Page 24 of A Whisper and a Curse

The coroner said it appeared as if someone had poisoned Ward, then positioned him on the stairs as if he’d hung himself. “I would say that whomever moved the body and strung it up had to have been very strong. Or multiple people worked together.” He glanced toward the jurors. “I shall leave it up to these gentlemen to decide what happened. First, however, we shall hear from several witnesses, starting with Detective Inspector Teague.”

Teague answered the coroner’s questions regarding what he’d seen when he’d arrived at Ward’s house, including how the rope had been painted and that the arrangement of the victim made it look as though he was levitating. The journalists’ pencils moved quickly across their notebooks.

Next, the coroner spoke to Ward’s manservant, who acted as a butler, and to the housekeeper, who was also his cook. Interestingly, neither of them lived at Ward’s home. They left his house after dinner each night, and Ward had been alive when they’d departed the night before his death. When the manservant—a man in his late twenties called Nicholls—hadreturned in the morning, he’d found Ward hanging from the staircase.

The housekeeper had arrived shortly thereafter and fainted. Mrs. Radley was probably in her early thirties and appeared pale. She kept her back to Ward’s body as she answered the coroner’s questions—haltingly. As soon as he finished with her, she left the pub.

Next, Graythorpe addressed Lysander Mallory, who stood to respond. “Mr. Mallory, you are the head of the London Spiritualism Society of which Mr. Ward was a member?”

Mallory removed his hat and held it in his hand. He appeared earnest, his expression smooth and open. “I am. Cyril was one of our founding members and a skilled medium.” He pressed his rather full lips into a tight line.

The coroner fixed him with an expectant stare. “Have you any idea who might benefit from his death?”

“I do not. Cyril was well liked.” Mallory frowned sadly. “This is a great loss.”

“Are you aware that Her Grace, the Duchess of Chester, had recently bestowed an allowance upon Mr. Ward and that she had added him to her will?”

Tilda leaned forward, her curiosity once again strenuously piqued.

Murmurs and whispers erupted about the room, prompting the coroner to lift his hand. “Silence, please. I must hear Mr. Mallory’s response.”

Mallory nodded. “Yes. Her Grace is a great patron of the society and considered Cyril her personal medium and confidante. She is devastated by his death,” he added softly.

Graythorpe’s bushy brows rose briefly. “You’ve spoken with Her Grace since Mr. Ward died?”

“I have. I’d hoped to be the one to break the news to her, however, Detective Inspector Teague arrived first.” Mallorysent a cool look toward Teague, whose expression remained nonresponsive. The medium’s eyes, however, seemed to glitter with … something.

The coroner concluded his questioning of Mallory, then turned his attention to the jury. It was a surprisingly short inquest, with the coroner now advising the jurors to render a decision regarding the cause of death. After a brief conversation in hushed tones, the gentlemen of the jury determined that Ward had been murdered.

Graythorpe thanked them, then addressed Teague. “Detective Inspector, I hope you will find the perpetrator and ensure justice is served.”

Teague promised he would, and the inquest concluded.

Turning to Hadrian, Tilda inclined her head toward the detective inspector. “Let us speak with Teague.”

Hadrian gestured for her to precede him. “After you.”

Teague watched them approach and moved toward the corner, perhaps so they could converse more privately. “Do you have information to share?” He looked at both of them, but his gaze settled on Tilda.

“No, but I am offering my assistance, though I know you can’t accept it. At least not officially.”

“I will always welcome your unofficial input.” He gave her an apologetic look, his chin dipping.

Unofficial meant unpaid, and Tilda could not afford to work without compensation, particularly not when she had an active case on which she ought to be focusing. Except this murder was loosely associated with her existing investigation, which made it doubly hard to ignore.

“I can see it pains you to not be involved,” Teague said with humor.

Tilda smiled. “Quite. How did you determine the Duchess of Chester’s involvement?”

“We found papers in Ward’s desk,” Teague replied. He looked at Hadrian. “Do you know Her Grace?”

Hadrian’s brow arched. “You assume every member of the nobility is acquainted?”

Teague shrugged. “I thought I’d ask.”

“I met her when her granddaughter was on the Marriage Mart, back when I was considering matrimony.”

“Was that when you become betrothed to Beryl Chambers?” Teague referred to Tilda’s former client.