Haunting Violet
Page 44

“Consider this then: what if you end up asking the actual murderer a question that makes him nervous? He’ll think you know more than you do. Then what?”
Again, he had a point. Blast.
“We’ll be very careful,” I promised, smoothing out my skirt. The day had been rather hard on my clothes. My last clean dress was a plain dark brown gown a few years out of style, but it would have to do. Mother had not been pleased. At least her head had stopped pounding so she wasn’t yelling at all the maids anymore.
“Do you have salt?” Colin asked me finally.
“Yes.” Feeling foolish, I pulled at a pocket until a small trickle of salt poured out. I wasn’t entirely convinced it would help, but I was willing to try anything to prevent a repeat of the events at the pond.
“There’s that at least,” he said grudgingly.
We eased into the hall and then into the parlor where everyone had gathered for post-supper tea and games. Colin waited inside by the door, as he always did. I joined Elizabeth on a settee, trying to pretend we’d been sitting there all along. We’d have to blend a little before we did anything. A maid handed me a plate of iced biscuits and a cup of tea. I smiled and sipped at it, watching everyone and trying not to be obvious about it.
I let the murmurs about archery the next day and shopping in the nearby village and how certain dresses had a dreadful lack of silk flowers flow over me. There were well over a dozen couples; I had no idea how we were supposed to find out anything useful. One hardly spoke to sixteen-year-old girls, and we weren’t meant to speak at all unless asked a question directly. Elizabeth lifted her cup and used the rim to hide her mouth.
“Unlce Jasper you know, and Lady Octavia and Lucinda. Lord Francis in the creased breeches is the family embarrassment. He drinks and swears and smells like fish. Most alarming. Lord and Lady Kearlsey are neighbors; they’d have been here as well. He drinks and she gambles, but only secretly. She lost a pair of bays and her favorite carriage last year on a hand of whist. Frederic,” she couldn’t help a little sigh, “and the other boys are all at Oxford. Both Ellen and Diana are betrothed and will talk of nothing else. Lord Furlinghew has a mistress in town. Or is it two? Tabitha’s uncle you know, he always sneaks me an extra pudding at Christmastime. Lord Fitzwilliam is making Lady Marguerite blush, I wonder what he could be saying.” She squinted, as if she could read their lips but soon gave up with a sigh. “Lord Winterbourne there is a little paunchy, but he’s terribly rich. Lord Underhall doesn’t say much but by all accounts is very kind.” I hadn’t heard him say a word at the card game, even when he won a hefty sum that had made the other men groan.
Colin was right. It was strange that they were all here, the same people at nearly the same party.
I caught Mr. Travis sipping coffee and watching us with a half frown. “Mr. Travis is staring at me again,” I murmured.
“Perhaps he thinks you’re pretty.”
“Or perhaps he knows we suspect him.”
“Well, don’t make eye contact then. And don’t glower! You’ll give yourself away completely.” She went on with her appraisal of the guests. “The Tretheweys you already know, in trade but not bad altogether.” She nudged me knowingly. I ignored her.
“And Tabitha’s father truly hasn’t been back since the … accident?” It seemed more prudent to say “accident” instead of “murder,” no matter how hushed our voices were. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, even though she was flirting with Xavier and shooting me mocking glances. Her gown was utterly perfect, pale pink with cream-colored lace and pink stones edged with diamonds around her neck and wrists. The stones rested exactly where Rowena’s bruises had been. She was very pale. Caroline stood nearby, stiff as an iron poker. I half-expected someone to take her by the feet and use her to stoke the fire.
When Tabitha moved slightly, Rowena appeared behind her like a pale, damp shadow. I swallowed. Goose bumps scattered across my arms.
Elizabeth followed my gaze. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t care a fig about Xavier. She only wants to vex you.”
“It’s not that,” I whispered. “Rowena.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth whispered back. “That’s good, isn’t it? We need her.” She pulled her shawl over her shoulders. “It’s rather chilly all of a sudden.”
“Try and make it seem as if we’re deep in conversation,” I told her. “And tell me if I go cross-eyed.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“Rowena,” I intoned, hoping Tabitha didn’t think I was staring at her and decide to create some sort of fuss over it. And wouldn’t that just complete my day. Rowena glanced at me and nodded her head but remained exactly where she was.
How was I supposed to have a conversation with her all the way over there?
Mr. Travis leaned forward, staring at me even more forcefully than usual. I hoped I hadn’t spoken too loudly. He’d think I was mad. And it was no way to stay undetected in my efforts.
“Mr. Travis is still staring,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.
“Do you think he heard you?” Elizabeth asked.
“I don’t know. Laugh loudly.”
She laughed.
“Rowena,” I repeated sternly, under the cover of Elizabeth’s chortles.
Xavier moved away after a short bow to Tabitha. Rowena ignored me.