CHAPTER ELEVEN

I could have smacked Gage for all the subtlety he used in making such a statement. For all my social awkwardness and impatience with the ton, I would never have made such a bald declaration, especially to a woman who was so obviously grieving her friend, even if it was in her own restrained manner.

Being the reserved matron she was, Lady Stratford fortunately did not burst into tears or histrionics. However, a curtain seemed to be pulled over her features, removing all trace of humor, light, and joy, leaving her cast in shadow. Her hands tightened in her lap, and she turned away to stare at the windows looking out on the garden.

I scowled at Gage, not understanding how someone who was so well-known for his charm could be so tactless. He frowned back at me, and then tightly shook his head before focusing his gaze on Lady Stratford once again. Recognizing such a dismissal when I saw one, I bit my tongue. Perhaps he wanted to play this out as if his shocking declaration had been deliberate, but I was not convinced his nerves had not compelled him to be so blunt.

The countess heaved a weary sigh. “I’m sure there are many here in this castle who could, and would love to, comment upon Helena’s escapades,” she said, her gaze still focused on the window. “After all, she was never very discreet. And she had a rather masculine desire to flaunt her conquests. So I suppose I would not be betraying her by telling you. Perhaps I would even be doing her a favor by relaying the information through friendly lips rather than venomous ones.” Her soft gray eyes turned to study each of us in turn as we waited patiently for her to finish. “Other than Mr. Fitzpatrick . . .” She trailed off as if she were still having difficulty answering. She swallowed. “There are only two other men in attendance who have shared her bed. If I tell you those, will that be sufficient?”

“For now,” Gage replied gently.

Lady Stratford nodded, understanding the words he left unspoken. Just because a jilted lover was not at Gairloch Castle did not mean he was not a suspect. He could have hired someone to carry out the murder, believing himself safely removed from discovery.

The countess took a deep breath. “Lord Marsdale and Mr. Calvin.”

Mr. Calvin came as somewhat of a shock, but I was definitely not surprised to hear that Lord Marsdale was on the list. The Duke of Norwich’s son was an ill-mannered swine, by whom I had already had the misfortune of being accosted twice during his stay.

“Do you recall how long ago they were involved?” Gage asked.

Lady Stratford tilted her head. “Marsdale was not long after Lord Godwin left for India, and Mr. Calvin perhaps some time in May or June.”

I slid toward the edge of my seat and glanced at Gage, knowing he would realize what that meant. My excitement must have been more evident than I wished, for I turned to find Lady Stratford watching me carefully and guardedly. Something in her demeanor told me it was not fear of me as a suspect but fear of my knowledge.

“One more question,” Gage announced, seeming oblivious to our unspoken exchange. “Was Lord Godwin aware of her affairs?”

Lady Stratford’s eyebrows lifted. “How could he not be? But since she provided him with two sons, an heir and a spare, he pretty much allowed her to do as she wished.”

Gage nodded and rose. “Thank you. We shall not trouble you further.”

I followed him to the door, but a question still nagged at me. I paused on the threshold and turned back to the countess still seated on the pale blue settee. “One more thing. Did Lady Godwin confide in you what her plans were after leaving here?”

Lady Stratford met my gaze squarely, and I knew she realized what I was really asking. I half expected her to dismiss me without replying, but she nodded her head once and spoke with quiet dignity. “She planned to stay at an estate owned by my great-aunt, just north of Glasgow. She said she wanted the peace and quiet.”

I opened my mouth to thank her when her lady’s maid suddenly appeared through the door to the dressing room. “I have your chasteberry tonic, my lady.” The servant stumbled to a halt, carefully balancing the small glass full of liquid. “Oh! I beg your pardon.” She flushed a bright rose, almost as deep as the tonic. The girl had obviously believed the countess was alone.

“I was just leaving,” I said to reassure the maid. With a nod of thanks to Lady Stratford, I closed the door.

“What was that all about?” Gage asked, waiting for me several steps down the corridor.

“She knew she was expecting.”

His steps faltered. “What?”

“Lady Stratford knew that Lady Godwin was expecting,” I reiterated, continuing down the hall.

