Katherine thought she might have made a mistake in sending Harriet to Lady Dalhousie’s house again so soon. Gertie, the cook, had been suspicious enough upon the first visit and practically threw Harriet out when she found her there asking questions again.
If only Lady Dalhousie had not left the ball early the night before. After Katherine and Pru had talked to Conyers, she had searched high and low for the gossip, only to discover that she had gone home early. Luckily there was another ball this evening, so Katherine would be able to question her further then.
The other person Katherine wanted to talk to was Mrs. Dillinger. She assumed the woman was trying to cover for her father. Whether that was because she had knowledge that he’d killed Lady Rochford or not, Katherine didn’t know, but talking with her would certainly reveal more. Both Lord Rochford and Lord Conyers had motive, and each denied killing her, but Katherine was sure it had to be one of them.
As Katherine was trying to figure out how she could finagle a way to talk to Mrs. Dillinger, she spotted Lord Bath’s coach pulling up to Dorchester House. Tarnation! She hadn’t the time to cajole him to take a wife, not when she was so close to solving a murder! But now that Mrs. Fairchild had agreed to work with her rather than against her, perhaps Katherine needn’t worry about that any longer.
She put her notes aside, placing them in the bookcase before venturing downstairs.
“Lady Bath awaits you in the parlor,” the butler informed her as soon as her foot hit the foyer floor.
“Is Lord Bath here as well?”
“No. Only the lady, and she has refused a tea service. I believe she means to depart shortly.”
Katherine winced. That couldn’t bode well, could it? If she was here with happy news, she would have wanted to eat.
The moment she entered the room, Grandma Bath got to her feet with difficulty. “Lady Katherine, it is a calamity!”
Katherine paused on the threshold, taken aback. “A calamity?”
“Miss Verne,” the old woman exclaimed, her face contorted with agony. “Ernest is going to lose her! You must do something.”
What had happened between last night and this morning? Had Mrs. Fairchild only pretended to work with her so she might instead work against her? Although Katherine would like to think that the union of Miss Verne and Lord Bath would be a cause for all parties to celebrate, she couldn’t help but wonder if Mrs. Fairchild was that vindictive.
And that good an actress.
“Why would Lord Bath be in danger of losing Miss Verne? If he is worried, perhaps he ought to make his admiration plain.”
“You know he won’t do that!” Grandma Bath paced around the chair she had occupied, using it for balance. Katherine had never before seen her so unsteady on her feet. She must be near panic to exhibit such a weakness.
“I cannot force him to propose,” Katherine answered calmly, though she stepped no nearer. Better to make a hasty escape if need be. “I’d hoped that once I found him a suitable bride, he would develop some affection for her.”
“He has,” the old woman exclaimed, sounding as though she gnashed her teeth. “I’m certain of it. He gives no woman so much attention save for you, Katherine.”
Oh dear. The very last thing Katherine wanted was for Grandma Bath to fixate upon her once more as a marital candidate. Desperate, she offered, “Perhaps I can speak with your grandson and bring him to see reason.”
“You’d do better to ask that beau of yours to stop sniffing at Miss Verne’s heels.”
“Beau?”
“Captain Wayland,” Grandma Bath said, her lip curling with distaste. “I thought he was partial to you, but he seemed particularly attentive to Miss Verne. You’re not having very good luck with your suitors this month, are you? Can you not tempt him to offer for you so at the very least he can leave my grandson some sliver of happiness?”
Slowly, Katherine answered, “I don’t believe Captain Wayland is courting Miss Verne. You must be mistaken.”
“I am not! I saw them together at the ball last night. She was laughing—laughing!”
Katherine bit her tongue. She took an even breath before she said, “I’ll speak with him. I promise. Miss Verne will be in no danger of being proposed to by Captain Wayland.” And he isn’t my beau. Given that Grandma Bath was certain Katherine had a preference for Lord Bath, she didn’t put much stock in the old woman’s observations. Still, if Wayland was interfering with the match…
Grandma Bath looked dejected. “I hope that is the case! I cannot reason with Ernest myself, or he’ll defy me on principle. Stubborn man doesn’t know what’s good for him.” The last statement was muttered lower, as if Grandma Bath meant it only to reach her ears. Unfortunately, she was a bit hard of hearing. With a beseeching look, she added, “If Ernest believes he’s lost Miss Verne, he won’t even try. I know him, and he’s been crossed in love before.”
He has? Why hadn’t either of them told her of such a thing? Katherine fought the urge to step backward as she promised, “Never fear, Grandma Bath. You’ve employed me to see that your grandson is married, and I’m not about to let anyone, least of all Wayland, get in the way of that goal.”
Katherine did not have time for this. She was so close to solving the case she could taste it. She wanted to question Mrs. Ramsey to see if the person in the Rochford carriage could have been Lord Rochford instead of Lady Rochford. She wanted to talk to Lady Dalhousie to find out if she’d discovered more from her servants about the person seen with Lady Rochford. Finally, she wanted to seek out Mrs. Dillinger again, as clearly she must have suspicions of her father, though Katherine had no idea how she would get them out of her. But she couldn’t let Lord Bath lose Elizabeth. She knew they were perfect for each other.
Katherine had little time to chase down Wayland and convince him to stay away from Elizabeth, so she applied to Mrs. Fairchild to do the matchmaking work instead. Since she didn’t think she would be welcomed if she showed up on her rival’s doorstep unannounced, she sent a letter to her. To her surprise, she received a response within the hour, as she was getting ready to go out.
Mrs. Fairchild also offered some advice. She seemed genuine about their truce, at the very least. Katherine had to admit it brought her some relief.
Here’s what we’ll do: speak with Captain Wayland and see if he won’t pay even more attention to Miss Verne—knowing, of course, that she isn’t destined for him! Don’t forget to mention that. It will rankle with Lord Bath to see another man courting the woman he’s come to admire. Perhaps that will even be enough to spur him to propose.
Katherine had to admit that the idea held merit. In Bath, when Lord Annandale had thought that Katherine was considering Wayland’s pursuit of Pru, he had found a private moment to make it known in no uncertain terms that he meant to be the victor of her hand. Fortunately, that particular rumor hadn’t held the least kernel of truth.
If Katherine were able to convince Wayland to lend her such a favor again… She returned her attention to the page, satisfied, though Mrs. Fairchild had written more.
In case that isn’t enough, let’s use this recent death to our advantage, shall we? If we each, separately, whisper into his ear to remind him of how short life can be and how one must hold onto the people and things one cherishes, that ought to be enough to drive him to his knees with a ring in his hand. For good measure, have his grandmother lend a good word too.
Mrs. Fairchild then went on to describe how Katherine might subtly bring up such a topic. Katherine skimmed the last two pages, shaking her head. It seemed her rival couldn’t waste an opportunity to be condescending.
At least she was able to ensure that Mrs. Fairchild would be helping even if it meant Katherine had to ask a favor of Wayland.