Page 113 of A Whisper at Midnight

They continued to Mrs. Styles-Rowdon’s house with Beryl’s retainers following behind.

Mrs. Styles-Rowdon’s housekeeper was just helping Beryl into the entrance hall as they entered. Both women registered surprise as the constables brought Mrs. Styles-Rowdon inside.

Teague stepped into the nearest room, the parlor, which was situated exactly like Beryl’s off the entrance hall. Everyone moved into the room, and Tilda made Hadrian sit on the settee where she joined him. She took over pressing the gloves to his arm, and he relaxed against the back of the settee, glad to be sitting down.

Beryl went to a chair and practically fell into it whilst the housekeeper said she would fetch some things to help Hadrian. He didn’t bother telling her that the cook from Beryl’s house was already doing so.

Teague remained standing, as did the constables who were holding Mrs. Styles-Rowdon. “You may put handcuffs on her now.”

One of the constables did so, securing her arms together in front of her. She was surprisingly stoic. Whilst she did not make eye contact with anyone, she did not appear as cowed as she had outside.

Teague turned toward the woman. “Mrs. Styles-Rowdon, you will be prosecuted for the crimes I mentioned outside.”

“What are those?” Beryl interrupted.

He repeated the crimes against Mrs. Styles-Rowdon’s parents and her two previous husbands. Beryl and her retainers gasped in near unison. “She’s a murderer,” Beryl said. “But why were you poisoning me? What would you have gained?”

When Mrs. Styles-Rowdon didn’t speak, Tilda replied. “I believe she wanted Louis for herself. He’d been giving her lavishgifts, so I’m sure she thought he would make a fine third husband.” Tilda looked toward the woman in handcuffs. “Do I have that right?”

“That was my plan, yes,” Mrs. Styles-Rowdon said in a low voice. She briefly looked at Beryl. “However, I grew to like you and I felt sorry for you because of Louis. I realized he had no money and was an idiot. He also treated you terribly and wasn’t at all faithful—not even to me, as I believe he was carrying on with the maid even after our affair began.”

“You were his paramour then,” Beryl said with a sniff.

Tilda nodded toward Beryl. “I found your rubies upstairs.”

“You then went on to poison Mr. Chambers?” Teague asked Mrs. Styles-Rowdon.

She nodded. “It seemed the right thing to do. No one liked the man. His staff loathed him. They complained to my cook and housekeeper about him taking advantage of the maids and of his treatment of Beryl, not to mention his drunkenness and generally uncouth behavior.”

Mrs. Dunning entered then and set a tray of medicinal items on a table. She hesitated, but Tilda motioned for her to come over.

Teague looked toward Clara. “You saw a tin in Mr. Chambers’ room of late?” At her nod, he continued. “Did you happen to see what was inside?”

“I did not.”

“I took him biscuits,” Mrs. Styles-Rowdon spat. “But those other women killed him first. Honestly, they did everyone a favor. Can’t we all agree on that?” She looked around the room.

No one debated her.

“Nevertheless, it is against the law for you to decide who ought to die for being a bad person,” Teague said. He addressed the constables. “Take Mrs. Styles-Rowdon to Scotland Yard. I need to collect the rubies as evidence and will follow shortly.”

The constables nodded and left with Mrs. Styles-Rowdon, who held her head high as they marched her from the room.

“We need to remove your coat,” Tilda said, drawing Hadrian’s attention.

“All right.” He let her do most of the work, wincing as the pain renewed with his movements.

“I’ll need to cut the shirt away,” Mrs. Dunning pronounced. She fetched a pair of scissors from the tray and cut Hadrian’s shirt at the shoulder.

Tilda then carefully peeled the sleeve away from his wound, whispering her apologies as he grimaced. Hadrian was glad she was there, for he found her demeanor and concern most soothing.

Mrs. Styles-Rowdon’s housekeeper returned and tended to Beryl.

Teague stepped toward the settee. “Sorry you were shot, Ravenhurst. Do you know where I can find the weapon?”

“It’s upstairs in her bedchamber,” Tilda said. “The rubies are in her dressing chamber in her jewelry box. She didn’t even bother to hide them somewhere special.”

“Mrs. Styles-Rowdon has been a successful criminal for some time,” Teague noted. “I’m sure she felt confident in her abilities at deception.”