Page 66 of Murder in Moonlight
He put his arms around her. She tried to pull away, but for once he was not tentative. He held her, hugged her. “Angry about your father’s death?”
“About my father! Isawhim, Peter. With her, in the garden, by the swing, embracing. How could he do that to Mama? To us? I hated him. Part of me still hates him, still rages! Even in death he hurts us, and God punishes us.”
For once, he did not speak, did not lecture, only held her, stroking her hair, and for some reason a small stream of comfort began to trickle in. In truth, her anger had begun before her mother had told her about Papa’s affair with Alice Bolton. She had been angry about marrying Peter to please him, angry with Peter for being her husband, with herself for allowing it.
Yet now she let herself feel the comfort of Peter’s arms and recognized not just that he was a good man, but one who cared for her, loved her, as she did not deserve. She remembered she had liked him before their marriage. They had been friends.
Abruptly, she slid her arms around his neck, wondering if there were not after all many routes to love. And safety.
A knock sounded at the half-open door. She expected Peter to spring away from her to retain his dignity, but he merely raised his head from hers. “Yes?”
It was she who moved away, for it was Constance Goldrich who entered the room.
Miriam did not trust her. She was too beautiful, too self-assured, too confident in her handling of poor Randolph, whowas so utterly besotted. Or had been. Why had she even come to Greenforth?
“Excuse me for interrupting,” she said. “And please excuse me for what I am about to ask you.”
“If it needs to be excused,” Peter said, “perhaps it should not be spoken.”
“Perhaps,” Mrs. Goldrich said, “but the thing is, I think we all need to get to the truth of your father’s death, particularly now they have arrested Richards.”
Miriam frowned at her. “What is this to you, Mrs. Goldrich? Why do you keep interfering? It is the duty of the police to investigate, however unpleasant.”
“Oh, I like to help,” Mrs. Goldrich said vaguely. She twitched one side of her mouth into a self-deprecating smile. “And to own the truth, I would like to go home. The quicker we discover who killed your father, the quicker I am out of your hair. So please, help me reach the truth.”
So she didn’t believe Richards did it either. For her own reasons, Miriam needed to know why.
She waved her hand to one of the armchairs. “Please, sit.”
Mrs. Goldrich sat with her perfect grace. Miriam wondered if she had studied to achieve it, and what Mr. Goldrich had thought of her.
“What is it you want to ask?”
“A delicate matter,” said Mrs. Goldrich. “I think perhaps you were aware of your father’s infidelity.”
“One might ask how you thinkyouare aware of it?” Peter said coldly.
“Because I have spoken to Mrs. Bolton,” she said. “I am not here to cause trouble or gossip, let alone to judge. I just need to know how it was you knew, Mrs. Albright.”
Miriam looked her in the eye. “My mother told me. Somewhat obliquely, but she told me nevertheless. She was tooupset to keep it to herself, and she could hardly talk to Ellen about such things.”
The woman nodded, then immediately asked, “And how and when did your mother find out?”
Interesting that Miriam could still feel something more than anger. Perhaps that had lessened slightly, thanks to Peter, and let in other emotions. The family had nothing more to lose, scandal-wise.
“Last month,” Miriam said. “My mother was looking at the guest bedrooms after the Boltons had been visiting, thinking about the planning of this party. In one room, she found Mrs. Bolton’s earring caught on a sheet. And she smelled my father’s cologne on the pillow.”
“A guest bedroom,” Mrs. Goldrich repeated. “Which one?”
“The one now occupied by Mr. Davidson. Why? How is it important?”
“I’m not quite sure,” Mrs. Goldrich admitted. “But I think it is.” She rose. “Thank you, Mrs. Albright. Mr. Albright.”
When she had left, Peter looked thoughtful. “I cannot quite make up my mind about that lady.”
“Neither can I. Perhaps she will be good for Randolph after all.”
*
