“I doubt it,” Samantha muttered. Turning from the crime scene she started toward the path that would take them back to the sunroom and onward to the rest of the house. “The chief constable lacks your observational skills and instinct. Not to mention a willingness to risk it all in the name of justice.”
“While I tend to agree,” Adrian said, catching up with her in two long strides, “your assessment is harsh after all he did to help us last year. Don’t forget, the former chief magistrate sacked Kendrick for his determination to get at the truth. Had he failed to find the evidence he did, you’d be laying flowers on my grave now instead of helping me with this investigation.”
Though he felt her shudder, she chose to remark on the last part of his comment instead of the first. “It sounds as though you plan on helping Kendrick after all.”
“I’ve been dragged into it now, haven’t I?”
“You could choose to walk away.”
He caught her elbow, halting her between the ferns that were crowding around them. “Is that what you want?”
She hesitated enough for him to know she was giving the matter serious thought. “No. Apprehending this killer before they’re able to strike again is too important. It needs to be done and Kendrick has already made it clear that he cannot manage without you.”
Aware of the point she’d chosen to steer away from, he told her gently, “I promise this won’t distract me from keeping us safe from O’Leary.”
She resumed walking without comment while he kept pace with each of her steps. Returning to the sunroom, Adrian spotted two footmen in the hallway beyond and called out to them.
When they reached the spot where Adrian and Samantha remained, Adrian said, “As you may be aware, a guest has been murdered. His body can be found on one of the chaise lounges in there.” He nodded toward the conservatory. “I need you to guard him. Make sure no one tampers with the evidence. Can you do that for me?”
The footmen shared a hesitant look with each other but eventually nodded.
“I expect the younger of the pair will vomit,” Samantha said, directing her best are-you-sure-that-was-wise look at him once the footmen were gone.
“Possibly, but you and I need to check on the guests since I expect Moorland now has his hands full with the Orwells.” Adrian led Samantha back in the direction of the ballroom. “For starters, I’d like to speak with Miss Brighton.”
“The young lady who alerted everyone to the murder, I presume?”
Adrian pulled as much air as he could into his lungs before releasing it once more. “It’s important for us to learn if she saw anything, or rather, anyone.”
“Or if she’s the culprit we’re seeking,” Samantha suggested.
“That would make for a swift resolution if that were the case,” Adrian said. “However, I don’t believe she did this.”
“Oh?” More than a question. Rather a subtle request for him to provide a full explanation.
He caught her hand and drew her to a halt, turning her so she faced him. “I know her. Personally.”
Samantha’s lips pursed, her gaze holding his, before she suddenly blinked and uttered a far more hushed, “Oh. I see.”
“Good God, no. I don’t mean like that.” He squeezed his eyes shut while cursing himself for letting her think he’d ever been intimate with Miss Brighton. “She was a friend of my sister’s, that’s all.”
A delicate eyebrow rose. “And?”
He flattened his lips and huffed a breath. Fine. “She never made a secret of her interest in me, but I had no interest in her. A fact I made perfectly clear on more than one occasion.”
“I’m sure she and I will get along splendidly then,” Samantha said, not sparing a single drop of sarcasm as she spoke.
“My point,” Adrian said, “is that I’ve interacted with her enough to know that while she may have happily snuck off to a dark corner with me for all manner of mischief, she doesn’t have the nerve or the stomach to slit a man’s throat. Not even after ensuring he’s already dead.”
“How many of the killers we’ve helped catch so far seemed capable at first glance?” Samantha stared at him until he was forced to concede to her point.
“We’ll question her objectively,” Adrian said, in response to which Samantha offered a nod of approval.
“You should also ask Moorland’s butler to gather the servants,” Samantha said. “One of the maids had a deadly look in her eyes earlier. It could be nothing, but after what’s happened it’s probably wise to speak with her.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
What surprised Adrian most when he and Samantha reached the ballroom was the quiet. Only the occasional low whisper could be heard. A result, it turned out, of Edward’s acquiring Eldridge’s help in keeping all under control. The two men had positioned themselves so each stood near one of the exits.
