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Jack pounded his fist on the table in frustration. “Dammit!”
“I’m telling the truth, sir!”
Jack softened his voice before saying, “I know you are, Miss Harte. Did the duke ask you to use the powder on Dereham and Langley too?”
She nodded as her eyes welled with tears. “And you, sir.”
“Me?”
“I didn’t though because, well, because I heard you and the countess and it didn’t sound like you were having any issues in the bedroom. You both sounded quite pleased.”
Roberts covered a laugh with a cough.
“Do you still have the powder, Miss Harte?” Jack asked, ignoring the amused butler.
“Yes,” she rose and then raced to her room. She returned quickly, carrying a small vial of white powder. She handed to Jack and then sat down again.
Jack opened the vial and sniffed but there was no odor. He put the cork back in the vial and shrugged. “It might be,” he said to Roberts.
“Might be what?” Anne asked.
“Arsenic.”
“No! I would never poison someone,” she protested. “I wouldn’t.”
Jack glanced over at the woman. “I doubt you would willingly do such a thing. But if you were told it was something else, then you might.”
She covered her mouth with her hand and blinked multiple times. “It’s my fault, isn’t it? I’m going to hang.”
Roberts took her hand in his and patted it gently. “You’re not going to hang. You had no idea what was in that vial.”
“I trusted him,” she whispered. “Why would the duke do this to me?”
“It wasn’t you the duke was after, it was Lady Stanhope’s husbands,” Jack commented as he put the vial in his pocket. “Miss Harte, I know this is difficult but you mustn’t say anything to Lady Stanhope about our suspicions. I should hate to see her upset when we don’t know the entire truth yet. Perhaps someone told the duke that this powder would help...” What was that word she used? “Invigorate her husbands.”
Anne nodded. “I’m not sure how I won’t say something. I can be dreadfully chatty sometimes.”
“Perhaps you should visit your mother for a few days,” Roberts said with a smile. “I shall tell her ladyship that your mother was taken ill and you needed to help her.”
She looked over at Roberts with a watery smile. “You would do that for me?”
“As long as you tell no one what we discussed today,” Roberts ordered.
“Of course, Mr. Roberts. Thank you. I shall go pack my things.” Anne raced off to pack to valise.
“I will have a hackney waiting for you.” Jack looked at Roberts. “Where does her mother live?”
“Reading.”
Jack pulled out enough money to cover the trip and handed it to the butler. “Make sure a trusted footman escorts her.”
“I will do it personally.” Roberts looked askance at Jack. “What do you think about what she said?”
Jack tilted his head up to the ceiling and slowly shook his head. “If he is involved, it takes this case to a very delicate position. I certainly cannot accuse a duke of murdering three men and possibly his own daughter-in-law.”
“You believe he was involved in Lady Langport’s death too?”
“It only makes sense. He made no secret of how he felt about her.” Jack rose and patted his waistcoat pocket for the vial. “I need to take my leave now. Thank you for all your assistance, Mr. Roberts.”
