it. It is one of the things one simply has to endure." She saw the feint curl of amusement at the corners of his lips, and ignored it.
"I had better wait until Mr. Erskine contacts me," he said with returning gravity. "I will be able to speak to Mrs. Carlyon herself. I promise you I will do so."
"Thank you. I am most obliged." She rose to her feet, and automatically he rose also. Now it suddenly occurred to her that she owed him for his time. He had spared her almost half an hour, and she had not come prepared to pay. His fee would be a considerable amount of money from her very slender resources. It was an idiotic and embarrassing error.
"I shall send you my account when the matter is closed," he said, apparently without having noticed her confusion. "You will understand that if Mrs. Carlyon engages me, and I accept the case, what she tells me will have to remain confidential between us, but I shall of course inform you whether I am able to defend her or not." He came around from behind the desk and moved towards the door.
"Of course," she said a little stiffly, overwhelmed with relief. She had been saved from making a complete fool of herself."I shall be happy if you are able to help. I shall now go and tell Mrs. Sobell - and of course Mr. Erskine." She did not mention that so far as she was aware, Peverell Erskine knew nothing about the enquiry. "Good day, Mr. Rathbone - and thank you."
"It was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Latterly." He opened the door for her and held it while she passed through, then stood for several moments watching her leave.
* * * * *
Hester went immediately to Carlyon House and asked the parlormaid who answered the door if Mrs. Sobell were in.
"Yes, Miss Latterly," the girl answered quickly, and from her expression, Hester judged that Edith had forewarned her she was expected. "If you please to come to Mrs. Sobell's sitting room, ma'am," the maid went on, glancing around the hallway, then lifting her chin defiantly and walking smartly across the parquet and up the stairs, trusting Hester was behind her.
Across the first landing and in the east wing she opened the door to a small sunlit room with floral covered armchairs and sofa and soft watercolor paintings on the walls.
"Miss Latterly, ma'am," (lie maid said quietly, then withdrew.
Edith rose to her feet, her face eager.
"Hester! Did you see him? What did he say? Will he do it?"
Hester found herself smiling briefly, although there was little enough humor in what she had to report.
"Yes I saw him, but of course he cannot accept any case until he is requested by the solicitor of the person in question. Are you sure Peverell will be agreeable to Mr. Rathbone acting for Alexandra?"
"Oh yes - but it won't be easy, at least I fear not. Peverell may be the only one who is willing to fight on Alex's behalf. But if Peverell asks Mr. Rathbone, will he take the case? You did tell him she had confessed, didn't you?"
"Of course I did."
"Thank heaven. Hester, I really am most grateful to you for this, you know. Come and sit down." She moved back to the chairs and curled up in one and waved to the other, where Hester sat down and tucked her skirts comfortably. "Then what happens? He will go and see Alex, of course, but what if she just goes on saying she did it?"
"He will employ an investigator to enquire into it," Hester replied, trying to sound more certain than she felt.
' "What can he do, if she won't tell him?"
"I don't know - but he's better than most police. Why did she do it, Edith? I mean, what does she say?"
Edith bit her lip. "That's the worst part of it. Apparently she said it was out of jealousy over Thaddeus and Louisa."
"Oh - I..." Hester was momentarily thrown into confusion.
"I know." Edith looked wretched. "It is very sordid, isn't it? And unpleasantly believable, if you know Alex. She is unconventional enough for something so wild and so foolish to enter her mind. Except that I really don't believe she ever loved Thaddeus with that sort of intensity, and I am quite sure she did not lately."
For a moment she looked embarrassed at such candor, then her emotions at the urgency and tragedy of it took over again.