“She told us you poured the glasses yourself,” Mark said, pacing thoughtfully toward the window. “That you insisted upon it.”
“That little liar. She’s the one who insisted upon pouring it!”
CHAPTER FORTY
Nicole peered into the drawing room. All the guests were gathered, waiting for the duke to arrive to announce the heir. As predicted, Molly was perched next to Mr. Cartwright, cooing into his ear.
Nicole and Regina had come to the conclusion that Molly was the killer. They simply had to find a way to make her admit it. They sent a footman to ask Mr. Cartwright to step into the next room, where they waited in the green salon.
When he arrived, the man had a puzzled look on his face. “Mrs. Grimaldi? Lady Regina? You wanted to see me?”
Nicole crossed the room to meet him. “Yes, Mr. Cartwright, we did. We, ah, need your help.”
Nicole and Regina each took an arm and gently led him into the room.
The frown remained on his face. “What’s that?”
“We need you to tell Miss Lester ahead of time that you’re not the heir,” Regina explained with a pleasant smile.
Mr. Cartwright shook his head. “The duke and General Grimaldi asked me to keep it a secret until the duke makes his announcement.”
“Yes, we know that,” Nicole said hurriedly. “But we need you to tell Miss Lester and only Miss Lester. We’ll be watching through the keyhole. The duke and my husband both know about this.”
Mr. Cartwright’s eyes widened. “You don’t suspect Miss Lester—”
“Please, Mr. Cartwright. We’ll have a footman bring her and her mother here. All you need do is tell her what the duke told you.” Nicole kept her voice even and calm.
“Very well.” Mr. Cartwright’s tone was clipped. He didn’t seem convinced, but as long as he was willing to do as asked, Nicole would not spend precious time trying to explain to him.
Satisfied, Nicole and Regina slipped from the room. A few minutes later, a footman escorted Molly and her mother inside to join Mr. Cartwright. Nicole and Regina crouched near the double doors where Mark and Daffin joined them.
“Now listen,” Nicole said, trying to ignore the rush of heat through her body with Mark so close to her.
The two men pressed their ears to the doors as Molly began speaking while Nicole and Regina took turns watching through the keyhole.
“Mr. Cartwright.” Molly rushed to the settee to sit next to him. Her mother remained standing near the door. “What is it?”
“I have something to tell you, Molly.” To Nicole’s surprised delight, Mr. Cartwright played the role perfectly. “I have to tell someone. It’s killing me.”
“What?” Molly searched his face. She leaned toward him. “You can tell me.”
Mr. Cartwright tugged at his cravat. “The duke.” Cartwright cleared his throat. “He called me into his study earlier to tell me…”
“Yes?” Molly prodded, still searching his face.
Mr. Cartwright glanced away. “To tell me I’m not his heir.”
“What?” Molly’s face turned bright red. Her eyes widened with panic. “There must be some mistake. Of course you’re the heir.”
“That cannot possibly be true,” Mrs. Lester added, hurrying toward the settee to join them.
Cartwright stole a glance at the door. “I’m afraid it is true. I’m not the heir. Turns out General Grimaldi is the heir. He’s the duke’s nephew on his mother’s side.”
Molly’s face was mottled. “General Grimaldi? You must be jesting. He’s no more related to the Colchester family than I am.”
“General Grimaldi, indeed,” Mrs. Lester snapped, spittle flying from her lips.
“I’m not jesting,” Mr. Cartwright continued, impressively convincing in his earnest delivery. “Grimaldi is related to them. It was a surprise to everyone, apparently, even the general. The part about him being the heir, I mean.”
