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Bathsheba nodded. “And Roger was not a foolish man. Samantha has always maintained that he would never take such a risk.”
“Perhaps he encountered his assailants closer to the orphanage, and they forced him up into the wynd.”
“That’s what the authorities claimed—that he was dragged up into the wynd, robbed, and then murdered.”
“It’s a reasonable explanation.”
Bathsheba chopped down an impatient hand. “If it was only a robbery, why would only a small change purse—which contained but a few guineas—have been taken? He was wearing an heirloom signet ring and carried a very fine gold watch, but they were untouched. Surely you know how unusual it would be to leave those, especially the watch.”
Thieves were drawn to watches, particularly gold ones. They could fetch a substantial sum at pawnbrokers or resellers.
“Why then was it labeled a robbery in the first place?” he asked.
“Probably because it was the easiest explanation,” Bathsheba sardonically said. “And because Lord Beath, although truly grief stricken, hates scandal. Roger’s murder caused a great deal of gossip, some of it rather salacious since it happened in Old Town. When no suspects were found after a few weeks, Beath used his influence to have the case closed. Arthur Baines argued for a more thorough investigation, but he was overruled.”
Braden again felt a stab of jealousy that Baines was so intimately connected to Lady Samantha’s life. Irritated with himself, he took a healthy swallow of whisky before continuing.
“So, Beath squashed any investigations into what was clearly a suspicious death. Surely Lady Samantha must have objected.”
Bathsheba breathed out a weary sigh. “Roger’s death had a dire effect on her. She was ill for quite some time.”
“She did make a vague reference to that but gave no details.”
“Samantha was with child, about five months into her pregnancy. The shock caused her to have a miscarriage.”
God.
To lose both her husbandandher baby would be gutting. Braden’s family had weathered similar tragedies, sometimes just barely. They generated emotional riptides that could sweep through a life, leaving devastating consequences in their wake.
He shook his head. “No wonder she didn’t wish to speak of it.”
“People knew she was pregnant, of course, so I’m not truly revealing any confidences. Samantha doesn’t speak of it now, but it took her months to recover.”
“I am indeed sorry for her loss,” Braden quietly replied.
“So you see that she was in no condition to do anything after the murder. It was touch and go, according to John. He is of the opinion that Samantha was not well cared for in the aftermath.”
Braden frowned. “He wasn’t her doctor?”
“Not at first. John had only met Roger a few months before his death. Beath’s physician, Dr. Lane, attended Samantha.”
“That quack? He probably used leeches on her.” The notion of his poor, wee lass under the care of such a fool made his gut twist with anger.
“I can’t really say,” she vaguely replied.
Her odd response suggested that Bathsheba was holding something back. “She seems healthy now, though,” Braden said.
After all, she was running about the stews at night, slicing up villains with her blade.
“Thanks to John—and to Arthur Baines. Given his friendship with Roger, Arthur felt responsible for Samantha. When he learned of her poor condition, he overruled Lord Beath and immediately sent for John.” She gave a quick smile. “Arthur can be quite forceful, despite his rather jaded persona.”
Braden had thought the man an arrogant prat, one not inclined to exert much energy on anyone but himself. Apparently, it was not so.
“Well done for him. Lady Samantha is fortunate to have such a loyal friend.”
A sudden twinkle lurked in Bathsheba’s gaze. “Not to worry. She has no interest in Arthur Baines, and he apparently has no interest in her other than as a friend. He’s probably been a bachelor for too long, like some other people I know.”
Braden ignored her teasing jab. “Lady Samantha’s safety is what I’m concerned with, at the moment.”
