A few of the men went to the billiards room after dinner, but everyone else made their way to the sitting room. There was packing to be done and early morning travels for some, but no one seemed eager to retire. Even though there weren’t many friends among the guests, it did feel as though they were the survivors of some natural disaster. Rescue was imminent, but departing after everything they’d been through together felt like a solemn event. One that should be respected.
Lady Mary took Katherine’s elbow and dragged her to the corner of the room. “We need to talk.”
“All right.” Katherine shook the older woman loose and rubbed her arm. “What is it? And what were all those strange hints at dinner? I didn’t understand a one of them.”
“It’s all a part of my plan.” She peered over Katherine’s shoulder and lowered her voice. “I’m setting a trap for the killer. I laid the foundation at dinner with my hints about someone not leaving tomorrow. Now we must be overheard saying the magistrate told me he will be making an arrest in the morning.”
“Did he tell you that?”
Lady Mary sighed. “Of course not. It wouldn’t be much of a trap then. It would only be the truth.”
Katherine crossed her arms over her chest. “To what end? How, exactly, do you expect this trap to spring?”
Lady Mary spoke to her slowly, as though she were a particularly dull-witted child. “When the killer hears he or she is to be arrested in the morning, he will take a runner tonight. I’ve put the stable master on alert, and we’ll be staying up to watch who tries to leave.”
“What will we be doing?” Henry strolled up to them, a cup of steaming tea in his hand. He gave it to Katherine. “Have you finally devised a way to discover the murderer?”
“I have,” Lady Mary said.
While the lady repeated her plan, Katherine took a sip of the tea. It was sweetened just to her liking, with the smallest dollop of cream.
Her shoulders drooped. The man had observed how she took her tea and made it exactly to her specifications. Was even this a ruse, a manipulative attempt to win her affections in order to obtain her father’s money? Or was he a decent enough sort of man who would try to keep any wife of his happy?
Neither of those options appealed.
“It seems highly unlikely that your ploy will work.” Henry ran his hand up the back of his head. “The magistrate seemed an intelligent enough fellow. I say we let him do his job and stop playing at detectives.”
“Playing?” Lady Mary sounded insulted. “I can assure you this is no game to me.”
In her heart, Katherine agreed with Henry’s assessment, but pride had her siding with Lady Mary. She lifted her chin. “It’s a brilliant plan. Shall we deploy it now? I can speak just loud enough to be overheard.”
Lady Mary glanced over Katherine’s shoulder again. “Yes. And sound shocked, like you can’t believe it.”
That would be easy enough. Raising her voice just enough, she exclaimed, “The magistrate told you he would be making an arrest in the morning? If he knows, why wait?” Even though Lady Mary hadn’t told her to include that last bit, Katherine thought it added a dash of authenticity.
She’d expected loud gasps. Perhaps an oath or two. But there was only a brief pause in conversation behind her, a slight hush, and then everything resumed as it was before. Miss Walker attempted to convince the others to engage in one last entertainment, Mr. Withers made some nonsensical comment to the Havenstones, and Mr. Ryder sighed heavily.
“Was that all right?” Katherine asked. “Did they hear?”
“They heard.” Lady Mary adjusted her spectacles. “Now we wait.”
“For how long?” Katherine had her belongings to pack. A letter to write, letting Mr. Evans know his schemes toward her had failed.
She swallowed. Well, perhaps it would be best if she just left quietly. Let him think that her heart had only been but lightly touched, that their parting was of little consequence.
“All night if necessary,” Lady Mary said.
“You may choose to stay awake all night, but Katherine and I won’t be joining you.” Henry took her cup of tea and set it down on a side table. “She and I need to talk.”
“We certainly do not.” Katherine felt a grim sort of satisfaction at the surprise on his face. “I heard enough this afternoon. I have packing to do. I, for one, cannot wait to return to London.”
He grabbed her elbow, halting her retreat. “What is the matter?” His forehead wrinkled. “I have good news to tell you. Will you not listen?”
“No.” She jerked her arm away. She was tired. Tired of being a chess piece her father moved about his board. Tired of lookingover her shoulder in this house, suspecting decent people of being killers. Most of all, she was tired of herself, for succumbing to a silly hope that she could control her future. She should accept her position, be grateful for all that she did have, and never again surrender to silly feelings like love.
Henry darted a glance at Lady Mary. “Let’s go somewhere where we can speak privately.”
Lady Mary tsked, her gaze bright, flitting between her and Henry. “That wouldn’t look proper. You can pretend I’m not here. I will be the soul of discretion.”
