Page 39 of Evidence of Evil
Even in the dim candlelight, his flush was obvious. “Well, she could be,” he said uncomfortably. “When she was young.”
“Physically or emotionally?” Constance asked.
“Both. It was as if…”
“What?” Constance prompted him.
He raised his eyes to meet hers. “As though she really didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. Even though she had the same upbringing as I did, such matters didn’t seem to penetrate. Either that or she simply didn’t care.”
“What do you really think happened to her?” Solomon asked. “If you don’t truly believe Lady Maule somehow murdered her.”
John shrugged. “I could more easily imagine Maule himself doing it, in a fit of temper. Frances really could try the patience of a saint, and if she was up to her old tricks again… But there was no sign of anyone’s temper on her. I would think it really was a freak accident, if it wasn’t…”
“Wasn’t what?”
He grimaced. “Do people like Frances have such accidents? Just to make life more comfortable for those she left behind?”
Solomon’s skin pricked. There was a terrible admission in John’s words, a guilt that wasn’t necessarily over something as heinous as the murder of a sister.
“Who do you think gave her the bracelet?” Constance asked suddenly.
John blinked, turning to look at it again. “I don’t know. Her latest admirer, I suppose. Though I can’t imagine even theheadgroom affording that kind of trinket.”
“Groom?” Solomon repeated, startled.
John gestured disparagingly with one hand. “It was a mere flirtatious glance on her part, though the man played along. I didn’t mean it seriously.”
“Then whowasher latest admirer?” Constance demanded.
“I really don’t know. I didn’t want to.” A spasm crossed his face. “Do you suppose such willful blindness led to her death?”
“I doubt it,” Constance said kindly. “But we need to see the whole truth before we can tell what is relevant and what is not. We shan’t divulge anything about your sister that we don’t have to in order to find the culprit. May we talk to her maid again?”
“I’ll send her over to The Willows in the morning.” John walked across to the window and deliberately shut and locked it. “I’ll show you out by the front door, shall I?”
“That would be helpful,” Constance said shamelessly, bestowing upon John one of her brilliant smiles, which caused the poor young man to blink in bemusement.
“Just one more question for now,” Solomon said without moving. “What brought you here to your sister’s room in the middle of the night?”
John’s lips twisted. “I’d finally plucked up the courage to do what you’ve just done. Look amongst her private things.”
“Then you have no idea what is here?”
“Not beyondthose.” He pointed at the hidden jewelry. “Which she always kept there.”
“You might take a look at the notebook on top of the desk,” Constance suggested. “And tell us if it means anything to you?”
John swallowed. Solomon guessed he really didn’t want to look into his sister’s circumstances. But he would, whether to save the task from his father, or to prevent any further visits from Solomon and Constance. Or, worse, the police.
“I’ll look,” he said resignedly. “Though I don’t promise to understand it.”
*
Worcester, Colonel Niall’sbutler, had not slept well for months. Not since the family had come home to the Grange. Not sinceshehad.
As a result, he was in the kitchen in his dressing gown, making himself a cup of hot chocolate, when he heard the unmistakable sound of the front door opening. His head jerked up. Abandoning his chocolate on the table, he flew up to the entrance hall in time to see the shadows of two people vanishing out the front door. Mr. John, fully dressed, closed it behind them with an air of relief before he began to walk toward the staircase and saw Worcester standing there.
“I heard the door, sir,” Worcester said. “Is everything well?”
