn about.
“You’d be surprised at how much I can learn at those card games.” Jane laid down the brush and twisted my hair. Years may have bent her fingers, but even rheumatism couldn’t stop the expert way she handled my ivory locks. I’d worn my hair in the same style for thirty years. She’d had a lot of experience.
“And?” I tapped my foot against the floor. “Did you learn something useful?”
Jane stepped back and blew out a breath. “Something strange is going on here. I asked about Marie like you wanted meto, and it was like I’d let Southey do his business on the eating table. No one would tell me anything, only that she’s left.”
“Left?” I drew my shoulders back, a bad feeling spiraling in my stomach. “She wouldn’t have just left. Not when she wanted to speak with me.” And not when I needed to speak with her. I didn’t need any more barricades in my path. It wasn’t fair.
