Regina threaded her fingers together and stretched them in front of her. “Sounds like the perfect plan.”
Nicole smiled at her friend. “All we have to do is mingle in the other drawing room.” The ladies had already decided their informal investigation would have to take the shape of merely being hospitable to their guests and asking discreet questions over tea. Overt questioning would draw suspicion.
“Let’s go.” Nicole moved away from the green drawing room’s door.
The two ladies made their way to the larger drawing room. Nicole paused just before they went inside. She leaned over to Regina and said, “Pay attention to the types of questions I ask. I’ve been trained by the best, Daffin Oakleaf.”
A quick wink from Regina was her only answer before they pushed open the doors to the blue drawing room and made their way inside. After the introductions had been made, Nicole and Regina took places in chairs at right angles next to the settee upon which Miss Lester and her mother sat.
Mr. Cartwright stalked out into the corridor. Lord Hillenbrand exited too. Lady Arabelle’s mother hadgone to wander the corridor to wait for her daughter’s return. Lord Anthony, Miss Lester, and her mother, Tabitha, were the only guests who remained.
Tea had been served and Nicole made use of it to begin her conversation with Miss Lester. Nicole studied Molly Lester. The young woman was slight and pale with nondescript brown hair and pale brown eyes, freckles on her face and a melancholy air. She looked as if she’d been kept in a sickroom most of her life and had only just come out to see the sun. She was the complete opposite of her beautiful, well-dressed friend Lady Arabelle.
“Would you care for some tea, Miss Lester?” Nicole asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Miss Lester’s voice was tremulous and her feet patted the floor in a nervous fashion. She wore a black gown of questionable value and Nicole doubted her pearls were real. Molly’s mother stood and stared out the window across the vast lawn. Good. The better to speak with her daughter alone.
Meanwhile, Lord Anthony remained quietly in the corner looking lost in thought.
Nicole made a show of preparing Miss Lester’s tea. “One sugar or two?”
“Two, please,” the young woman replied softly.
Nicole handed the cup to Miss Lester and poured some tea for herself and Regina. “I’m sorry we had to meet under such trying circumstances.” She kept her voice low so their conversation wouldn’t be overheard by the room’s other occupants.
“I agree. This is a sad occasion indeed.” Miss Lester shook her head and heaved a miserable sigh.
Nicole slowly stirred the lumps of sugar into her teacup. “It must have been awfully difficult for you, witnessing such a horror.”
The young lady took a shaky breath and her eyes filled with tears. She met Nicole’s gaze. “Oh, it was, Mrs. Grimaldi. It was.”
Regina silently sipped her tea while Nicole asked, “Can you tell me what happened?”
Miss Lester nodded slowly. “One moment we were all talking and laughing and the next, Lord Coleford was clutching his throat and choking.” Her eyes widened in fear. “He fell to the floor and his wineglass spilled everywhere. We called for the doctor, but by the time the man arrived, it was too late.” The last word was barely a whisper. Tears slipped down Miss Lester’s cheeks.
Nicole reached out and squeezed the younger woman’s wrist. “Did anyone try to help him?”
Regina leaned forward in her seat, but kept her silence, her astute blue eyes assessing everything.
Miss Lester pressed a pale hand to her cheek. “Lady Arabelle tried to go to him but Mr. Cartwright and Lord Hillenbrand held her back. They didn’t want her exposed to such awfulness. They may have saved her life. If she’d put her lips to his, she might have been poisoned too.”
“Poisoned?” Nicole’s teacup nearly toppled from her hand. She righted it and cleared her throat. “Who told you Lord Coleford was poisoned?”
“Wasn’t he?” Miss Lester asked timidly, her eyes darting back and forth between Nicole and Regina’s faces. “Lord Hillenbrand told me that’s what everyone was saying. Your husband and Mr. Oakleaf are herebecause they suspect Lord Coleford was murdered, aren’t they? The rumor about the poison is true.”
“My husband was merely asked to investigate,” Nicole assured her. She made a mental note to ask Lord Hillenbrand where he’d heard that news.
“Oh, Mrs. Grimaldi, Lady Regina.” Miss Lester turned to look at both women, one after the other. “Who would do such a hideous thing? And to poor Lord Coleford? He was a terribly nice man.” She shook her head piteously and took a sip of tea.
“Did you know him well?” Regina interjected, her voice kind and patient.
Another head shake from Miss Lester. “Not well, no. At the start of the Season I danced with him a few times at a ball here and there. That was before Arabelle captured his fancy.”
“You’re friendly with Lady Arabelle?” Nicole asked.
“Oh, yes, we’ve been friends for years. We’re the same age, Arabelle and I. Made our debut together this year. Of course Arabelle is the beauty. She has all the admirers. I cannot blame them.”
“Did you know any of the other people at the dinner?” Nicole asked next, studying the minute frown that had crept upon the other woman’s features.
