He grabbed her wrist. “We cannot disturb the body before the constable arrives.” Nor after. Why anyone would want to touch a dead body, much less a lady of quality, was a question he didn’t want to ponder.
“Of course, you’re right.” Lady Mary stepped aside as a footman appeared with a heavy wool blanket.
Henry took one end, the footman the other, and they gently draped the cloth over Perrin. The bulge from the knife under the shroud almost made the tableau more obscene, if that were possible.
“Now, the sitting room, my lady?” When Henry guided her out of the hall, this time, she allowed it.
The rear sitting room was spacious, taking up half the length of Perrin Manor’s back wall. With all the guests and all the servants crowding into it, however, it felt stifling. Tea and coffee had been distributed, along with stronger spirits, and clusters of people hovered in small groups speaking in hushed tones. Instead of joining her fellow guests, Lady Mary headed straight for a group of maids, leaning in to whisper something in her lady’s maid’s ear.
“Bloody hell.” Lord Havenstone lifted one foot to peer at the bottom of his boot. “I’ve stepped in something and tracked it on the rug.”
Henry frowned. Everyone had experienced a great shock, but that was little excuse for poor language in front of women.
A maid stepped forward, clasping her hands. “I’m sorry, my lord. When I heard the scream, I dropped a glass of wine I was clearing. I’ll get something to clean it up.”
“Oh, wait until morning for any cleaning.” Lady Mary squeezed her maid’s arm, then found the nearest chair to drop into. “After such a nasty business, no one should have to clean. Everyone, avoid that wet spot near the sideboard.”
“Is everyone here?” Henry looked to the butler.
“Yes. Well, everyone except Cook Clem. He still remains abed.” There was a round of forlorn sighs before the butler continued. Perrin’s famed chef had been a draw to many of the guests for accepting his invitation, Henry knew. His illness and temporary replacement with a less experienced cook had been much lamented. “But the stable master and all his men are here, along with every other servant.”
“Where’s the dog?” Lady Mary looked at her ankles, as though expecting the terrier to appear at any moment.
“We put him in a room with food and a warm bed.” The butler scratched his head. “We didn’t want him getting into…well, with the body there, we didn’t want….”
Henry nodded. “Quite right. For those who might yet be unaware, Lord Perrin’s body was found at the bottom of the main staircase with a knife in his chest.” Henry rubbed his own chest. It must have hurt, Perrin’s death. Did he not have time to cry out in pain?
“Who found him?” Lady Mary asked.
A red-haired maid raised her hand. “I did. Me and Bob, ’ere. We were going upstairs to check on that one leak, see if thebucket needed emptying. But we didn’t ’ave nothing to do with the lord’s death.”
The butler drew his shoulders back. “Of course not, Marie. No one would think you had.”
Henry was silent. He wouldn’t have thought anyone here could have done such a thing, but obviously, he’d been wrong. Someone had.
“I can’t believe he’s gone.” Mr. Taylor wiped his brow with his handkerchief. “He was always so good to me.”
That Henry found difficult to believe. Lord Perrin had treated Henry, a solicitor, with barely disguised contempt. And attorneys were a step above personal secretaries in the hierarchy of society. But perhaps Perrin had treated the man who worked with him day to day better.
Or perhaps the shock of sudden death had erased some of Taylor’s more unpleasant memories of the earl.
“And an even better neighbor.” Miss Walker dabbed at her eyes. “Always so generous.”
A bark of laughter burst from Mr. Smith’s lips, his bushy eyebrows quivering. He had the grace to look embarrassed at his lack of decorum. “I’m sorry. I believe one shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but that doesn’t mean one has to lionize them, either. Not when it isn’t warranted.”
In my dealings with Miss Katherine Smith’s father, I had no problem believing that the man only spoke his mind. He’d been most vocal in his objections when he’d learned of the change in terms in the marriage contract. Perrin’s office had nearly shaken from the oaths and insults Mr. Smith had shouted. He’d made Lord Perrin quite aware what he thought of him in life. Why should he stop in death?
“Here, here.” Mr. Bertram Withers, Perrin’s brother-in-law, raised his glass. “Not everyone is deserving of tears.”
“How can you say that?” Miss Walker daubed a handkerchief under her eyes. “He was the best of men.”
Lady Havenstone, seated near Miss Walker, leaned over and patted the woman’s knee. “I’m sure he’ll be greatly missed.”
“Not everyone will miss him.” Lady Mary leaned back and stared at the ceiling. A lock of her white hair escaped their pins. “Somebody stabbed him.”
That set off another round of tears from Miss Walker and several female servants. Miss Smith, Henry noted, the victim’s intended, remained dry-eyed. The marriage had seemed more a business arrangement than love match, and a business arrangement that showed all the signs of crumbling. Henry wouldn’t blame the woman for feeling some relief. He dragged his gaze from her face when Lady Mary continued speaking.
“There wouldn’t have been much time,” the lady said. “After Mr. Taylor picked up the knife, it wasn’t more than ten minutes that we’d left this room unoccupied for the killer to pick it up and use it.”
