“Unfortunately, that’s water under the bridge, or at least it is unless we want to commit a murder of our own.”
I waited, but he didn’t tell me to go ahead and plot Laetitia’s demise.In the absence of that, I continued.“Now that the title is within reach, I wouldn’t put it past your fiancée to kill untold masses of people to hang on to you.She likes you well enough on your own, but the title and fortune would tip the scales, I imagine.She would also frame me for murder without any compunctions whatsoever.Nothing would make her happier than to get me out of the way.”
In fact, I was probably next on her list, if getting me arrested didn’t work.
Crispin made a noise, but it was hard to say whether it was laughter or something else.I glanced at him, but he merely cleared his throat and gestured for me to go on.
“She could have made the drive to Upper Slaughter,” I said.“She was there when Hughes left for Bristol in July, so she knew where to find her, and she had time to go to the village while you were dealing with Uncle Harold’s paperwork this morning.And I don’t think she would have hesitated to borrow your motorcar.”
“No,” Crispin confirmed.“She has used it before.But you don’t know her the way I do, Darling.”
I made a face.“Certainly not.”
“You know what I mean.She really isn’t so bad when you get to know her.”
“I’ll take your word for it.Are you telling me that you don’t think her capable of murder?”
He hesitated.“I think we’re all capable of murder in the right circumstances.Or the wrong ones.When the stakes are high enough that murder seems the easiest way out.”
“Well, that’s the case for Laetitia.And then, of course, there’s you.”
He nodded.“Yes, I’m well aware of what you think of me.”
“I’m not sure you do,” I said, “but you can’t deny that you had motive.”
He shook his head.“Not at all, Darling.I also had means and opportunity.It’s my motorcar that’s leaking.I could have motored to the Cotswolds and back overnight, more easily than most of the rest of you.It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve gone without sleep.I could have told you and Kit that I was doped to throw suspicion off myself.I could have shut myself in the study yesterday, and then sneaked out through the boot room door.When Alfie saw me come back from the village with the bloody wrench, I could have killed him, too.I had the opportunity to do all of it, and a better motive than most.”
Yes, indeed.“I’m not going to say anything to anyone,” I said, as we reached the door to the conservatory and he opened it for me and bowed me through.“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”He shut the door behind us, and locked it, and we headed in.
“I don’t care about most of these people,” I continued.“Grimsby was a blackmailer, and so was Hughes.Morrison was unkind to Constance, and anyone who’s unkind to Constance can’t possibly be a nice person.”
His lips twitched, and I added, “Doctor Meadows seemed like a decent chap, and it’s awful about Alfie.But it’s in Constable Daniels’s hands, and not mine.I’m going to leave well enough alone and not get involved.”
Crispin nodded.“I’m sure that’s the safest thing you can do.”
We reached the door at the other end of the conservatory, and he opened it and waited for me to step through.Outside in the hallway, I lingered.“I should make certain that the boot room door is locked.We don’t want anyone who doesn’t belong to be able to get in.”
“I’ll walk you,” Crispin said.
“That’s not necessary.I made it down here on my own earlier.”And I had assumed that he’d want to take the quickest route up to his own rooms.
“It seems the least I can do,” Crispin said, “with your arm out of commission.What would you do if anyone attacked you between here and there?”
“Scream loudly,” I told him, since there wasn’t much else I could do.
“Better just to let me accompany you.”He eyed the arm dubiously as we set off.“Are you certain you don’t want anything for that?Laudanum?Or perhaps a sling?”
“It’s already better,” I told him, even as I still held it cradled against my body.“If it’s not well again by tomorrow, I’ll wrap a scarf around it and ask Francis to take a look.”
We headed down the east wing, past the game room, library, and drawing room, and into the central and west wing, where Crispin locked the door between the boot room and the outside while I watched.
“Are you certain about not wanting a gun?”he inquired when we were walking again, past the gun room this time.
I shook my head.“I’ll lock myself in when we get upstairs.I’m not worried.”
“As you wish.”
