Chapter 13

She had been foolish to believe that she had earned Dr. Sinclair’s respect.

He had sympathy for her yesterday, not that she had asked for such, and held her hand in the carriage then again today.

Oh, she had enjoyed his touch, his large hand holding hers, and she did not mind that type of care and concern from a gentleman. But his words also reminded her that she was thought of as nothing more than a female whose place was with the children.

It was because of such thoughts from gentlemen when she was younger that she had never wed.

Her observations were just as valuable but she’d only been allowed the first time because Sinclair had asked the investigator if she could accompany them. Sinclair had said she’d been beneficial in the past. Now she wondered how much the investigator had humored Sinclair since her assistance had not been requested again, nor did Sinclair suggest her involvement. Given how she was dismissed, it was likely they had underestimated every female in the Clermont household.

Olivia did agree that a man had to be involved, even if it was only to carry Lady Clermont from her home. Though the question remained of who would do this.

Olivia did not speak, nor did Dr. Sinclair as they traveled through London. Upon arrival at the home of Lord and Lady Clermont, she exited the carriage and strode to the door. Sinclair followed behind.

“Lady Olivia Westbrook for Lord Clermont.”

The butler opened the door wider and allowed her to step into the entry. “I will see if he is at home.”

Olivia did a slow turn and took in the marble floor and stairs, polished wood, and fresh flowers that offered the only color within the space.

“He will see you,” the butler said upon his return. “This way.”

She followed the servant into a dark library. Shelves filled with books covered one wall near his desk. At the other end of the room was a sitting area before a fireplace.

“Have tea served,” Lord Clermont said to the butler. “Please, have a seat, Lady Olivia and Dr. Sinclair.”

She settled onto a chair simply to show independence in not sharing a settee with either Dr. Sinclair or the viscount.

“Do you have further news on who may have tried to harm my wife?”

“We do not,” Olivia answered. “Has Strotham discovered any further clues?”

“He has not,” Clermont answered.

“Then, let us discuss who may have benefited if your wife was gone.”

“Nobody.”

“You say that because of your son,” Olivia said. “As at least some of your servants know the truth, let us consider the matter as if the son had not been born.”

Lord Clermont frowned. “Only my cousin, as he is the heir apparent.”

“There would be no purpose in him harming your wife,” she reminded him.

“If he wished to gain the title…”

Olivia held up her hand. “Your wife has only provided daughters, which suits your cousin. If something were to happen to your wife, you would have remarried if only to hope for a son. Your cousin would not take that risk.”

They paused as the footman delivered tea and poured, then left them once again, closing the door behind him.

“If your cousin wished for the title that he would do something so desperate, he would have harmed you, not your wife. And, if he were truly so despicable, I daresay he would have harmed your son as well.”

“He is a wastrel and cannot wait until he has control of the estate,” Clermont offered. “But you are correct, he is biding his time, though I am certain that he will not be pleased to learn of my son.”

“Son or no son, I assume he would be the guardian,” Sinclair inquired.

“No. I have arranged for the guardian to be someone I trust.”

“Then he gains nothing, and I do not believe he is involved,” Olivia announced.

“Then who?” Clermont asked.

Olivia suspected that a woman was behind this. She had no proof but it was in her gut.

“Could you please ask the servants who were in the kitchens the night the cup of tea was prepared to join us?”

“At once?” Sinclair asked.

“Yes. One of them knows something,” Olivia insisted. “Separate interrogations have led to nothing, but perhaps interaction might reveal more.”

“You wish to question them as a group?” he asked again.

“No. You will question them as a group. You were present for the first interrogations involving the tea, and I wish for you to revisit the topic while I observe.”

Sinclair frowned then blew out a sigh. “Very well, but you will not discover anything further. Strotham and I were quite thorough.”

“I am certain you were.” She smiled.

Xavier did not know what Olivia was about, but he did as she asked and spoke to the group of servants, questioning and watching for discrepancies in their stories. There were none and he was no closer to learning the truth than they were before he and Olivia arrived.

Finally, he turned toward her. “Do you have any questions?”

She set her teacup aside and stood.

“Everyone may go.” They started for the door. “Except Mr. Gerard and Miss Copley.”

The two servants looked at each other and there was a moment of fear before they stepped back to take their places once again.

Xavier pulled Olivia aside. “Why a footman and the governess?”

“You shall see,” she said and walked past him.

“Gerard, how long have you been in love with Miss Copley?”

His face immediately took on a crimson hue. “I…it is…prohibited and not proper,” he finally managed to answer.

“Yes, I am certain that there are rules within the household that prohibit servants from courting, especially since you are a footman and she is a governess, above your station.”

Xavier glanced at Miss Copley. Her lips were pressed firmly together.

“However, a heart rarely obeys the rules, does it?”

