“Thank you, my lady.” Sir Felix bowed. “You have been very accommodating. If we have any more questions, we’ll let you know.”
She walked to the parlor door, and motioned the butler over. “Mr. Phillips, please show these men out.”
“Yes, my lady.”
She stood by the door and kept her eyes on them as the butler led them down the corridor to the front door. Each step they took made her heart sink lower. Those two idiots couldn’t possibly find any evidence that would link her to the murders, could they? Yet, her nightmare was hinting at reality. In her heart shehadwanted her husband dead, and shehadwished for Lord Elliot to have the same demise.
And what about Lord Tristan? How could anyone have known that he’d spent the past few days with her at the cottage?
Groaning, she rubbed her forehead, realizing that a pain in her skull had been there since she waited for the magistrate to arrive. The happiness she’d always wanted in her life was moving further and further away. Just as she felt Tristan would.
From one of the other rooms, the door slowly opened and Tabitha cautiously poked her head out. She took a quick glance up and down the corridor before straightening and exiting the room, heading toward Diana in an unhurried pace. When she reached the sitting room, they both entered as Tabitha closed the door behind them.
“How did it go?” Tabitha asked in a quiet voice.
Emitting a deep breath, Diana covered her face with her hands, her heart ready to break and tears to flow at any moment. “I fear I made them more suspicious. I could not lie to them, so I evaded their questions.” Breathing slower, she dropped her hands and looked back at Tabitha. “However, I really think they knew what I was trying to do.”
“Nonsense,” Tabitha said as she patted Diana’s shoulder. “Most men aren’t that astute.”
A smile tugged on Diana’s mouth. She just couldn’t help it. Sometimes Tabitha’s clever comments made her laugh. “I had thought the same, but the magistrate and his man knew things they shouldn’t have.”
“Like what?”
“They suspected Tristan was with me at the cottage.”
Tabitha scowled and folded her arms.
“Those two suspect that Tristan and I were working together to rid the world of people like my husband and Lord Elliot.”
The servant arched an eyebrow. “Not a bad idea, if I must say.”
Once again, Tabitha’s comment caught Diana off guard and she chuckled. “As much as I feel the same, killing people is not the way to do it.”
Tabitha shrugged. “Nice thought while it lasted.”
Diana squeezed her friend’s hands. “I’m just glad you are here to lend me support. Heaven knows Ludlow’s servants would not care in the least what happens to me.”
“I will always be your friend, Diana.”
She released a sigh and tried to relax. “Tell me, did you get a chance to ride back to the cottage this morning to check on Sally?”
“Yes, and I’m happy to report, she’s up and moving around, and her face is looking much better. It’s not swollen any longer.”
Sighing with relief, Diana nodded. “I’m very grateful for that. Maybe now Lady Dashwood can find employment for her.”
Tabitha grew abnormally quiet as her expression took on a faraway look. She was thinking about something, and Diana didn’t dare interrupt her friend’s thoughts.
Tabitha tapped her chin as her gaze finally cleared. “Tell me, my lady, how well do you know Sally?”
Diana shrugged. “Not that well at all. I only met her the night I caught Lord Elliot beating her. Why do you ask?”
“Forgive me for wondering this, but is it possible that Sally killed Lord Elliot before you had rescued her that night?”
Diana’s stomach churned with unease. That thought had crossed her mind a time or two. “I suppose it’s possible, and I would not judge her if she had ended her employer’s life.” She shook her head. “However, we need to think bigger, here. Whoever killed Lord Elliot also killed my husband since both crimes were committed in the same fashion. However, I don’t believe my husband was close enough friends with Lord Elliot to know his servants, and vice-versa.”
“I suppose you are correct,” Tabitha said with a sigh. “I was just trying to think of other people to help keep the magistrate from arresting you.”
“I thank you, my friend, but we cannot blame the innocent. We must put our minds together and try to think of who might be doing this, because if the magistrate doesn’t find any more suspects, he will surely arrest me or Tristan.” A pain pierced her heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of Tristan arrested. “But I need you to do something for me.”
