“You are writing a book?” Enid asked.
“I am,” Miss Bolingbroke said. “Or at least I am trying to, but my brain is befuddled with so many ideas.”
With a glance at the doorway, Enid inquired, “Does your mother know you are writing a book?”
“She does, and it is a great source of contention in our family.” Miss Bolingbroke put her hand up. “I know what you are going to say.”
“I doubt that.”
“Women do not write books and I am just wasting my time,” Miss Bolingbroke said with an exasperated voice.
Enid placed her teacup down and admitted, “I think it is brilliant.”
Miss Bolingbroke looked at her, baffled. “You do?”
“Why can’t more women write books?” Enid asked. “To answer your earlier question, I feel shame at eloping, but I do not regret my actions because it gave me my daughter.”
Miss Bolingbroke perked up. “It was rather convenient that your husband died, was it not?” she asked.
Enid didn’t want to reveal that she had played a hand in his death so she replied, “It was.”
“Do you want to tell me how he died?” Miss Bolingbroke pressed. “The newssheets were rather vague on that detail, reporting only that he died.”
“No, I do not wish to elaborate.”
Miss Bolingbroke bobbed her head. “I would imagine it was a great relief when he did die, though.”
“That it was,” Enid admitted.
Rosamond stepped into the room and a bright smile came to her lips. “Anette,” she said. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“Hello, Rosamond,” Miss Bolingbroke greeted. “I see that married life suits you rather nicely.”
“That it does.” Rosamond sat down next to Enid. “What brings you by today?”
Miss Bolingbroke waved her hand towards the door. “My mother is looking at a portrait with Lady Everton so I was just asking Lady Enid some questions.”
“For your book?” Rosamond asked knowingly.
“Yes, for research,” Miss Bolingbroke confirmed.
Rosamond shifted to face Enid. “What questions did she ask of you?”
“Whether or not I regret eloping,” Enid replied.
Her sister-in-law laughed. “You must excuse Anette but she means no ill-will with her questions. She is just curious.”
“That I am,” Miss Bolingbroke agreed. “What I wouldn’t give to interview Lady Eugenie and ask her why she killed her lover.”
Enid stiffened. “I do not believe that Lady Eugenie killed the late Lord Rushcliffe.”
“But wasn’t she caught in the act?” Miss Bolingbroke asked.
“I know that is what was reported in the newssheets, but Lady Eugenie is my friend. I just can’t believe she would do such a thing.”
“She is your friend?” Miss Bolingbroke asked.
“She is.”
