Val get away with deriding her taste in beaux.
“If we are to go down this road, then pray let us talk about the string of opera dancers you’ve been linked with over the past few years, shall we?” Two could play at this game.
“You won’t put me to the blush,” Val said, spiking her guns rather effectively. “I’m quite aware of the talents of my paramours, and what’s more, I have no compunction about admitting to it. But I don’t think you’re availing yourself of the same kinds of skills from your gentlemen friends, no matter what the gossips say.”
And that was the way she wished to keep it, Kate thought. No matter how many times it was said that widows were allowed to take lovers without fear of social stigma, she knew all too well there was a double standard applied to women. Valentine might be lauded for his choice of mistress, but Kate, if her exploits were known, would be shunned.
“Is there a point to this inquisition?” She managed to keep a cool expression, but inwardly Kate was cringing at how much she’d had to keep from her friend.
“The point is that you’re looking at the inspector as if you’d like him to investigate you, and I’m surprised. That’s all. I hadn’t thought you’d be interested in a policeman, no matter how much you might seem to find murder itself a fascination.”
If they weren’t such old friends, she’d have boxed his ears for asking such impertinent questions. But he had known her since they were children and had been a good friend after Bascomb’s death. Only, suddenly she wondered if there was an underlying hint behind his teasing.
“You aren’t jealous, surely?”
His eyes widened and then he laughed heartily.
“It’s not that funny,” she said crossly.
“You find me as attractive as a head cold in the middle of summer.” He shook his head. “And with all due respect to you and your admittedly lovely exterior, I feel the same about you.”
There was also the small detail that she suspected there was something between him and Caro, though she had nothing more upon which to base her suspicion than Caro’s reaction to Kate attending the house party. She would need to see them together to determine if her suspicions were well founded.
“I suppose we are doomed to friendship, then,” she said. “Unless, of course, you continue to suggest that I have anything but the utmost platonic respect for Inspector Eversham.”
“You did spend quite a while alone together during your interview yesterday.” Val shrugged. “And you keep stealing looks at him beneath your lashes, as if you’re afraid he’ll catch you out.”
“I found poor Mr. Jones. So of course he would spend a great deal of time questioning me about what I saw.”
At the mention of Jones, Val’s expression sobered. “Poor old Jones. I didn’t know the man all that well, but he was a good steward. And he cared about the estate. He didn’t deserve that sort of end.”
“If it’s any consolation, I do think Mr. Eversham will do his best to find the killer.” She glanced over to where the inspector was deep in conversation with Gentleman Jim. Perhaps she was a little intrigued by Eversham, but only because she’d spent so much time attempting to understand his actions and decisions in the Commandments Killer case. He was so different than what she’d imagined.
That day in London she hadn’t really seen him. She’d been too overcome with guilt over Clark and the urge to defend herself against his accusations. But when he’d walked into the drawing room yesterday, she’d been assailed by memories of his strong arm around her waist and his hard chest against her back as he ushered her safely from the unruly crowds.
It wasn’t so much that she was fascinated by him because she’d followed him in the papers. That man had seemed dense and plodding and she’d never in a million years expected him to solve the case.
The actual Eversham was rational, quick thinking, and to her surprise, possessed a voice that seemed to act on her like a tuning fork.
“Oh, I don’t fear he won’t work hard at it.” Val shook his head. “I just can’t think of why anyone would wish Jones dead. And since this has all the hallmarks of the Commandments Killer, then I’m doubly baffled. Why the devil would someone like that come to our little corner of Cumbria and do such a thing?”
“Why does any killer decide to do it?”