The Countess Intrigue (17 page)

She was relieved to receive the doctor’s visit first thing the next morning. As he examined her, Elizabeth informed him that he had best declare her well. “It doesn’t really matter to me what your verdict is, Doctor. I have every intention of getting up and dressed as soon as you leave whether you give me the go ahead or not. I cannot bear another moment longer in this room.”

The doctor laughed easily at her words. “Very well, my lady. You know what your body is telling you. I beg of you to listen to it. Do not strain your injury, do your best to keep your arm still, and rest when you are tired. You will not have your usual strength for a couple more days.” He smiled over the delighted chuckle of glee his patient couldn’t hold back but he still fixed her with a pointed stare. “Don’t make me regret it, my lady. Be sure not to overdue on your first day.”

“I promise to be careful,” she replied, as seriously as she could manage with how happy she was to be leaving her room.

W
ith great care
Pansy managed to help Elizabeth get into a comfortable day gown without disturbing the bandage wrapped around her arm. Elizabeth waited while Pansy tidied up her room. She did not feel comfortable enough to go anywhere without her at this point. Not that the young maid would be able to stop a bullet for her, but they had both agreed that four eyes on the lookout would most definitely be better than only two.

Once all was in readiness, the two set forth on their mission. They had determined to try to be as systematic as possible. Pansy was going to take notes as Elizabeth questioned the staff members. They had agreed to start with the footman guarding Elizabeth’s door.

“Thank you for your efforts on my behalf, Johnny. I am sure this was not an easy assignment. Trying to remain alert and vigilant when nothing ever happens is tiresome, is it not?”

“Oh no, my lady, it was a great privilege to guard your ladyship.” The young man blushed deeply in chagrin.

“Of course, I did not mean to imply otherwise, I am just grateful, you see. Would you mind if I ask you a couple questions?” She was going to take advantage of his flustered state.

“Not at all, of course, my lady,” his blush deepened.

“Were you familiar with the previous Lady Sinclair?”

His hot blush now consumed him and Elizabeth worried the poor young man might faint at her feet, but she did not relent. She needed this information!

“Somewhat familiar, my lady,” he answered shakily.

“Would you have any opinion as to what sort of mood she was in toward the end of her life? Did she strike you as sad or worried or happy?”

The young footman looked confused by the question but seemed relieved by it as well. “Oh well, I never presumed to consider it much, my lady, but I would not say she was sad. Perhaps a little bit worried at times. She was disappointed that the master did not want to return to London but rather than being sad she was angry about it. She would yell and throw things.” He began to look uncomfortable once more. “Is that what you were looking for, my lady?”

“Yes, Johnny, thank you, that was most useful. Just one more thing. Would you know, by any chance, if the countess had received any visitors during the last week of her life?”

“That I couldn’t rightly say, my lady. I’m not usually around for that. You would be best asking Mr. Patrick about that. I’m usually a footman with the kitchens. Which is why his lordship picked me to be a guard for you, for my strength, not my knowledge.”

Elizabeth couldn’t help her peal of laughter at the footman’s words. “I appreciate your honesty, Johnny, and I will take your advice about speaking with Mr. Patrick.”

They made their way throughout the house speaking to every servant they encountered. A clear picture had formed of Lady Barbara, the earl, their awkward relationship, and the turmoil Lady Barbara had caused. No one had a clear idea of who might have wanted her dead, but it was obvious the lady was not in despair or entertaining thoughts of ending her life.

Wondering how to interview the earl’s secretary as well as the outside servants, the two had sat down for a brief rest when the earl came upon them.

“It has come to my attention that you have been interrogating the entire household staff.” His tone was calm and even, but Elizabeth thought she could detect a touch of anger sparking in his eyes. Her eyes flicked to Pansy who had stood at the earl’s arrival and was now gripping the fire poker tightly. Elizabeth was as safe as she could possibly be while in the earl’s household.

“That’s correct, I have been. Is that a problem?” she asked, keeping her own tone calm and neutral while waiting anxiously for his response.

He hesitated while looking at her quizzically. “It’s not a problem exactly, I would just have preferred if you had asked me about it first. I would have liked to hear what everyone had to say as well.”

Elizabeth nodded, although she wasn’t sure what she was agreeing with. “I thought of that, my lord, but I was concerned your staff might not be as forthcoming in your presence.”

