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“You don’t sound convinced.”
“I told you, I don’t remember all the details. If I knew what was going on, I’d be more convinced of my innocence.”
“Well, someone needs to jog your memory. So I’m going to see if I can find someone who was at the hunt that day. Maybe they can shed some light on the matter.”
Blackmore frowned.
“You’re not going to talk to your cousin, are you? He is firmly under the belief that I did kill Richard.”
“I was going to talk to Gregory again, but not right now.” Victoria stabbed at a tomato with her fork. “Surely, there are some of the servants who were around? I may not be well-versed in hunting, but I do know you wouldn’t be going without someone to carry things and the like.”
“I’ve already gotten started on that.”
Victoria paused.
“You have?”
“Manning mentioned a name. He left around the time that I did, but now he’s back. Manning’s going to ask him if he can come and talk to me.” Blackmore picked up his teacup and took a sip. “The young man in question is known for his good memory to the point it’s uncomfortable. Perhaps he will know something.”
“Oh.”
Victoria felt a little deflated. Blackmore’s mouth twitched.
“You don’t sound too happy about that.”
“I just….” Victoria sighed. “I just wanted to do this. There is so much going on in my head that I don’t know what to believe anymore. Especially after Mr Mayfield spoke to me about it.”
“When was this?”
“Yesterday. He started talking about the shot itself and the things you described. How he managed that, but he wasn’t present, I have no idea.”
“That’s because Charlie is one of the best trackers I’ve ever met. He can look at a scene where animals were slaughtered and figure out what happened.” Blackmore sipped his tea and put the cup just as the footman came over with his breakfast. He gave the man a nod as the plate was put in front of him. “I told him what I was aware of, and he focused on the details.”
“He believes you’re innocent from what you told him?”
“He’s got a good sense of judgement. Most of the time.” Blackmore picked up his knife and fork. “But if there is someone I’m going to trust when it comes to having an open mind and thinking about things logically, it’s Charlie Mayfield. He’s saved my skin many times before.”
“You trust him.”
“Absolutely.” Blackmore cut into one of the sausages. “I won’t know for sure until this young man comes here to speak to me, or I go to him. Until then, I’ve got to wait.”
“Can I join you?”
He glanced up at her.
“You want to join me?”
“Well, I’m your wife, aren’t I? And it was my brother who died. The least we can do is do this together.”
For a moment, Blackmore simply stared at her. Victoria thought he was going to turn her down. Then he nodded.
“All right. We can figure this out together. But what happens after that?”
Victoria took a deep breath, looking at the rest of the food on her plate.
“I think we’ll decide that when it happens, don’t you?”
***
