Enid leaned forward in her chair and rested her arms on the table. “How did you end up here?”
Lady Eugenie glanced at Mr. Moore before saying, “I went to visit Lord Rushcliffe and his main door was open. I thought that was odd so I went inside. I found him on the bed with a knife sticking out of his chest. I tried to save him, but it was in vain. Then, not a moment later, I was surrounded by people and I was arrested. I have been here ever since.”
“Where were the servants?” Enid asked.
Glancing down at her hands in her lap, Lady Eugenie replied, “Lord Rushcliffe kept an apartment for his… um… discretions. It was a place that his wife knew nothing about.”
“When did you become Lord Rushcliffe’s mistress?” Enid asked.
Lady Eugenie’s eyes shot up. “I was not his mistress,” she asserted.
“Why were you there, then?” Enid inquired.
“I would rather not say,” Lady Eugenie replied.
Mr. Moore shoved off from the wall. “You will need to eventually tell us why you went to Lord Rushcliffe’s apartment.”
“It has nothing to do with his murder,” Lady Eugenie said.
“How can you be so sure?” Enid asked.
Lady Eugenie rose and walked to the window. As she stared out, she replied, “I can never reveal why I was there. I am willing to take that secret to my grave.”
Mr. Moore rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “It might come to that if you aren’t completely honest with me.”
“I can’t give you what you seek,” Lady Eugenie said in a resigned voice.
“Quite frankly, I was hoping you would confide in Lady Enid,” Mr. Moore remarked. “What is so terrible that you would be willing to die for?”
Lady Eugenie offered him a sad smile but remained silent, causing Enid to say, “Please let us help you. You were the only one that was there for me when I was married to John and I want to return the favor.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t…” Lady Eugenie started.
The door flew open, and Allen stepped into the room with a smug smile on his lips. “This meeting is over. The coroner wants to speak to Lady Eugenie.”
“This is unacceptable!” Mr. Moore declared. “I am her barrister and she has a right to counsel.”
Allen crossed the room and grabbed Lady Eugenie’s arm. “Tell that to Sir David,” he said before he forcefully led her out of the room.
Mr. Moore picked up his satchel and said, “If you will excuse me, I need to go have a word with Sir David and I can promise you that it won’t be a conversation a lady should be present for.”
“I understand.”
“May I walk you to your coach first?” Mr. Moore asked. “It would make me feel better to know you are safely away from this place.”
“As you wish.”
ChapterFour
The hackney jerked to a creaking stop in front of The Brown Bear. Greydon reached his hand through the broken window and opened the door. As he stepped onto the pavement, he adjusted the black top hat on his head and approached the main door of the public house.
The guard out front acknowledged him with a tip of his head. “Good afternoon, Mr. Campden,” he said as he went to open the door.
He was relieved that the guard hadn’t made the connection of who he truly was. The fewer people knew that he was a viscount, the better. “Good afternoon,” Greydon responded. “Is Sir David Abbott in his office?”
“He is,” the guard confirmed.
“Very good,” Greydon said as he stepped through the door. It took his eyes only a moment to adjust to the dimly lit hall.
