Page 77 of A Whisper at Midnight

“I’m sorry he troubled you,” Hadrian said. “We’ll take our leave now.”

Beryl gave him an expectant look. “You’ll come to the funeral?”

Hadrian smiled. “Of course.”

“And you’re still searching for my missing jewelry?” Beryl asked Tilda.

Tilda felt Hadrian looking at her. She didn’t want to tell Beryl about the rubies that Louis had given to his mistress—not yet anyway. Hopefully, Tilda would identify the woman and recover the jewels. Then she would tell Beryl what had happened, rather than add to her turmoil right now.

“I am,” Tilda replied. “I will let you know if I am able to make any progress.” She looked at Hadrian and again inclined her head slightly toward the door.

They said goodbye to Beryl and Oliver and took their leave. Outside, Tilda explained to Hadrian why she hadn’t told Beryl about the rubies.

“That is probably the kindest thing at the moment,” he said. “She doesn’t need to be angry about her husband giving her jewelry to his mistress in addition to everything else.”

“Agreed.” Tilda thanked Leach as he helped her into the coach.

When Hadrian settled in beside her, she added, “I also didn’t want to point out that she couldn’t afford to pay me, yet I would do my best to find her jewelry anyway.”

“I’m glad you’re letting me pay you for your time.”

“It isn’t much,” she said as the coach began moving. “You’ll be paying me far more for the investigation into the murder, especially now that arsenic has been found.”

He grinned at her. “And you’re worth every shilling.” He paused, his features sobering, before going on. “Did you have the feeling there may be a closer bond between Beryl and Oliver than just in-laws comforting one another?”

“I’m glad I wasn’t alone in thinking that. I should like to know more about Louis’s debts.”

“Such as whether he may have owed someone who would have killed him over not being repaid?” he asked.

“Precisely. Though if that’s the case, that means someone was poisoning Louis and someone else—a criminal—stabbedhim.” Tilda looked at Hadrian. “It’s just such a coincidence that he was being poisoned and was then stabbed.”

“Is it, when so many people had a motive to kill him?”

Tilda supposed not. “I should like to call on Pollard tomorrow. I would have also liked to speak with Daniel Chambers, but it seems we must wait until after the funeral.”

“I will pick you up tomorrow morning at eleven, if that is acceptable,” Hadrian offered.

“Indeed. Thank you.”

“Damn, I forgot to speak with Beryl about Massey’s employment,” Hadrian said, crossing his arms over his chest with a deep frown.

“After listening to Oliver, there may not be money to pay him,” Tilda said.

“That is a concern.” Hadrian blew out a breath and uncrossed his arms. “Chambers was a right bastard.”

“Don’t let anyone else hear you say that,” Tilda warned.

He turned his head to look at her, his features softening. His eyes were a dark blue in the dim light of the coach, and they glittered with a surprising intensity. “Thank you for your support today, particularly with the reporters.”

“You don’t deserve any of this trouble.”

“I appreciate you saying that. This will pass. I just hope that happens soon.”

“We’re going to solve this case,” Tilda vowed. She prayed it would be soon too.

CHAPTER 16

Tilda was ready when Hadrian arrived at eleven the following morning. She didn’t want to waste a moment with him coming in to exchange pleasantries, though she knew her grandmother would be disappointed. Instead, she promised he would come in when he brought her back later in the day.