Page 75 of The Bride Wore White

“What was the speculation?”

“Many of us, including your grandmother, were quite certain that Clara or Maud or both of them working together put something lethal in Copeland Dover’s soup the night he died.”

“They both had motive,” Prudence said, thinking it through. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack watching her intently. “Maud probably wanted revenge. Clara wanted her brutal husband out of the way.”

“Copeland Dover had a terrible temper. There’s no knowing what went on behind closed doors in that house. Clara gave him an impressive funeral, but I doubt very much that she shed a single tear.”

Prudence looked at her notes. “All right, I understand that Claraand Maud had an arrangement of some sort. But the child would be an adult by now, and Copeland Dover has been dead for years. It’s hard to believe that Clara was still willing to pay for Maud’s silence after all this time.”

“Clara Dover stopped paying the boy’s boarding school fees when he was in high school,” Zorana said. A skilled storyteller, she knew how to pause for effect. “Because she had to start paying the other fees instead.”

Prudence had been about to make another note. She stopped, the tip of the pencil hovering over the paper. “What other fees?”

“Those charged by a very expensive, very discreet psychiatric hospital. Copeland Dover’s illegitimate son had to be committed before he was out of his teens. Gossip on the psychic circuit is that he murdered a roommate at that pricey boarding school.”

Understanding slammed through Prudence. “Clara Dover would have paid any price to protect the Dover empire from rumors of insanity in the bloodline.”

“Oh, yes,” Zorana concluded. “Anyone in her position would have done the same.”

“Thank you, Zorana. I appreciate this information.”

“I’m glad I could be helpful. Don’t be a stranger, dear. Your friends here in the city have missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” Prudence said. “Goodbye, Zorana.”

“Goodbye, dear. Enjoy your all-expenses-paid vacation in Burning Cove.”

“I’ll try to do that.”

Prudence ended the call and twisted partway around in her chair to look at Jack, who had abandoned his crime tree and was waiting impatiently.

“What?” he said.

“Clara Dover has been paying Maud Hollister for her silence all these years. First because of a birthmark that could prove Maud’sillegitimate child was Copeland Dover’s son and then because that boy had to be committed. Gossip is, he murdered another boy at the boarding school he was attending. Clara feared that if the word got out, there would be rumors of insanity in the bloodline.”

“That would have been a nightmare for Clara Dover. No wonder she allowed herself to be blackmailed.”

“Exactly.” Prudence tapped her notebook with the pencil. “There’s more. Word on the psychic circuit is that Maud and Clara conspired together to poison Copeland Dover.”

“Now, that does not surprise me.”

Prudence wrinkled her nose. “Of course not. You are the all-seeing consultant. Regardless, it seems to me that Maud Hollister had no motive to murder Clara. That would have put a stop to the payments that kept Maud’s son in a private asylum.”

Jack looked amused. “You’re getting good at this work.”

She gave him a breezy smile. “Obviously psychic dream readers, librarians, and investigative consultants have a lot in common.”

“Looks like it.”

Chapter 35

Rollins and Ella Dover arrived at the hotel a half hour later and were promptly escorted to the villa. Prudence had ordered a fresh tray of coffee and tea from room service. She and Jack were seated on the shady patio with their visitors.

The Dovers looked grim, she thought, but she did not detect any hint of grief or sadness. If anything, there was an aura of relief about the pair, as if they had been able to put aside a heavy weight.

“I cannot begin to apologize for my mother’s behavior last night,” Rollins said to Jack. He looked and sounded earnest and sincere. “I insist on making financial compensation for the loss of your house.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Jack said. “The house was insured.”

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