Page 45 of A Whisper at Midnight

They went into the parlor and Beryl sank onto the settee. Hadrian sat beside her and gave her an encouraging smile, then looked to Tilda who took a chair opposite them.

Tilda fixed her attention on Beryl. “When I spoke with Clara yesterday, she told me she and your husband had an intimate relationship before he married you.”

Beryl stared at her. “Before?”

“Yes, and not since,” Tilda said firmly. “Still, she is worried you will dismiss her.”

“I’m—” Beryl shook her head. “I don’t know what I am.”

“Clara is quite loyal to you,” Tilda said.

“Is she? I always thought she admired Louis.” Beryl scoffed. “She seemed to.”

“She may have, but when she learned of his abuse toward you and saw it for herself, she became your staunch supporter. She told me you are better off without him.”

Beryl sniffed again. “I suppose that’s nice.”

There was a knock on the door. Beryl looked toward the entrance hall.

“I haven’t seen Oswald return,” Hadrian said. Their settee faced the entrance hall, and Hadrian hadn’t noted the butler at all. “I’ll answer the door.”

Hadrian stood and made his way to the front door. Opening it, he was surprised to see a constable. Hadrian recognized him as one of the men who’d been at Beryl’s house the previous day with Teague.

“Lord Ravenhurst, I’m to inform you and everyone in the household that the inquest has been postponed until Monday. Same time and place.”

“Why?” Hadrian’s blood was suddenly pumping faster. This seemed a significant change.

“I can’t say, my lord. Will you deliver the message?”

“I will, thank you.” Hadrian closed the door and returned to the parlor. Pressing his lips together, he met Tilda’s gaze. “That was one of the constables who was here yesterday. The inquest has been postponed until Monday.”

Tilda shot to her feet. “I heard you ask why but nothing else. What did he say?”

“That he couldn’t say why.”

Frowning, Tilda rushed to the entrance hall. Hadrian followed her, watching as she opened the door and stepped outside. She looked down the street where the constable was striding in the direction of the pub where the inquest was to be held.

“Do you want to go after him?” Hadrian asked.

“No.” She exhaled, then turned back and stepped into the house.

Hadrian closed the door. “Why would they postpone the inquest? Does that happen often?”

“I don’t know the answer to either of those questions. I’m inclined to seek Teague out and ask him, but we’ve other matters to investigate first.” She looked up at him with firm determination.

It seemed to Hadrian she had a plan. “The lodging house in Spitalfields?”

She nodded. “Let us be on our way.”

“We need to inform the household about the inquest,” Hadrian noted.

Beryl appeared in the doorway to the parlor. “I’ll tell everyone about the inquest being postponed. Though I don’t know where Massey is. I don’t believe he slept here last night, and no one has seen him.”

“Does anyone know where he goes when he has his free nights?” Tilda asked.

Hadrian wished they’d been able to hear that part of Massey’s conversation with Teague yesterday.

“He always said he was visiting family, but I don’t know who or where that is,” Beryl replied. Her expression turned sad once more. “Farrow would have known. They were rather friendly.”