The earl appeared to be thunderstruck by her words. “You might have a point there, my lady. Would you be willing to share with me what you have learned thus far?” He paused, glanced briefly at Pansy, and then looked back at Elizabeth with a jovial smile. “And could I also ask why your maid looks as though she is quite prepared to smash me with the poker?”

Elizabeth and Pansy gasped in unison but the earl never took his eyes off his wife’s face. She could feel the blush rising in her cheeks. “She is doing her best to keep me safe, my lord.”

“I appreciate that, but does she not think I can do that? I am getting the impression that she actually thinks that I might be a threat to you.”

Elizabeth could see from the muscle clenching in his jaw that he was not as calm as he let on, but the earl’s tone revealed his effort to remain patient and unperturbed. She could only offer a helpless shrug. “We hadn’t yet ruled you out completely.”

“I see.” Once again his tone revealed very little, but Elizabeth actually suspected that his feelings were hurt by her words. His warm voice took on cooler tones as he questioned her further. “Did you think I could be behind your attack from the beginning or is it something someone said?”

She almost couldn’t bear to look at him, but Elizabeth was not about to start cowering at the earl’s feet. Despite her distracting attraction to the man she had valid reasons for being wary, even if she had equally valid reasons not to suspect him. She forced herself to meet his eyes as she answered his questions. “From the beginning, my lord. However, my investigation has led me to suspect that you are innocent of the attack on me and your first wife’s death.”

“So you do think they are connected. And you thought I was involved. What made you think that? Did I do something that made you think I was capable of killing my wife?”

Elizabeth was nearly discomfited by the way he could sound so casual and pleasant while looking at her as though she had lost her mind.
Had he truly never realized she had believed those rumours?
she wondered. She had been certain he had heard her say as much to her mother the night of her ruination.

“There were so many rumours swirling about you in London, my lord. I didn’t know what to think.”

“Did you actually marry me thinking it was possible I had killed my wife?” Now he could no longer hide his rising temper. Elizabeth saw Pansy tense with the poker, ready to defend her.

Elizabeth raised her chin, refusing to cower. “I did, my lord. My mother would not allow that to be sufficient reason not to marry you.” Those words made Elizabeth’s composure waver, which was reflected in the quaver in her voice. The earl’s indignation waned in the face of her distress.

“I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. That must have been a trial for you. I had no idea you were labouring under such a concern. It does explain why I was not allowed to visit you after you had been shot. And the wariness I have encountered in your eyes at times.” The earl sighed heavily before continuing. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew those rumours were circulating, and I did nothing to quell them. I know I didn’t kill her but I do feel a certain amount of guilt. For one thing I was not able to save her, nor keep her safe. And for another if I had done as she asked and taken her to London she wouldn’t have been here to jump or be pushed.”

“Is that also why you looked so guilty when I was shot?” Elizabeth cocked her head to the side, trying to see into his mind, wishing to understand him.

“Did I look guilty?” His grin revealed that he was not harbouring any ill will toward her. He finally sat beside her, taking the spot Pansy had recently vacated then took hold of one of her hands she had rested in her lap. Elizabeth felt the flutters resume in her belly with his proximity. She brought her attention back to what they had been saying.

“Yes, it was written all over your face when you first saw me in the gig.”

“Well, once again I had not done enough to protect my wife. I should have told you not to ever leave the estate without me, but I feared you would consider me an ogre.”

Elizabeth smiled to show she held no grudge toward him. “I would have.”

They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in thought, while Pansy watched with a fierce stare. Elizabeth couldn’t help smiling her appreciation even though she was becoming quite convinced they had suspected the earl needlessly. She decided to tell him about the diary.

“Did you know your wife was involved with Broderick, my lord? Is that why you questioned me about him?”

“How did you find out about it? From questioning the servants?”

“Was that a yes, my lord?”

“Yes, yes, I knew. I only found out at the end. She was furious that I wouldn’t listen to her and return to London. She let it slip once when she was raving about how horrifically unkind I was, that Jason would never treat her thusly. She was ridiculous. If he had been all that was kind and noble he would never have involved her in his plots. During that week after she allowed it to slip, I had merely suspected they had been involved in some way, that she had a tendre for him, but she must have communicated with him unbeknownst to anyone. Whatever she had found out, left her truly terrified and she finally confided it all to me.

