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The attendant departed, and Gideon turned back to Sam.

“I am Detective Inspector Pierce, and this is Miss Poole. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

The young man nodded and followed them into Kerrigan’s room. At the long, clean worktable in the center of the room, they all sat down. Gideon retrieved his notepad and asked for the young man’s full name and position at the museum.

“Samuel Potter, sir. I clean and sometimes repair what’s broken if the usual repairman is absent.” He swallowed repeatedly, causing his Adam’s apple to bob.

Gideon judged nothing more than the usual nervousness anyone might feel at being questioned by a police officer. “How long have you worked at the museum?”

“About a year, sir.” He shuffled his hands together as Gideon noted what he’d said. “I come in early most days. Sweep the floors in the main halls before the others start arriving around nine. After that, I come through the back offices.”

“And when did you meet Miss Collier?”

The young man scratched his clean-shaven chin. “Must have been shortly after she started.” His throat clicked as he swallowed, a slight blush covered his cheeks, and his eyes took on a glossy sheen. “She was impossible not to notice.”

“You were fond of her,” Electra said.

The young man swiped at his eyes, then offered Electra a nod.

“Very fond of her, Miss Poole. A tragedy that she is no longer here. She was lovely, funny, friendly.” He sniffed, and his blush deepened.

“Were you courting her?” Gideon asked.

Potter’s expressive face fell. “I would have liked to, but she was not willing to give her affections to any particular gentleman. There were several of us who were quite fond of Calliope.”

“Did you ever see her outside of the museum?”

“Aye, sir.” He sniffed again and sat up straighter. “A few times.”

“And when did you meet Miss Delacourt?”

He blinked as if surprised by the change in topic. “I believe it was her first day, several months ago. She was nervous and a bit lost, and I led her to Mr. Kerrigan’s office.”

“Did you observe the friendship between Miss Collier and Miss Delacourt?” Electra asked.

The young man nodded again. “Oh yes, they became fast friends. Calliope was like that. Easy to befriend.”

“Did you ever see the two of them together outside of the museum?” Gideon asked.

“A few times. Calliope convinced her to come dancing once, but she didn’t take to it. Miss Delacourt was quite shy. I had the sense she lived a rather sheltered life. The idea of going out to have a bit of fun in the evening seemed almost unthinkable to her. She said she would need to ask her father. And Calliope teased her for that. I think it hurt her feelings.”

“What made you think so?” For the first time, Gideon wondered if the friendship between the two young women had contained more conflict than the Delacourt family knew.

“Well, I saw her crying,” he admitted regretfully. “She was embarrassed, but I reassured her the best I could. Nothing wrong with being shy. Nothing wrong with being respectful to one’s father’s wishes.”

“What did she say?” Electra asked quietly.

Potter hung his head a moment. “She apologized for being overcome. I wouldn’t hear of it. I reassured her as well as I could and gave her my handkerchief. Then I went to find Calliope and let her know that some require a softer touch. That Miss Delacourt was a tender-hearted sort. She seemed to take it in, and I didn’t see them speak to each other afterwards, but it must have gone well because Miss Delacourt came along to the dance hall.”

“But you said she didn’t seem to take to it,” Gideon pointed out.

Potter nodded. “At first, she seemed to enjoy it. The music draws you in. But the room was sweltering, and gentlemen can be a bit forward. She got overwhelmed.” He looked chagrined and glanced to the side as if recalling the night. “Some of the lads asked her to dance, and she always said no. Like I said, shy. But pretty. So of course she got attention.”

“Did you ask her to dance?” Gideon asked.

Potter’s brows lifted. He looked surprised by the question. “Not at all. I sat with her between dances, but Calliope did too. The only girl I wanted to dance with was Calliope.”

Tears welled in the young man’s eyes again, and he pressed his lips together.