Gage’s expression was incredulous. “You asked her that straight out?”

“Of course not.” I frowned. “Although, if I had, it would have been no worse than your intimating that one of her lovers killed her.”

“I wanted to see her reaction.” His voice sounded a tad sulky for a grown man. “Besides, it got us the information we needed, didn’t it?”

I didn’t intend to offer even the smallest amount of praise for his tactics, and I knew agreeing with him was tantamount to doing just that. “Do you really believe one of her lovers murdered her?”

“Why not? It’s the best theory we have so far.”

“I suppose so,” I groused. “But I don’t understand the motive for such an attack.”

“Jealousy.”

“Yes, but . . .” I glanced around to make sure no one was lurking nearby before continuing in a lower voice. “I think it would take an emotion far stronger than jealousy to motivate someone to . . . violate a mother and child the way the murderer did.”

Gage surveyed our surroundings as I had, and then pulled me into an alcove flanked by two suits of armor. The one on the left gleamed, obviously having seen very little use in battle, while the other was dented and tarnished from blood, sweat, water, and time.

“Maybe her lover was angry. If she’d dismissed him in a cruel manner, or disparaged his manhood in a public way.”

I considered his words. “Yes, those emotions make sense for the murder, but the baby . . . ?”

He breathed out impatiently. “Maybe . . .” He exhaled. “Maybe she was blackmailing the baby’s father somehow.”

I had to admit that was a possibility. Lady Godwin had certainly not been the most principled individual, and it seemed highly plausible that she could have tried extortion. But still, it didn’t seem right. There were too many other factors that had not yet come into play, and I could not yet fit them into the picture.

“What of the embroidery scissors?” I asked.

Gage paced the short distance of the alcove and back, stroking his chin. “I don’t know. Perhaps this lover had an accomplice.”

“Perhaps,” I reluctantly conceded.

He sighed. “Regardless, we still need to speak with these men.”

“I agree.”

He stood with his hands on his hips and stared at the carpet runner down the center of the corridor. “I suppose it makes sense to start with Mr. Fitzpatrick, since he was the most recent man connected with her.”

“When do you want to do it?”

“It’s too close to dinner to talk with him now. Maybe after, in the library; it’s likely to be empty.”

This plan sounded as good to me as any. “All right. Shall I meet you there after the ladies and gentlemen separate for after-dinner tea and port?”

Gage looked up at me. “I think it best that you sit this one out.”

I lowered my brow in displeasure.

“No matter how indiscreet Lady Godwin was,” he continued, “Fitzpatrick is a very courteous and correct gentleman. He would be most uncomfortable discussing a topic such as his relationship with the late viscountess while you are present. In fact, I think it likely he would withhold information to protect your sensibilities.”

Gage had a point. Mr. Fitzpatrick was among the more subdued young men I had met, and if most gentlemen would have a problem speaking of such things in front of a gently reared female solely on principle, Mr. Fitzpatrick certainly would. However, I hated to be left out entirely, partly because I wanted to hear his answers, and partly because I wasn’t confident that Gage would share every detail of their conversation. Perhaps Philip and Alana trusted Mr. Gage, but I was still reluctant. Especially after the comments he’d made to Lady Stratford.

“I see your point,” I admitted. “But I . . .”

“No,” he stated determinedly before I could finish my sentence. “You are not taking part in this one.”

I frowned. “You haven’t even let me . . .”

“I will not hear your objections.” He leaned down toward my face, calm but implacable. “Lord Cromarty placed me in charge of this investigation, and I will conduct it as I see fit.”

“Mr. Gage . . .”

“No. And if I find you in the library, I shall throw you out.”

I gritted my teeth, furious that he wouldn’t even allow me to explain. “You . . .”

He turned on his heel and strode away, appearing as unperturbed as ever.

“You buffleheaded fool!” I called out after him.

He didn’t even acknowledge the insult I hurled at his back.

I clenched my hands into fists, determined to thwart him in this. Taking a deep, calming breath, I knew what I had to do. And I refused to feel guilty for it. If Gage had only listened, he would not be left in the dark.