Page 48 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
“Then I hope for your sake you’re not seated next to her. But if you do happen to speak to Lord Kershaw, can you ask him if the missing rifle has been returned to the display on the armory wall.”
We reached the fourth floor, both a little out of breath from the quick pace. “I’ll try to be subtle about it so as not to raise his suspicions,” he assured me.
“Oh, dear,” I teased. “Perhaps I should ask someone else.”
He shot me a withering glare before heading to his suite and I headed to mine.
I was supposedto sit next to Mr. Browning, but Lady Elizabeth asked if he could swap places with her. He obliged, looking rather pleased about the rearrangement. I wasn’t sure if that was because he didn’t want to be forced to make conversation with me, or because it meant Floyd couldn’t flirt with his wife.
Once she was settled into her chair and the waiter had moved on, Lady Elizabeth leaned closer to me. “I hope Lady Bainbridge will forgive me for ruining her seating arrangements, but I did so want to talk to you, Miss Fox.”
I glanced at my aunt. She hadn’t seemed to notice the change of seats. She was too busy having a conversation with Richard, the head waiter, while simultaneously contributing to the conversation Lady Kershaw and Janet were having with Flossy. She’d obviously taken a dose of her tonic again to get her through the evening, or as much of it as possible. In another hour or too, a crushing headache would ruin the rest of her night.
“Is there a particular reason why you wanted to talk to me, Lady Elizabeth?” I asked.
“As a matter of fact, there is.” She paused while the sommelier filled our wineglasses, then continued when he moved on. “This afternoon in the sitting room, I overheard you and Cicely discussing Susannah Shepherd.”
I’d hoped she wanted to bring it up after noticing her interest in my conversation with Mrs. Browning. I hadn’t expected her to mention it already, however. It seemed Lady Elizabeth had no desire for small talk. “I’d only just learned the gamekeeper had a sister,” I told her.
Lady Elizabeth picked up the wineglass. She regarded me over the top of it. “You were asking Cicely about the rumor that my father also fathered Susannah.”
It would seem she had no interest in politely skirting the issue. I liked her directness, but it threw me off for a moment. As I was trying to decide how to respond, she spoke again.
“I don’t know if it’s true. My parents certainly never mentioned it to me.” She peered into the glass at the small ripples in the wine caused by her shaking hand. “I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to have Susannah as my half-sister. I think it would have been awkward, if I’m honest. I don’t blame my father for taking the secret to his grave. He probably thought it best for everyone.”
“So, youdobelieve it?”
“It explains the relative privilege the Shepherds have always received. Their cottage is always well maintained, and the gamekeeper’s position has always been paid a very good salary.”
“And no Shepherds were ever dismissed, in your father’s, brother’s and now nephew’s tenure as earl.”
“Indeed.” She put down the glass. “The gossip about my father being Susannah’s father has swirled for years, so I don’t see the relevance to Esmond Shepherd’s murder. It simply has no bearing on anything. Even if Mr. Shepherd learned it was true and went public with the knowledge, my father and Susannah are both long dead, so it’s of no consequence.”
I attempted an innocent look, but she didn’t believe it.
“I know you’re trying to solve the murder, Miss Fox, hence all these questions. You may be able to fool the others, but you can’t fool me.”
I released a breath. “It’s true. I’m trying to prove your family innocent, so there are no lingering doubts.”
She sighed as she shot an exasperated glance at Lord Kershaw. “My nephew is a dear man, but he doesn’t always think things through. He should never have influenced Sergeant Honeyman’s investigation. It makes us all look guilty.” She turned to me again. “Thank you, Miss Fox. If there’s anything I can do to help, please ask. I may be old, but I know a thing or two about Esmond Shepherd.”
“Such as?”
“He was a womanizer. Several nannies and maids have left because of him, and my silly niece-in-law just lets them go. Mr. Shepherd was charming with her and the other young women, but not with me. That’s the thing about being old. Nobody bothers to flirt or try to charm me.” Her eyes twinkled merrily as she lifted her wineglass. “On the other hand, it means I see people as they truly are, warts and all, because they’re not trying to be something they’re not in my presence.” She continued to watch me as she sipped.
Did she see me? Did she know I had members of her family on my list of suspects?
“What else can you tell me about Susannah Shepherd?” I asked.
“Other than she may have been my half-sister?” Lady Elizabeth shook her head. “I hardly knew her. She was quite a bit younger than me, and she was the gamekeeper’s daughter while I was the earl’s. I do remember when she died. So young, she was.”
“Twenty-one,” I said.
“Everyone was so distraught, particularly her mother, poor thing. It’s fortunate she and her husband had Esmond, so Mabel Shepherd could funnel her love into another child. She had so much love to give, did Mabel.” Lady Elizabeth smiled sadly. “She spoiled Esmond, though, which may explain why he ended up the way he did.”
“You mean his womanizing?”
“I do.”
