Page 57 of Secrets of Capell Manor
Rosalind’s chest begin to rise and fall faster, and she nervously fingered the neckline of her dress.
“On the night Sir Edmond disappeared, did you and he have an argument that led to a physical altercation?
“Yes, that is true.”
“And was this the first time he had struck you?”
Rosalind’s gaze lowered. “No, it wasn’t.”
“Did he beat you often?”
Rosalind’s chin rose slightly. “Depends on what you consider often, Your Majesty.”
This king waited for her to continue.
“If you are the kind of man that considers a beating a day as often, then my answer is no. But my uncle was prone to drinking too much, and in my opinion, he hit me often enough.”
“What of this Roland Kirkeby? Mr. Kelley tells me he won your hand in marriage in a card game. Why would my loyal baron negotiate the betrothal of his niece, the heiress to her father’s estate and his, to an untitled scoundrel as this? It makes no sense!”
“If I may, Your Majesty,” Mr. Kelley said, “It is my theory that Kirkeby knew more of Edmond’s dealings with your enemies than we suspected. Perhaps Lady Rosalind was to be a payoff not just for a gambling debt, but for his silence.”
The king nodded as he considered the plausibility of the theory. “Did you love your uncle, Lady Rosalind?”
The question surprised Devlin, but Lady Rosalind didn’t flinch.
“No, I did not.”
“Did you hate him?”
“I hated what he did; I hated what he was. But I did not hate him. I pitied him.”
“I believe you,” the king said. “Did you kill him, Lady Rosalind?”
Lady Rosalind blinked once. Then again. “No. I did not kill him.”
“Now this, I do not believe. At least not altogether.”
It didn’t seem possible that Rosalind could get any paler, but she did. Her breathing quickened once more. She turned her head his way and gasped, “Sir Devlin.” Her voice was barely audible, then her eyes rolled back in her head, and she swayed.
Devlin barely caught her before she hit the floor.
“Take her out of here, Sir Devlin. Take her to her chamber, place her guards back on watch and then return.”
Devlin’s stomach sank as he carried Rosalind from the room. Once he had left her on the bed in her chamber, he immediately returned to the cabinet room. The king was back in his chair. He motioned for Devlin to sit in front of him. Mr. Kelley sat calmly.
“Devlin, I now have to disagree with you. You saw Lady Rosalind’s reaction. I believe she may be guilty or, at the very least, involved in her uncle’s death.”
Devlin knew he had to choose his words carefully. “Your Majesty, I truly believe if she was complicit, that it would have been, at the very least, self-defense.”
“If that were true, then she should have said so. I’m not an ogre, you know. I would have listened. But frankly, she looked nothing but guilty and had no words for her own defense.”
“With the evidence against Edmond, I would think she would have done you a boon,” Mr. Kelley said.
“Despite his treachery, Edmond would have been worth more to me alive. With the proper motivation, he could have led me to the leader of this plot against me and the throne. No, I cannot have members of my court killing each other. I am the law of this land and no one else. Everyone would be wise to remember that.”
“And what of Lady Rosalind then?” Devlin asked.
“The circumstances are complex in her case. But I feel like a period of incarceration is justified.”
