I gasped and opened my eyes. The vision had been so vivid I wondered a moment if I didn’t actually have second sight.
“Lord Peyton,” I whispered. “What did you see out of the window?”
23
My question was hoarse enough and dramatic enough that even Hannah flicked a startled gaze to me.
Lady Fontaine leaned forward. “Have you contacted him?” she asked eagerly.
I couldn’t bring myself to lie to the poor woman, so I didn’t answer the question directly. I continued to skim my fingers along the pipe.
“He came into the hall,” I said. “Did he hear a noise? See a flash of light? Why was he on this floor at all?” I asked Lady Fontaine in a more normal voice. “Did he use this drawing room?”
“His bedroom and study are the other chambers on this floor,” Lady Fontaine answered impatiently. “It was easiest that way, so he didn’t have to move up and down more than necessary. There’s a cubby behind his study, which the secretary used as his office.” Her lips pinched. “I still think the secretary wasto blame. He was very charming, but I always thought there was something furtive about him.”
I was certain Daniel would find that interesting.
I resumed my observations. “His attention was caught somehow, and he entered the hallway. Or he simply wanted to look out of a window. He could take himself about if he wished?”
“Oh, yes,” Lady Fontaine answered. “His chair is wicker, with cushions, so he could be comfortable. Edwin could move the wheels easily by himself, though Fagan usually insisted he do the pushing.” Her eyes filled again. “I can’t bear to look at the thing, waiting in the corner of his study. I will have to burn it, to purge myself of the memories.”
I did not tell her that she could donate it to a hospital or other home for invalids instead, so another could get some use out of it. I reminded myself that if she wanted to make a pyre to her brother, it was her business, no matter how much I disapproved.
“He moved to the top of the stairs,” I said. “Something he saw out of that window frightened him, or angered him. He stood up…and fell.”
I closed my mouth, and Lady Fontaine regarded me limply, the tears trickling to her cheeks.
“Poor Edwin.”
“Can you think of anything that would upset him so?” I asked.
Lady Fontaine shook her head. “I can’t imagine what. Perhaps a burglar, coming for the house. But there are usually grooms or stable lads in the back, at all hours. They’d stop a burglar, surely.”
Or Lord Peyton saw someone else. Someone he didn’t expect, or maybe someone hedidexpect, and feared. Perhapshe’d ordered the curtains to remain open so he could watch for that person.
Why then, would he have sent Fagan to bed, instead of having him stand guard? Unless he hadn’t wanted Fagan to know whom he looked out for.
I released a breath and removed my hands from the pipe. “That is all, I am afraid. But your brother loved you very much, and misses you,” I added quickly as Lady Fontaine eyed me morosely. “He said to tell you that.” That sort of small falsehood I could bear, because it was probably true. Lord Peyton would have found ways to keep Lady Fontaine from his house if he hadn’t cared for her.
Lady Fontaine relaxed. “Dear Edwin. He always looked after me.”
Hannah, who’d barely moved for the entire conversation, rose to her feet. “Her ladyship should rest now. Thank you for coming, Mrs.Crowe.”
Lady Fontaine put a fluttering hand to her chest. “Yes, yes, I need to lie down. See our guest out, Marjory, and then help me to my chamber.”
Hannah gestured me coolly to the door. I sent Lady Fontaine an encouraging smile as I rose and compliantly exited the room.
I glanced at the closed doors which I guessed hid Lord Peyton’s study and bedroom, but Hannah guided me inexorably down the stairs, a maid who wanted an unnerving guest to cease upsetting her mistress.
When we reached the ground floor, which was deserted, Hannah abruptly seized my elbow and steered me into the reception room.
“Stay here until I tuck the old dear into her bed,” she whispered to me. “Her chamber’s up on the fourth floor, so she’ll bewell out of the way. I’ll fetch you, and you can have a rummage round.”
“What about the housekeeper and other maids?” I asked with uneasiness. “And Fagan?”
“I’ll keep ’em out of the way.” Hannah gave me her impish smile. “Here’s your ten guineas.” She handed me a thick envelope that a peek showed me contained a wad of one-pound notes. “I collected the fee for you beforehand, so she couldn’t change her mind.” She winked. “A good day’s graft, innit?”
* * *