“We have not been improper,” the lad finally answered.

“When did the affair of the heart begin, Gerard?” Olivia asked.

The footman glanced at Miss Copley, and it was then that Xavier noted the devotion in his brown eyes. The lad was a lovesick puppy. How had he missed that?

Then again, he’d not been looking for a romantic connection, he was trying to determine who would harm the viscountess.

His eyes went back to Miss Copley as everything became clear. She was the one who wanted her gone and had used the footman to do her bidding. The lad was big and strong and could have easily carried Lady Clermont from the house.

“Gerard?” Olivia asked. “When did it begin?”

Again, he looked to Miss Copley as if he hoped she would tell him what to answer. In turn, Miss Copley glanced at him out of the corner of her narrowing eyes.

“Since…the beginning,” he finally admitted.

“Did Miss Copley encourage your suit?” Olivia asked.

The footman continued to look at Miss Copley for guidance, but she had yet to offer any and Xavier decided that she must have led him on a merry chase.

“Are you in love, Gerard?” Olivia asked.

“That I am,” he answered proudly as his chin jutted out. “Even if it means I will lose my position. I love Miss Copley.”

“That is truly a shame, Gerard, because I fear that Miss Copley does not love you.”

He gasped as Xavier frowned. How could Olivia know such a thing?

“Of course she does. She told me so herself.”

“It was a ruse so that you would do as she asked.”

“I do not know what you mean.”

“It is she who asked you to carry an incapacitated Lady Clermont from the house and put her in a carriage.”

Gerard gaped at Olivia. He attempted to speak a few times, but no coherent words were formed.

“Do you know why she asked that of you?”

The footman gulped but said nothing.

“Because Miss Copley is in truth, in love with Lord Clermont.”

“No!” the footman argued. “Miss Copley is in love with me. She has told me so.”

“I am afraid she lied to you, Gerard, for she gazes upon the viscount in the same manner you look at her.”

Viscount Clermont stood. “Miss Copley, did you have anything to do with what happened to my wife?”

Instead of answering, the corner of her mouth twitched.

She indeed did this.

“I demand an answer,” Clermont insisted.

Xavier walked to the door and opened it. “Have someone go for Investigator Strotham.”

“I would not do that, if I were you, Dr. Sinclair,” Miss Copley said.

There was an iciness in her tone that sent chills down his spine. He rarely heard such, but when he did, they were said by someone who had no regrets for who they harmed or murdered. They did what was necessary to gain what they wanted. Apparently, Miss Copley wanted Viscount Clermont.

“Why is that?” Xavier asked.

“If I am to be arrested, not that I have admitted to any wrongdoing, I will tell the truth of the viscount’s son.” She smiled. “Besides, I am not the one who put her in a carriage and left her at the side of the river.” Miss Copley sneered at the footman. “That was Gerard.”

“Only because you insisted. You said that it was the only way we could be together because it was Lady Clermont who forbade us.”

“It is likely she never asked,” Olivia told the footman. “My question is why, Miss Copley?”

“He needs a son. A legitimate son, which I could give him.”

“Was your plan to do away with his wife then seduce him in his mourning state?”

“He would have loved me,” Miss Copley insisted.

“No. Never!” Viscount Clermont insisted. “And I already have a son.”

“Not a legitimate one and if you have me arrested, all of Society will know.”

“Why would they believe you?” Xavier asked. “You seduced a footman and convinced him to carry Lady Clermont from the home to be rid of her with every intention of seducing her husband. Those are not the actions of a rational human being.”

Her eyes widened and filled with rage. If she had been holding a gun or a sharp object, Xavier would likely be taking his last breath.

“You can’t love him,” Gerard insisted, ignoring everything Xavier had said.

“You love me. You promised that we would be together.”

“I am sorry, Gerard, Miss Copley cares for only one person and he will not have her.”

Before any of them could react, Miss Copley wheeled away and reached for the desk and picked up a sharp letter opener. Arm raised, she launched herself at Viscount Clermont. “You should have loved me. You shouldn’t have taken a bastard into your house. You could have loved me, and I would have given you a son.”

As she raised her arm to plunge the letter opener toward his chest, Olivia pulled her back, holding onto her arm while Lord Clermont pushed her away. It took the two of them to finally restrain her.

“Did you intend for my wife to be washed out to sea?” he asked.

“No. You needed a body to mourn and declare dead,” she answered. “She was supposed to have died from the laudanum and being out all night.”

“I thought she was dead,” Gerard mumbled. “What will happen to me?” he asked.

“You kidnapped Lady Clermont. The law will be harsh.”

“I want him transported,” Lord Clermont said. “I don’t want him ever to set foot in England again.”

“What of Miss Copley?” Olivia asked.

“She can hang for all I care,” he said as he stomped from the room.