“My biggest regret is that I did not take the threat seriously. I was angry that I had been tricked into marrying her, but I had figured that part out already, I just didn’t know why. When I found out how truly cold blooded it was, I felt sick to my stomach. But she paid the price for my inattention. And so have you.” The earl took her cold hands into his warm ones and tried to chafe warmth back into them. “I am so sorry, my dear. I never wished to see you hurt. I truly thought the danger toward my wife was gone with Barbara. I had no idea it would somehow transfer to you. I swear to you, my only involvement is in the fact that I did not properly protect you.”

“I know, my lord. I do believe you. And I do not hold you responsible. I am quite sure Broderick must be behind it in some way. The only trouble is that we have no idea why. What could he hope to gain by getting rid of me? I wasn’t involved with him in any way. When I realized Broderick was involved, I had thought it connected in some way with my friend Rose and her efforts to thwart a different scheme of his, but I do not see how or why. There must be something else. Do you have any ideas?”

“The only thing I was able to glean from Barbara was that he was planning to use me to influence the government. I suspect I am not the only Lord in the House that he tried to entrap in this way. If he had enough of us he could influence decisions and votes. It was a brilliant plot if it were not so convoluted as to be impossible to manage. The man is clearly not all right in the head.”

“I rather suspect it is the madness of brilliance, my lord. And I worry there could be many others he has tried this scheme with. What if he has succeeded? Is there any way that we can stop him if he has?”

The earl appeared much struck by her words but offered her a rather helpless looking shrug. “That is a dreadful thought, my dear, and one that certainly will give us nightmares. I can assure you, I will continue to investigate the man. If we can stop him directly, it should put an end to whatever schemes he’s hatched.”

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment, chewing her lip in indecision. When she noticed her husband’s eyes focused on her mouth, she felt heat sweep into her cheeks and she launched into speech to hide her confusion. “I found her diary. Lady Barbara’s diary. And I read it. It was in the room with all her things. I searched through that whole room trying to find out more about her. I wanted to know how she died because the gossips had claimed you had killed her and I was afraid.” She felt her face getting hotter and hotter as she talked and she couldn’t look at him any longer even though he was looking at her with so much understanding written on his face. She felt embarrassed over her worries and the fact that she had searched through his wife’s things.

Lord Sinclair still held her hands in his warm ones and he tightened his grip, forcing her to bring her eyes back to his face, searching to see if he was angry with her. “I am so sorry you have had to go through this, my dear. I swear to you that I will do my level best to make it up to you. But for the time being, we need to get to the bottom of this. Why she was killed and why someone attacked you, must be answered. There is no apparent connection between Barbara and you or even between you and Broderick. What did you learn from the diary?”

Elizabeth blushed again wishing she did not have to discuss his former wife with him. “She didn’t really have any friends. I wouldn’t say exactly that she had enemies, although from her attitudes it is possible that she made some. I’m sorry, I hate to say that to you, or even to speak ill of her since she is not here to defend herself.”

“Do not trouble yourself about my feelings, my dear. From what I know of you, you won’t say anything stronger or meaner than anything I have thought myself. And if you can think of anything that might help, or if your thoughts can help us sort it out, please just say whatever you have to say. I promise I shan’t judge you harshly on your words.”

She smiled her gratitude and tried to continue. “I cannot say what her history was with Broderick, but he clearly held influence over her. She thought very highly of him and it was under his influence that she set her cap for you. She had thought she should marry a duke but decided that you would do based on whatever Broderick told her.”

“That I knew about,” the earl commented, nodding encouragingly.

“But she was supposed to get you to come back to London in order for you to take your seat in the House, and Broderick was supposed to be able to control you through her. But I have to tell you, I really don’t know how Broderick thought to accomplish that since the poor lady had absolutely no interest in political affairs. From what I read in her diary, it seems she was quite enamoured with the thought of you gaining more power. She quite thought that would in turn transfer to her and she would be able to lead in Society. She even aspired to become one of the patronesses. The poor woman just was at a loss of how to get you to cooperate. But how did Broderick think she was going to be able to influence you if she couldn’t even bear to listen to you talk about politics?”