Page 58 of A Whisper at Midnight

In short order, they were seated at a table and ordered a light repast, including wine, which was delivered with alacrity.

Hadrian offered a toast. “To making progress with our investigation.”

Tilda tapped her glass to his. “I will toast to that, but I am still bothered about the postponement of the inquest.”

After sipping his wine, Hadrian set the glass down with a slight frown. “It is agitating not to know why, isn’t it?”

“Quite.” She took a second small sip of wine, then put her glass on the table. “I fear we won’t know until Monday.” After eyeing him a moment, she said, “You were very kind to offer tohelp Massey, particularly after he contributed to your being a suspect in Chambers’ death.”

“I am just glad he won’t be repeating that nonsense at the inquest.”

“Still, you didn’t have to offer your assistance.” Not that Tilda was surprised. Hadrian had often demonstrated his concern for others.

“I worry that the retainers in the Chambers’ household will suffer through no fault of their own.”

“Provided they are all innocent of any participation in Chambers’ death,” Tilda noted.

“Yes, of course,” Hadrian said. “This is a scandal, and it may be difficult for them to find employment. I don’t mind helping them if they need it.”

“Are all earls as kind as you?” Tilda asked bemusedly.

Hadrian laughed. “I couldn’t say.”

Their food arrived, and Tilda immersed her thoughts in the investigation whilst she ate her steak-and-kidney pie. She was nearly halfway through it before Hadrian broke the silence.

“I can practically hear you thinking,” he said with a smile. “What brilliant deductions are you making now?”

“None. I am trying to make sense of all we know. I confess I am slightly stuck on Martha and how she fits into Chambers’ murder—orifshe does. Her death could simply be an accident.”

“But the timing is bizarre,” Hadrian noted.

“Perhaps I am spending too much time thinking about Martha,” Tilda said. “Let us return to Louis’s murder and what we know about that. We know the killer likely entered his bedchamber through his dressing room—and brought the knife with him.”

“Or her,” Hadrian noted. “Pity no one has found the knife.”

“I do wonder if it was the one missing from the kitchen,” she mused. “I keep thinking of people’s motives and what wouldhave pushed them to fetch a knife from the kitchen to kill Chambers. It would not have been an act of sudden passion where the killer grabbed whatever weapon was available. They planned to kill him.”

“Since there was no evidence of anyone breaking into the Chambers’ home, it does seem as though it may have been someone in the household,” Hadrian said.

Tilda smiled. “You are beginning to sound like an investigator.”

“Thank you. I’ve an excellent instructor.” He lifted his glass once more and took a sip.

Tilda took another bite of pie. After swallowing, she said, “Using that theory, our primary suspects would be Beryl and all the retainers. That leaves you and Pollard out.”

“Well, we know I didn’t do it.”

“Of course. But I don’t think we can discount Pollard yet. Especially since we don’t know why the inquest was postponed. I must presume there is evidence of which we are unaware.”

“Let us focus on the retainers for now,” Hadrian said. “Massey didn’t think Clara would have done it.”

“I’m not sure he’s reliable. He lied about you having an affair with Beryl—or at least he misled Teague. He also has a strong motive. Chambers knew his secret and had threatened to expose Massey. He’d also treated Martha, whom Massey liked, poorly.”

“What of the cook, housekeeper, and butler?”

Tilda picked up her wineglass. “I am not aware of any specific motives they may have. Unless they simply didn’t like Chambers. He seemed to be rather disagreeable.” She sipped her wine.

“That is a diplomatic way of putting it,” Hadrian said drily. “He was a blackguard.”