Page 49 of Evidence of Evil
“Did Darby—er…vanish at about the same time?”
Elizabeth thought about it. “I…don’t know. He might have. He was a very genial host, flitting from group to group, playing cards, smoking cigars on the terrace, and dancing, of course. He danced with me, too, and was perfectly well behaved. Oh, Constance, are you saying you think the baby was Darby’s?”
“Therewasno baby, Elizabeth. The doctors would have found it during the autopsy.”
“Perhaps they decided not to tell. To save Colonel Niall worse distress.”
“It’s possible,” Constance admitted. “But I saw Dr. Murray’s face when the subject came up. He was shocked.”
“It’s a very odd thing to lie about.”
“Not if your aim is to wreck a marriage.”
“But Humphrey wouldneverhave married Frances. Not even if he divorced me. Not even if I died.”
“I suspect she would have found a way to force him, if that were what she truly wanted. But she might have been merely punishing him. I think she had another interest, one she was actually able to indulge in the present. Another lover she met in secret.” Who probably gave her a silver bracelet with a diamond at its center.
“Darby?”
“I doubt it. I have the feeling whatever their relationship in the past, it was over for Frances. Though perhaps Darby did not take his congé well. Or she threatened to tell his wife about their past affair. From what she said to you and Humphrey, this would be quite in character for her.”
Just for a moment, Constance had forgotten she was not talking to Solomon.
Elizabeth was staring at her. “What did she say to Humphrey?”
Damnation. “Oh, vague slanders against you that he didn’t believe for a moment.”
“Constance!”
Constance sighed and gave in. “That in London, before you came to The Willows as governess, you were a street whore.”
“Oh, dear God.” She buried her face in her hands. “Constance, how could she know? How could she have found out?”
“She didn’t,” Constance said, grasping both her hands. “She was spreading lies, like the nonsense about her own child. There is no way she could ever have found out about your past. She was in India.”
Although, would this firm of L. Dunne, who had told Frances about the baby, have told her other things, too? Couldtheyhave found out? If Frances had judged it more damaging than the baby story, it could explain why she hadn’t used that to upset Humphrey.
What other terrible information would John Niall find among his sister’s documents? Constance wished she’d taken them all last night.
“No wonder he is so cold to me,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Is he?” Constance asked, her heart aching for her friend.
“He tries not to be. And I have not helped, afraid Frances told the truth about carrying his child.”
“Maybe you should tell him the whole truth.”
“And bear his contempt, his disgust? I would rather die.”
“Oh, Elizabeth,” Constance said helplessly.
Frances was dead, but her damage lived on. Who else was suffering from it? And would the truth of her death change that?
*
Leaving Elizabeth playingwith the children at The Willows, Constance walked up to the Grange and followed the path to the stables.
Although Colonel Niall seemed to have locked himself up in the house with his grief, his stables appeared to be run still with military efficiency. He had a number of handsome, well-cared-for horses, one of which was being groomed in the yard. The others poked their heads over the stable doors, no doubt hopeful of a gallop with whoever approached.
