Page 31 of Secrets of Capell Manor
All heads turned as Marta began to moan. “I killed him. It was me. It was the nightshade.”
Rosalind gasped at Marta’s groggy confession. Benton’s mouth dropped open.
Alden muttered, “Holy Mother…”
Devlin bent down and helped Marta to sit. “Choose your words carefully. Marta,” he cautioned. “Are you saying you poisoned Lord Edmond?”
Marta shook her head. “No, no. Well, yes, I guess I did, But not intentionally. Although he did deserve it, and I wanted to many times.”
Devlin looked at the woman as if she was ready to be committed to Bedlam.
What is she rambling about? Was that a confession or not?
“Take a deep breath, Marta,” Rosalind said calmly. “When you’re ready, tell us what happened.”
Marta extended her hand up, and Alden helped her to stand, but her legs remained unsteady. He helped her to a chair by the wardrobe.
“That night—the night that Edmond and Lady Rosalind argued so terribly, I knew that trouble was coming. His mood was nastier than ever before, I tell you. Once Lady Rosalind had run to her chambers, Lord Edmond remained at the table. Hehad practically passed out not long after she left. And that’s how I wanted him. Immobile.”
“So you poisoned him?” Devlin asked, not sure where she was going with her recounting of her part in this tale.
“No, no. I only meant to give him a sleeping draft that would keep him out until morning. When I saw he had passed out, I started to clear the table. But after a moment, he stirred a bit and started rambling and cursing about Lady Rosalind again. I ran back to the kitchen to get my tonics. When he sat up, I poured him some water and told him I added a tincture that would help with the headache in the morning.”
Under scrutiny, she burst into tears.
“The next morning, when I returned to the kitchen, I realized that I had not given Lord Edmond a sleeping draft. I picked up the wrong jar in my haste! I had given him the nightshade!” Her last words ended in a wail.
Devlin could not believe his ears. Now, another member of this family he had grown so attached to was complicit in the murder of Lord Edmond.
I need a strong drink.
“So let me get this straight. You thought to give Lord Edmond something that would help him sleep so he wouldn’t harm Lady Rosalind, and you poisoned him. By mistake?”
“Well, of course, it was by mistake, Sir Devlin. Our Marta wouldn’t kill anyone. Not on purpose. She’s not a murderer. Shame on you for doubting her sincerity. Can’t you see how distraught she is?” Rosalind said.
Marta began to wail again at his questioning.
“I’m not saying she did it on purpose. I can believe her. But I don’t know if the king will.”
Marta yelled out, “It’s over! I’m done for. They’ll take my head or lock me up in the tower for sure!” Her wails grew louder, and she looked ready to faint once more.
“There, there Marta. They will not do any such thing. Say, you did give him the nightshade. It wasn’t enough to kill him. And you certainly didn’t weigh his body down in the bog. There is another person, I believe, who is responsible.” Rosalind stated with conviction.
“She’s right. Marta certainly couldn’t have weighed a body down and hauled it into the bog. We still have too many loose ends here.” Alden said.
“All right,” Devlin said firmly. “Marta, pull yourself together. I need you to be able to think. All of you, think! Was there anyone who came to the manor or any meeting that Lord Edmond had in the weeks leading up to his disappearance that seemed off? Or a message he received, or any change in his mood that seemed unusual that would indicate something was wrong or that he was being threatened?”
Everyone in the room was quiet.
“Alden!” Devlin barked and made Marta and Rosalind jump. “Get Ridley in here. He knows when anyone comes and goes, and the good Lord knows he moves about without being seen or heard. He may have seen or heard something the others didn’t know about.”
Alden opened the door to cross the hall to the solar, and Ridley tumbled into the room.
Devlin, not at all surprised, asked, “Ridley, was there anyone unusual in the manor or did you notice any strange behavior out of Lord Edmond in the weeks before his disappearance. This is important, son. Any detail, even if you’re not sure it means anything, might help us figure out what happened.”
Devlin almost didn’t notice that he had called Ridley “son.” Use of this term of endearment and the realization about how fond he had grown of the boy shocked and left him bewildered. He had vowed never to have children. After all, what did he have to offer? But no, he felt protective and even more determinedto solve this mystery and clear all of them of any suspicion or wrongdoing.
Ridley sat on the edge of Edmond’s bed and thought. By now, Rosalind was pacing, trying her hardest to recall any minute detail. Marta sat in the chair, wringing her hands. Her face was white as a sheet and a light sheen of sweat glistened across her brow. Alden had taken a kerchief and fanned her vigorously. Bentley sat in the desk chair and fell asleep. When he let out a very healthy snore, Devlin sighed and gave a defeated shrug of resignation.
