Charlotte glanced towards Lord Stanley, uncertain what to believe. Had Bainbridge been murdered—or had he truly fallen?
More ladies emerged from the parlour and morning room, pale and frightened. Maids crowded into the hallway as whispers spread rapidly through the household.
Charlotte surveyed the gathering carefully.
Everyone appeared shaken.
Everyone except Lady Susan.
Charlotte spotted her standing at the top of the staircase, gazing down at Lord Bainbridge’s body with unnervingcomposure. Then, without a word, Lady Susan turned and disappeared calmly back towards her room.
‘Where are the letters now?’ Lord Stanley asked.
‘I... I do not know.’
Lady Bainbridge dissolved into fresh sobs and had to be led away by Mrs Wilberforce.
Lord Stanley and Charlotte searched both the body and surrounding foyer, but no letters could be found.
After a brief examination of the corpse alongside the Bow Street Runners, Lord Stanley ordered Lord Bainbridge’s body removed to the outbuilding and sent for the local coroner.
Charlotte could scarcely comprehend what had just occurred.
As they returned to the study and questioned the servants, they quickly established that every member of staff below stairs had been accounted for.
‘Hamilton, Boulton, Oswald, Fraser, and Payne could not possibly have done it,’ Lord Stanley said, looking equally perplexed. ‘They were all under guard. It would have been impossible.’
‘That leaves the female guests,’ Charlotte said slowly. ‘Lady Susan and Lady Bainbridge were both in their chambers. Mrs Wilberforce was in the morning room with Miss Hill and Miss Underwood. The remaining ladies were in the parlour.’
‘So Lady Susan and Lady Bainbridge are the only ones without proper alibis,’ Stanley concluded.
Charlotte looked momentarily perplexed.
‘Perhaps, like Mrs Dent, the Odd Fellows have other female accomplices.’
‘A troubling thought,’ he admitted wearily. ‘Though it is possible. Or perhaps, in his haste descending the staircase, Bainbridge truly did fall.’
‘I do not think so. Otherwise we should have found the letters upon him. I would wager they contained something important—something capable of exposing the Odd Fellows.’
‘How could I have been so careless? I should have accompanied him myself.’ His expression darkened with self-reproach.
Charlotte instinctively caught his arm.
‘How could you possibly have foreseen this? You cannot blame yourself.’
His gaze dropped briefly to her hand before lifting slowly to her face.
‘Charlotte,’ he said softly.
There was such feeling in his expression that she quickly looked away, fearful he might glimpse the heartbreak she could no longer entirely conceal.
Gently, he placed his hand over hers.
Another murder had occurred beneath their very noses, yet somehow her own heartache still pulsed painfully beneath it all.
‘Are you all right?’
The unexpected gentleness in his voice made Charlotte glance up.
