Chapter 11

As was expected, half of the children of Westbrook House were now ill. That was always the way, but it had each woman who worked for them busy seeing to their care. Studies were suspended and once chores were completed by the children not yet stricken, they were allowed to be outside.

Had it been a more serious illness, Olivia would have sent for Dr. Valentine because so many were sick, but it was no more than an epidemic cold for which each would recover in a relatively short amount of time and then life at Westbrook House could return to normal.

“Lady Olivia, Dr. Sinclair has called and is waiting in the parlor,” Corliss announced from the threshold of Olivia’s office.

A name that had once brought immediate irritation now brought a pleasant surprise.

She had been worried that after she confided in him yesterday that he would not return for any reason. After all, who wanted to be associated with anyone whose mother had hoped to be a French spy and then raised her son to be one? Yet, Olivia had to make Sinclair understand that some women would do whatever they thought was necessary, no matter how unwise, for their family, or at least a loved child. In her case, that child had been Peter, and not the rest of them.

Olivia would have been disappointed not to see Dr. Sinclair again. In fact, she very much enjoyed their conversations. She liked being with him.

“Please have tea delivered, if it is not inconvenient” she instructed Corliss. The kitchens were already busy with cooking soups and baking bread, all to sustain the ill and healthy children.

Olivia rose from her desk and crossed the entry to the parlor, quite curious as to why he was calling on her. “Has there been further information gathered from the Clermont home?” That was the only reason for him to call.

“No, there has not been,” he answered.

A part of her hoped that he was here to call on her, which was quite ridiculous as she’d given up on the idea of being of interest to any gentleman and had settled comfortably into spinsterhood.

“I thought I would come by and see if more children have become ill and if there is anything that I can do.”

Olivia ignored the foolish stab of disappointment. She should have never entertained the idea for a moment that he might have been here because of her.

“What of Dr. Valentine?”

“He has been called away, so I thought to offer my services.”

“More children are ill, but none of them have developed a serious condition,” she answered as she settled into a chair. Once she did, Dr. Sinclair also took a seat.

“We are doing what we can to make them comfortable.”

“Have the fevers been high?”

“Not enough to be a concern and we have been giving them Dover’s Powder.”

He nodded as if he agreed with her treatment.

“Well, then, it appears I am not needed.” He pushed to his feet.

Olivia was not ready for him to leave.

“Please sit. I have already requested tea.”

He paused, then smiled and settled back into the chair.

“Do you think Mr. Strotham will continue to question the Clermont servants today?” she asked.

“I would hope that he does, but he has not asked me to assist.”

“This is very disturbing and I am anxious to know who tried to harm the viscountess.”

“As am I. In fact, it plagued me so much last night that I prepared my own notes. I simply cannot determine a reason why anyone would do such a thing.”

“Nor I,” Olivia admitted as the tea service was delivered.

“Excuse me, Lady Olivia, but Mr. Strotham would like a word and hoped that he could find Dr. Sinclair here.”

Dr. Sinclair straightened. “Perhaps he does want our assistance after all.”

He wanted Sinclair, of that Olivia was certain, and it was to be expected. “Please show him in and bring another cup.”

A moment later the investigator entered the parlor.

Mr. Strotham first greeted Olivia then turned his attention to Dr. Sinclair. “I had hoped to find you here, as you were not at your home.”

“How can I be of service?”

“I need to interview the kitchen servants and hoped that you would come along to observe once again.”

Corliss entered a moment later with another cup and saucer and Olivia prepared the investigator a cup of tea.

“I would be happy to accompany you,” Dr. Sinclair offered, which filled Olivia with jealousy. She wanted to investigate as well, though in truth, she could not leave the children. Not with so many ill. At least if any of them declined, she knew where Dr. Sinclair could be found.

The men finished their tea then stood. “I will return to examine the children after I have assisted Mr. Strotham.”

“Thank you, Dr. Sinclair.”

She may not be able to be a part of the investigation, but she was just as certain that Dr. Sinclair would tell her everything they learned. Something else that he would have never considered last autumn.

The thought forced her to bite back a grin as she watched them take their leave. Dr. Sinclair would be back, and she was very much looking forward to his return.

It was an exhausting late morning and afternoon as Mr. Strotham questioned the remaining household servants but came away with no clear answers.

As he had promised, Xavier returned to Westbrook House and was greeted by Lady Olivia.

She wasn’t put together as well as she had been earlier. Some of her hair had fallen and there was a tiredness about her light blue eyes.

Perhaps he was needed here more than with the investigator.

“Have they gotten worse?” he asked.

“No. It is just that there are so many.” She sighed.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked with concern.

“Unless you know of an instant cure for epidemic cold, then there is nothing.”

“Sadly, I do not,” he offered with sympathy.

He really did admire Lady Olivia. The daughter of an earl, a title her brother now held, could have enjoyed a Season, married a titled gentleman, and lived quite comfortably. Instead, she was a spinster who had founded a home with her sister to help those who had not been as lucky to have been born of privilege.

