Page 72 of Undercover Duke
“It really doesn’t,” Gwyn said. “She has no good motive. The only person shemighthave had a reason to kill was her late husband.”
Sheridan nodded. “And he was old, so she could have just waited until he died.”
“Or perhaps she has a maniacal dislike of men and merely sought to eliminate them for herself and her closest friend where possible,” Thorn said.
Vanessa found Thorn’s remark so ridiculous that she sipped more brandy. As she did, she noticed Sheridan wearing a skeptical expression. At least she wasn’t the only one who thought Thorn’s statement was absurd.
“Let’s leave motive aside for the moment,” Joshua said. “We simply don’t know enough yet to determine what that might be. First we need to establish whether they had anything to do with the murders. We suspect that Sheridan’s father was lured to the home my sister and I used to share so he could be pushed off that bridge, possibly by Elias. I showed a forgery expert both the note used to summon the duke and the letter Elias wrote to Lady Norley. The expert said theymighthave been written by the same person, but he couldn’t swear by it.”
“Speaking of Elias,” Thornstock said, “do we have any idea who poisoned him in prison?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Joshua said. “I questioned every guard and every individual who worked in the kitchen. Either they don’t know or they’re not saying. The prisons are notoriously corrupt, so those who work in them are more afraid of their superiors than of someone like me, who is merely with the marines and not an official employee of the courts. In time I could perhaps learn the answer—with more thorough research into each individual’s connections—but at the moment that line of pursuit will have to be tabled. However . . .”
Joshua walked over to where a stack of papers sat atop a writing table. “I fortunately had the forethought to have a sketch made of Elias at the morgue. Gwyn drew up copies for all of us.”
“They don’t look like buildings, do they?” Thorn quipped. Apparently Gwyn had a love for anything involving architecture.
“Very amusing,” Gwyn drawled. “You’re merely jealous that I know how to sketch whereas your only talent is . . .” When Thorn stiffened, she paused. “Being insufferable.”
Joshua rolled his eyes. “In any case, only Thorn, Olivia, Gwyn, and I have even seen the fellow, so one of you might recognize him from another context. I also figured that Sheridan could show them around in Sanforth to see if anyone recognized the lad. Because if Elias had been close by at all—”
“Then he might have been the one to kill both men,” Heywood said.
“Exactly,” Joshua said.
“I don’t know,” Thornstock put in. “Elias didn’t strike me as the sort of fellow to commit murder at anyone’s bidding. He was careful not to blow up the laboratory until he was certain Olivia wasn’t in it.”
“Ah, but she’s a woman,” Joshua pointed out. “He might have felt differently about killing two aging dukes. Especially if he was being paid well to do so.”
“True,” Sheridan said. “And I agree that the sketch should be shown around town. But I can’t be the one to do it. Someone else will have to.”
“Planning on an extended honeymoon, are you?” Thorn asked.
“Are you?” Vanessa repeated. She was finding this whole discussion fascinating. Or perhaps it was merely the brandy.
“Unfortunately, no.” Sheridan was avoidinghergaze now. “I’m meeting with Bonham in London to discuss some questions I have concerning the books for the estate. I need to go over the accounts before my meeting, so Vanessa and I and her mother leave in the morning.”
“We do?” Vanessa asked. No one had consultedherabout the matter. That made her take yet another sip of the brandy. It trulywasquite warming.
“Perfect!” Gwyn said. “You can question Lady Eustace on the way.”
“I’ll try,” Sheridan said. “But she’s not that forthcoming.”
“That’s true,” Vanessa said. “Not at’all.”
Joshua walked over to pour a glass of brandy himself.
“I thought you only drank rum,” Thorn said.
“I prefer rum, but any port in a storm, as we seafaring fellows like to say.” Joshua took a long swallow of the liquor.
“He should be careful,” Vanessa whispered to the dowager duchess, but it came out rather loud. “It’s best if you sip it.”
Joshua chuckled, but Sheridan stalked over to pick up Vanessa’s nearly empty glass. “How many ‘sips’ of this have you had?”
Vanessa tipped up her chin. “As many as I want, thank you very much.”
“You see what you started?” Sheridan told his mother.
