A Stroke of Malice (Lady Darby Mystery #8) - Anna Lee Huber Page 0,39

your estate in recent weeks wearing a special pair of Hoby boots?” Gage countered. “And have any of them gone missing?”

This silenced the duke, for he could not refute such an implication. A dead body had been found in his crypt, and it was wearing the clothing of a gentleman. If not Helmswick, then who was he?

“I still think it could have been one of those tramps or walkers who go roving off through the Ettrick Forest, searching for beauty or inspiration or whatever it is they seek,” the duchess declared primly. “We don’t forbid them from using the old byways through our property, and from time to time they even venture into the abbey ruins to sketch or compose or stare around them. Some of them are gentlemen.”

The duke gestured toward his wife in silent agreement.

“Perhaps,” Gage hedged. His jaw had grown tight, suggesting he was struggling to keep his patience. “But most walkers would wear more sensible clothing for such exploring. Even gentlemen.”

“You recognized the stitching my husband was speaking of, didn’t you?” I asked the duchess before the conversation became fixed on their theory about tramps and walkers.

A tiny furrow formed between her eyes, letting me know she was unhappy I’d noticed her reaction, and perhaps displeased I’d pressed her about it when she’d not spoken up herself. I wondered for a moment if she would lie. “They do sound vaguely familiar,” she finally admitted. “But Eleanor is the one you should be asking. She would know far better than I.”

I nodded slowly. So that was her game. She intended to follow her daughter’s lead, whatever it might be. Even if it meant denying the truth I saw reflected in her eyes.

Part of me was annoyed by this willful deceit, but I also couldn’t help but respect her loyalty to her daughter. Nonetheless, respect it though I might, that would not solve this murder. And if the duchess was willing to mislead or lie about something as slight as the stitching on a boot, then what else would she attempt to conceal?

As such, I decided it was pointless to ask her about the chipped tooth or Helmswick’s drinking. She would only offer me the same answer.

I passed my teacup to Gage for him to set on the low table before me, as the growing mound of my belly made it awkward for me to do so gracefully. “Then I suppose I should speak with her next.” Before the duchess could warn her. “Will she still be in her chamber?”

“I suspect so,” she replied, surprising me when she made no move to rise or insist on joining me. Perhaps I had misjudged her.

Gage took my elbow, helping me to my feet.

“Then if you’ll direct me where to go, I shall pay her a visit.” I glanced up at my husband, seeing in his watchful gaze that he already understood my intentions for him to fetch the boots and bring them to Lady Helmswick’s chamber.

“Of course, my dear. Tait will show you the way.”

CHAPTER NINE

Lady Helmswick’s chamber was most easily accessed from a circular staircase at the far end of the ballroom. In the stark light of day, the ballroom appeared quite different than the evening before. It seemed worn and almost hollow stripped of its flowers and garland. The sounds of our footsteps echoed in the lofty space. A line of maids knelt across one side of the room, hand-polishing the oak floor. They flicked glances at us as we passed, and I stepped carefully, fearful of scuffing their hard work with my kid-leather half boots.

At the base of the stairs, Tait paused, glancing back into the room behind us with a frown. Evidently, something about their efforts was not to his satisfaction. “Lady Helmswick’s rooms are on the floor above, through the door on the left,” he instructed me.

Somewhat relieved to be rid of the imposing butler, I climbed the stairs as quickly as my current condition would allow me, and was surprised to discover that the stairs opened onto a landing which held only two doors. I’d already realized that the castle’s layout was something of a labyrinth. Staircases led to some floors but not others. Corridors ended in blind walls. Certain chambers were solely accessed through other ones. It was disorienting, but not incongruous to the way most old castles were expanded upon.

I rapped on the door on the left, wondering if the chamber on the right was used by Lord Helmswick when he stayed