Page 8 of A Whisper at Midnight

“It’s shocking because a man was murdered in his bed. And I amsomewhatfriendly with Mrs. Chambers,” Hadrian said vaguely. He would need to tell Teague about the note she’d sent him as it may pertain to his investigation. Why was he hesitating? Because he wanted to know more about the situation before he said or did anything that might incriminate Beryl. She’d sent Hadrian a rather desperate note, and then her husband had been killed. He couldn’t help wondering what the connection might be.

Wait, did Hadrian think she’d killed her husband? No, he couldn’t fathom it, actually.

Teague’s gaze hadn’t moved from Hadrian. “Why didn’t you marry her?”

“We were not a love match,” Hadrian said.

“Mrs. Chambers, I am so sorry.” The feminine voice carried to Hadrian in the bedchamber from the study. He knew that voice. His pulse picked up speed and a rush of anticipation spread through him. The pain in his head lessened, as if driven away by his excitement.

Hadrian turned and went into the study. His gaze fell on Tilda, and he couldn’t help the smile that teased his mouth. She looked lovely, her reddish-blonde hair neatly coiled beneath her smart green hat. Her green gaze was fixed on Mrs. Chambers.

Wait.What in the bloody hell was Tilda even doing here?

He stepped toward them. “Tilda, what a surprise to see you here.” He watched her eyes flash with her own surprise, then she cocked her head in a manner that indicated an awkwardness to the situation.

“I am working on an investigation involving Mrs. Chambers,” Tilda said, her heart-shaped face reflecting concern and perhaps a touch of hesitation. “I’m surprised to seeyouhere.”

“I invited him,” Mrs. Chambers said quietly.

Both Tilda and Hadrian swept their gazes toward her.

Mrs. Chambers went on, keeping her voice low. “I was going to ask for his help in finding a place to stay, as you suggested, Miss Wren. That was before. Before what happened to Louis.”

Why was Tilda suggesting Beryl leave her home? Hadrian looked from Beryl to Tilda.

“What are you investigating?” Hadrian also spoke softly.

“I wanted to divorce Louis,” Beryl whispered.

Hadrian’s insides went hollow for a moment. She wanted to divorce her husband, and now the man was dead.

“Does Detective Inspector Teague know that?” Hadrian asked.

Tilda snapped her attention to Hadrian. “Teague is here? And he’s a Detective Inspector now?”

Hadrian nodded. “He was just promoted to the Detective Branch two days ago. He’s in the bedchamber.” He glanced toward the constable who was eyeing them suspiciously. “Perhaps we should postpone this conversation.”

“Yes,” Tilda murmured. “The butler told me Mr. Chambers had been murdered. Do you know what happened?”

“Stabbed in the heart,” Hadrian replied.

A sob caught in Beryl’s throat. She pressed her handkerchief to her mouth as a few more tears leaked from her eyes. “Clara found him when she went in to stoke the coals this morning. She’s quite distraught.”

“Clara is the maid?” Hadrian asked, and Beryl nodded.

Tilda looked at Beryl with sympathy. “Then you sent for the police?”

“Yes. I do think I need to sit down. And drink the tea you mentioned, Hadrian.”

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll go downstairs and fetch some.”

“I’ll come with you.” Tilda gently put her hand to Beryl’s arm and guided Beryl to a table and into a chair. “We’ll be back with tea directly.”

Tilda strode from the study, and Hadrian followed. When they were in the sitting room, she turned her head to give him an arch look.

“What?” Hadrian said.

Tilda moved to open a door in the corner that led to the servants’ stairs down to the kitchen. “This is not where I imagined I would encounter you next.”