“What did you learn from the servants?” she asked.

“Lady Olivia, will you be having supper in the dining room or in your office this evening?” Corliss interrupted to ask.

“The dining room.” She turned to Dr. Sinclair. “Have you eaten?”

Was she inviting him to dinner? If so, he would not decline the offer as it would mean more time in her presence. “No, I have not.”

“Please set another place for Dr. Sinclair in the dining room.”

Corliss bobbed a curtsey then left.

She had not even asked. She had simply assumed and decided for him. Oddly, Xavier did not mind in the least.

“I will warn you, however, you will only be served soup and fresh bread. That is all the kitchen staff has been cooking because it is what the children need.”

Xavier wouldn’t have cared it if was cold mutton, a meat he detested, because he was dining with her. “I am happy to enjoy a soup,” he offered. “Otherwise, I would be ordering in a tavern, and I am certain this will be much better.”

“What did you learn?” she asked eagerly after they’d been seated and served.

Xavier barely had time to taste his first spoonful of soup before she began with her questions. He also had not realized how hungry he was because as soon as the aroma of beef, broth and vegetables wafted toward him, Xavier’s mouth watered, and his stomach grumbled.

“We were able to determine who may have had access to the tea, but not who added the laudanum.”

“It could not have been so many people,” she said.

Xavier nearly snorted. “The cook boiled the water and then poured it into a pot to steep the herbs. She then took herself off to bed and left a kitchen maid in charge of preparing the tea.”

“So, the cook wasn’t the one, but the kitchen maid.”

“Possibly,” Xavier answered before he ate more of the delicious hot soup. It may have been the best soup that he had ever eaten in his life, or he was very hungry. Sharing the meal with Lady Olivia made it even more enjoyable. “She had poured the tea, but before she could place it on the tray, she was called to the back door by the arrival of the wet nurse.”

“I thought the wet nurse had not arrived until the following morning,” Lady Olivia stated in alarm.

“That is what Lady Clermont had been told as well as the viscount, yet they had been misled.”

“By whom and who had sent her?”

“That is a question yet to be answered. The request had been sent to an agency and was said to have come from the viscount, but he had no knowledge of such. Regardless, the wet nurse had presented herself at the back door with a letter of introduction and then was introduced to the housekeeper before she was shown to a chamber on the nursery floor.”

“Was the housekeeper expecting her?”

“It seemed that nobody was.”

“Whoever had attempted to harm the viscountess thought far enough ahead to make certain the infants were cared for.”

“And likely kept quiet because their bellies would be full, thus Lady Clermont having gone missing would not have been discovered until the morning when the servants woke to begin their day.”

“This is even more dastardly than I imagined.”

Xavier nodded and took another bite of the hearty beef soup.

“What about the tea?” Lady Olivia returned to the source of how Lady Clermont was drugged.

“When the kitchen maid returned to the tea, the cup had already been placed on the tray.”

Lady Olivia frowned. “Who would have done so?”

“The governess, who thought to be of assistance, arranged everything so that the maid could take the tray directly to the viscountess.”

“Why was the governess in the kitchens?” Lady Olivia asked.

“It is where she went in the evenings, after the children had been put to bed, to enjoy a cup of tea for herself, and converse with the other servants.”

“Governesses do not usually associate with the below stairs servants.”

“That was my belief as well, but Miss Copley does,” he answered.

Lady Olivia cocked her head to the side. “How long has she been with the household?”

“Four months.”

Lady Olivia nodded. “What happened next?”

“Lady Clermont’s maid arrived to take the tray above stairs, where it was given to the viscountess.”

“It could have been the kitchen maid, the governess or Lady Clermont’s maid,” Lady Olivia deduced.

“Or one of the two footmen who were also in the kitchen.”

“Were they near the tea?” she asked.

“Each had an opportunity, but nobody saw anyone pour laudanum into the tea.”

“Then it must have been the maid when she carried it upstairs.”

“Except the governess accompanied her,” Xavier explained.

Lady Olivia fell back in her seat. “Then who was it?” she asked.

Xavier shrugged. “Our suspicions are that one of the footmen was in on the plan because none of the women could have moved Lady Clermont. Therefore, Strotham is going to review his notes again to make certain nothing was missed and then we will question them again tomorrow.”

“I wish I could be there as I am quite curious,” Lady Olivia offered.

“I will come here directly following the interviews, and let you know what was learned,” Xaviar promised.

Lady Olivia leaned back, her eyes narrowed in thought.

“Do you have an idea?” he asked.

“Yes. Find out if either of the footmen is smitten with any of the women who are suspected. I can see no reason why a footman would conduct such an act unless he was in love.”

“If so, then why would a woman want Lady Clermont gone?” Xavier countered.

Lady Olivia frowned. “I do not know. None of it makes sense. So, I suppose a footman could have acted alone.”

“I am certain that it will all make sense once we know a reason.”

“Perhaps,” Lady Olivia mumbled. “But do, please call on me as soon as you learn anything further.”