Page 52 of Corpse in the Canal

Felix sighed. “Some rumor—spread, I think, by a disgruntled Jenkins cousin who would have inherited Dare Hall had little Clarence not been born. That Luke Jenkins had been inveigled into marrying a slave on his plantation, or that the marriage was not valid for one reason or another. Everyone was therefore curious to meet her. They left cards at Dare Hall, and Mrs. Jenkins duly invited the local gentry to tea. Unfortunately, it was while Percy was home, and his parents witnessed what was, in fact, his usual behavior around young and pretty women.”

“And instead of blaming Percy, they blamed her,” Mrs. Grey said. “Has everyone else followed that lead?”

“Not really,” Felix said. “But Mrs. Harvey is the only hostess on this side of Channing. The vicar, the doctor, and I don’t have wives, and there is no one else of a suitable class. Mrs. Jenkins is on various church committees, where she is met with proper civility, but apart from town fêtes, there are no social occasions to which she is invited. It must be lonely for her.”

“And has Percy kept up his pursuit of her?” Grey asked.

Felix knew where that was going too. He met the other man’s gaze directly. “I really don’t think so. How could he when he was rarely here and his presence unwelcome at Dare Hall?”

Grey said, “And yet Mrs. Jenkins was bothered by his constantly calling upon her when he was in the area, hanging around her grounds, accosting her in the street.”

Felix almost groaned. Foolish lady! Why had she admitted that?

Because she was too honest.

When he said nothing, the Greys appeared to move on. “Do you own a pistol, Sir Felix?” Mr. Grey asked.

He was ready for that one. “I own three, including a pair of antique dueling pistols. I also own several shotguns of varying age, for shooting parties.”

Grey nodded, as if this was no more or less than expected. “Tell me, whom did you see around Larchford on Thursday?”

Felix blinked. One could not relax for a moment in the company of these two… “Only a few of my own people,” he said stiffly, “going about their legitimate business.”

“Including West?”

Felix began to shake his head, then said honestly, “Actually, yes, I did see him that Thursday morning. He was helping with repairs to a couple the moorings at the bridge.”

That certainly interested them both. They might not have changed posture, but mentally they seemed to sit up.

“At what time was this?” Grey asked.

“I’m not quite sure. Around ten in the morning, give or take half an hour.”

“Did you see him again when you returned?”

“No, but then, I was out visiting all day and didn’t return until dark.”

“Did you see anyone else while you were out?” Mrs. Grey asked.

“Such as whom?”

“Anyone who had cause to dislike Percy. Mrs. West, for example. Or Mrs. Jenkins.”

Damn. Rather than protecting her, he seemed to have added to their suspicion of her. “Neither. I saw no one who had no reason to be in Larchford.” He decided this had gone far enough, and began to push himself to his feet, indicating an end to the interview.

“What about Dr. Owens?” Mrs. Grey asked brightly. “Or his daughter?”

*

“We suspect the Owenses now?” Solomon murmured as they walked down the path from Larchford House to the canal.

“I think we have to suspect anyone with any sort of motive.”

“What is theirs?” Solomon asked, mystified. “Penelope seems to be the one woman Percy did not harass.”

“Why not?” Constance shot back.

Solomon took her hand and threaded it through his crooked arm. “Because he had been warned off,” he guessed.