Prologue
Maxey Littleton saton the couch with her comforting arms wrapped around the Wentworth children, Grace and Joshua. The two- and three-year-old siblings were frightened beyond belief, not because their father had been killed, but from watching their hysterical mother as the police inspector asked her questions.
If Maxey was a child, she would also be scared. The middle-aged lawman continued to prod Lady Wentworth with questions that the poor woman couldn’t answer. Several times Maxey wanted to instruct the inspector to leave, but that wasn’t her duty. She was to care for the children during this treacherous time.
“Lady Wentworth,” the man with the double chins said in an irritating voice as he paced the floor in the parlor. “You must know something. Men like your husband are not likely to be strangled in their bedchambers unless it’s one of your staff or…”
The man’s voice trailed off, but Maxey immediately knew what he would say next. She held her tongue, not wanting to speak out of turn, especially in front of Lady Wentworth.
“Inspector Freeman,” Carolyn said in a tight voice as she rose from the cushioned chair. “I beg you to remove those thoughts from your head. My staff has been very devoted to Lord Wentworth and me. They wouldnotthink of strangling him. And if you presume to think I had anything to do with this—”
“My lady,” the inspector interrupted. “Forgive me, but everyone is a suspect until we figure this out.”
The thirty-year-old woman folded her arms, staring at the lawman. “As I have told you before, I was not even in the house, and if you need witnesses to my whereabouts last night, I will get them.” She blinked rapidly, but the tears continued to fill her eyes. “I loved my husband dearly.”
“Forgive me for upsetting you, my lady, but I need to know whereallof your servants were last night between midnight and three in the morning.”
Carolyn turned her forlorn gaze to Maxey, and her heart nearly shattered to see such anguish on her employer’s face. Maxey had been working for the Wentworth family as the governess for fourteen months now, after the death of her own father. She understood grief, and at times, she still mourned her father’s passing, wishing he was alive so that she could talk to him and tell him she loved him one last time. Her mother hadn’t been in their lives for many years, and for all Maxey knew, the woman was dead too.
Maxey had been home last night. After putting the children down for the night, she’d retired as well. But the children’s rooms were on the opposite side of the house as the lord and lady’s bedchamber. Maxey knew what servants were supposed to do in the house, but once she went to bed and fell asleep, she couldn’t be responsible for everyone’s itinerary.
Carolyn expelled a deep breath as her attention moved back to the police inspector. “Please, allow me time to speak to my servants. I assure you, I’ll have your information by the end of the day.”
He nodded. “If not, you shall expect another visit from me tomorrow.”
He walked toward the door, motioning with his hand to the other two men who stood in the room, waiting for him.
Once the men left, Maxey let go of the clinging children and rushed to Carolyn, who threw her arms around Maxey’s shoulders and sobbed. Maxey and her employer had become close friends, and she prayed nothing would change that.
She gently rubbed the other woman’s back, silently letting Carolyn know she would comfort her in any way. With a death in the family, they would all be in mourning for a year.
Carolyn pulled away and wiped her tears. “Take the children to the nursery to play, and then come back. I have something to speak to you about.”
Lady Wentworth hugged her children before Maxey took them by the hand and walked up the stairs toward the nursery. Each child showed signs of fatigue, which accompanied the moment of losing a loved one.
“Miss Maxey?” Joshua asked in a tight voice. “I don’t wish to play. I want to sleep.”
“Me too,” Grace concurred, rubbing her eyes.
“I know how you feel.” Instead of taking them to the nursery, Maxey took them to their rooms and tucked them into their beds. She kissed them on the forehead before leaving to meet her employer back inside the parlor.
Carolyn sat in her favorite chair near the hearth, staring at the fire. A tea service was on the table but hadn’t been touched by Lady Wentworth. Maxey suspected Carolyn had no desire to eat or drink.
She moved back to the couch and sat, clutching her hands in her lap. She was certain Carolyn would ask her about the servants and their whereabouts. Maxey would be honest, but sadly, since she had fallen asleep, she didn’t know what the others were doing between midnight and three o’clock in the morning.
The grandfather clock in the corridor clicked the passing minutes. Maxey didn’t want to disturb her employer’s thoughts, nor did she want to sit in silence.
She cleared her throat lightly. “My lady, what can I do to help?”
Carolyn brushed away a tear rolling down her cheek and turned toward Maxey. “I think I know who killed my husband.”
The words startled Maxey, and she hitched a breath. Why hadn’t Carolyn informed the police inspector when he was here?
“You do?”
Carolyn nodded. “I do suspect one person who was friends with Lord Wentworth.”
“Then I should fetch the inspector—”
