“Aren’t you the nosy one, my lord?” Enid teased.
Lord Rushcliffe didn’t appear amused by her attempt to lighten the mood. “I do hope you were not making plans to see Lady Eugenie again.”
She eyed him curiously. “How did you know that?”
“You insult me,” he replied. “After all, I am a skilled investigator.”
“I never doubted that.”
Lord Rushcliffe gestured towards a bench that sat just off the path. “Would you care to sit down?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Do you intend to lecture me?”
“I do.” He paused and gave her a stern look. “Have you no shame?”
Not taking any offense, she said, “I’m afraid I lost that a long time ago.” It was a simple fact so why deny it?
Lord Rushcliffe’s jaw clenched. “You traveled across Town to The Brown Bear and met with a woman that is about to go on trial for the murder of my brother.”
“Lady Eugenie is innocent.”
“So say you,” Lord Rushcliffe said. “But the coroner is preparing for the inquest as we speak and he is confident the verdict will be in his favor.”
“He is rushing to judgment without all the facts.”
“Why should he not?” Lord Rushcliffe asked. “His case is strong, and Lady Eugenie has given him no reason to question that.”
Enid bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to think of something that might sway Lord Rushcliffe’s mind. But she was at a loss for words. Until Lady Eugenie revealed the full truth about what happened that day, no one could help her.
With a pointed look, Lord Rushcliffe asked, “So we are in agreement, then? You will stay away from The Brown Bear.”
“I cannot agree to that. I will do whatever I can to help Lady Eugenie.”
“To what end?” Lord Rushcliffe demanded.
Enid decided it would be best to appeal to his sense of decency. “Surely, you must have some doubt that Lady Eugenie could have done such a thing.”
Lord Rushcliffe stepped closer to her. “I stray on the side of the law,” he said, his gaze firmly set on her.
“But sometimes the law is wrong.”
“Not in this case.”
“How can you be so sure?” Enid pressed. “If Lady Eugenie is condemned, the Crown is killing an innocent woman.”
Lord Rushcliffe watched her quietly for a long moment, and she wondered what he was thinking. “You are impossible,” he finally declared.
“I have been called much worse, my lord,” she said. “I know you are grieving your brother, but I assure you that Lady Eugenie had nothing to do with his murder.”
“Where is your proof?”
“I have none.”
Lord Rushcliffe looked heavenward. “I don’t have time for this,” he said. “Just stay away from The Brown Bear. A public house is no place for a lady.”
