Page 90 of The Sins of the Wolf (William Monk 5)

“Aye—I did.”

“Thank you. That is all, Miss McDermot.”

She made as if to leave, turning in the box to fumble her way down again.

Argyll rose to his feet.

“No … Miss McDermot. A few minutes of your time, if you please!”

She gasped, blushed scarlet, and turned back to face him, chin high, eyes terrified.

He smiled at her, and it only made it worse. She looked about to faint away.

“Miss McDermot,” he began softly, his voice like the growl of a sleeping bear. “Did you show Miss Latterly your mistress’s jewels?”

“Of course not! I’m not …” She stared at him wildly.

“Not a foolish woman,” he finished for her. “No, I had not thought you were. I imagine you would not dream of showing your mistress’s jewels to a relative stranger, or indeed to anyone. On the contrary, you would be most discreet about them, would you not?”

Gilfeather half rose. “My lord …”

“Yes, Mr. Gilfeather,” the judge said sharply. “I know what you are going to say. Mr. Argyll, you are leading the witness. Ask questions if you please, do not assume answers.”

“I apologize, my lord,” Argyll said with outward humility. “Now, Miss McDermot, please enlighten the court as to the duties of a good lady’s maid. What would your mistress have said had you shown her jewels, or any other of her valuable possessions, to anyone outside the family? Did she give you instructions on this matter?”

“No sir. It wouldn’t be necessary. No servant would do such a thing and expect to keep her position.”

“So you are quite certain you did not show the pearl brooch, or any other piece, to Miss Latterly?”

“Aye, I’m absolutely positive I did not. The mistress kept her jewelry in a case in her bedroom, not in the dressing room, sir. And I didn’t have a key to it.”

“Quite so. Thank you. I had not doubted you, Miss McDermot. I imagine the Farralines can afford to have the best servants in Edinburgh, and would not keep anyone who disregarded so basic a rule.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Now, this medicine cabinet. Please think very carefully, Miss McDermot. How many vials does this cabinet hold?”

“Twelve sir,” she said, staring at him warily.

“And each one is a separate and complete dose.”

“Aye sir, it is.”

“How are they laid out, Miss McDermot?”

“In two rows of six.”

“Side by side, one above the other, in two trays? Please describe it for us,” he instructed.

“One above the other, in the same tray … like … like two halves of a book … not like drawers,” she replied. Something of her anxiety seemed to lessen.

“I see. A very precise description. Do you have new vials each time the medicine is prescribed?”

“Oh no. That would be most wasteful. They are glass, with a stopper in. It is quite airtight.”

“I commend your thrift. So the apothecary refills the vials when the medicine is obtained?”

“Yes sir.”