Page 99 of A Momentary Marriage

“Please don’t take it amiss, but I cannot believe that Claude tried to kill you.”

Laura gave him a soft smile. “That’s only natural; he’s your brother. I’m not sure myself. I hate to think that James’s brother would try to kill either of us, but he is the one who would profit most by our deaths. And he was upstairs when it happened.”

“But there were other people who weren’t in the ballroom, including me. The party was breaking up.” He sighed. “I do wish James hadn’t taken off with Claude like that. It’s not like him to be so impulsive.”

“I’m not sure James was thinking clearly last night.”

“No, of course not. He was distraught about you. The thing is, I don’t believe Claude did it, which means whoever did it is still here. And James is gone! I don’t know what to do. You’re in danger, and God knows how much help I’d be.”

“James left Dem here.”

“Yes, I saw him in the hallway. But Dem couldn’t have protected you from those other ‘accidents.’ ”

“Neither could James,” Laura pointed out.

“That’s why we must find the culprit before he tries again. Even worse now, if he succeeds, it’ll mean two deaths, because James will blame Claude.”

“You really think James would do that?”

“I imagine so,” Walter said matter-of-factly. “He’s rather fierce, you know, about the people he loves.” He gave her a half-sad smile. “I tell myself that’s why he gets angry with me for getting into trouble.”

Laura wasn’t sure she qualified as one of the people James loved right now, but she said only, “I’m sure he loves you. James just . . . isn’t very good at showing it.”

“He asked me about my manuscripts the other day,” Walter said shyly. “He said he would read one of them.” His grin broadened. “And he told me I didn’t have to go back to school if I didn’t want to. I nearly fainted.”

“You see? He cares about you. All of you. I think that’s why he hasn’t done anything before now about Claude; he couldn’t bring himself to accuse Claude, no matter how logical it was.”

“Claude wouldn’t kill him. He certainly wouldn’t do it in cold blood. And to do it in such a way, seeing James die by inches. No. Claude can be hard. He resents James and he’s often bitter, but he’s not cruel.”

“Then who could it be? That’s the sticking point. Who else would benefit from James dying? I have no trouble accepting that Mr. Salstone is that cruel, and he might be wicked enough to murder just to gain a laxer trustee than James for Patricia’s funds. But why would he try to kill me? It would gain him nothing, and it seems a large risk to take merely because he dislikes me.”

“It was a risk certainly. Someone could have seen him going in or out.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, no one did.”

“Perhaps they really were accidents.”

“It seems unlikely that urn would have fallen by itself. And we know someone plotted James’s death.” His face took on a determined expression. “I must investigate it. I can’t let James and Claude be at odds. Even if it turns out it was Claude, I have to know.”

“I’ll help you.” Laura stood up. “Where shall we start?”

They went first to the balcony, which lay off a little-used sitting room near the nursery wing. At the sound of their footsteps, Robbie popped out of one of the rooms farther down the corridor. “Hullo!”

“Hullo, Robbie,” Walter greeted him cheerfully. “Learning anything yet?”

“No,” Robbie returned proudly as he trotted down the hall toward them. “Will you take me down to the castle this afternoon? Miss Barstow says I cannot go alone, and Papa’s gone to London with Uncle James. I heard Uncle James and Papa had a mill last night. Did they?” He lifted his fists and launched into a pantomime of punching.

“Who told you that?” Walter asked.

“Nobody. I heard Mr. Netherly talking.”

“You hear entirely too much,” Walter responded. “Hasn’t anyone told you not to go listening at doors?”

The boy laughed, showing his gap-toothed grin. “Then I wouldn’t learn anything!”

The governess rushed down the hall after Robbie, looking harried. “Robbie!” She bobbed a curtsey to Walter and Laura. “Beg your pardon, sir. Ma’am.”

She hauled the boy back to his studies, scolding him in a low voice. Walter, watching them go, said, “He’s not a bad little chap, whatever Patsy says. He just gets bored.”

As they continued down the hall, a man trotted up from the back staircase and emerged into the hallway. He paused, looking startled, when he saw the two of them, but he recovered quickly. “ ‘Ah, what light through yonder window breaks . . .’ ” He swept an elegant bow toward Laura. “Lady de Vere. What a pleasure to see you.”