“Yes, sir. I heard talk.”
“Then you are also aware that the investigation forces us to ask awkward questions. I must ask you where you were last Sunday evening, and again yesterday afternoon and evening?”
“Yesterday I was in the grouse-hunting party,” the captain answered promptly. He showed none of the insult that the other gentlemen had at being viewed as a possible murderer. But his social position was the lowest. Kendra suspected that made him more forthcoming, eager to cooperate.
“Major Edwards and Mr. Smythe can attest to the fact that I was with them,” he continued. “Last evening . . . I was here, of course. I did not leave the castle.”
“Thank you, Captain Harcourt. I understand that you and my nephew went to Hawkings’s cockfight last Sunday after the dinner here at the castle. Yet we cannot verify whether or not you stayed the entire evening.”
“Yes. Last Sunday was a terrible crush.”
Kendra asked, “So you stayed the length of the cockfight?”
Something flickered in Harcourt’s gaze. “Yes.”
He’s lying. Kendra’s eyes narrowed. “And you were with Lord Gabriel the entire time?”
He frowned, dropping his gaze to the drink in his hand.
“That answer really shouldn’t require that much thought. A simple yes or no.”
He looked up at her. “Not the entire time, no. As I said, it was a crush. ’Tis easy to become separated.”
“Did my nephew join the grouse-hunting yesterday?”
Harcourt shifted his attention to the Duke. “We rode out together, but he did not feel quite the thing. He returned to the castle.”
“Alone?” Kendra wondered.
“Yes.”
“So you don’t know if he actually returned to the castle?”
“I had no reason to doubt him. He did not look well.”
Kendra nodded. Leaning back, she gave the Duke a look, then said, “Thank you for your time, Captain Harcourt. I hope we did not inconvenience you too terribly.”
“I may go?”
“Unless you have something else to add?”
“No.” Harcourt got to his feet, gulped down the whiskey, and set the glass on a nearby side table. “Thank you, sir.” He glanced at Kendra. “Miss.”
Once alone, Aldridge said, “It will not be difficult to ascertain whether the captain remained with the grouse-hunting party yesterday. I found his manner about Sunday evening, however, evasive.”
“I agree. There’s something he’s hiding about that night. Maybe Lord Gabriel will shed some light on it.” Kendra was actually eager to interview Alec’s younger brother. He possessed the most volatile temperament, which meant he’d be the most susceptible to pressure. If she applied just the right amount, she might even get some answers.
Harcourt was right: Gabriel did not look well. His complexion had a pale gray cast, his eyes sunken and bloodshot. As he entered the drawing room, he shot Kendra a sullen look, as though blaming her for his uncle’s summons. Then he ignored her.
“Sir? You wished to speak with me?”
“Miss Donovan and I shall need to ask you a few questions. Please sit down, my boy.”
Kendra watched as Gabriel flicked a hungry glance at the decanters on the side table. Then he swallowed hard and obeyed the command by slouching on the sofa opposite Kendra and the Duke.
“Where were you yesterday afternoon?” she asked abruptly.
He gave her a baleful look. “Who are you to question your betters, Miss Donovan?”
“I am giving Miss Donovan the authority to conduct these interviews, Gabriel,” Aldridge said sharply.
“I apologize, Your Grace. But this is quite preposterous! Do you really believe I am responsible for the dead whores? That is what this is about, is it not? ’Tis madness!”
Kendra eyed him. “Why don’t you want to answer the question?”
“Because it is none of your damn business!”
“Gabriel!”
Gabriel surged to his feet. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and began to pace. Kendra recognized nervous energy mixed with anger. And something else. Desperation.
“I went grouse hunting,” he said.
“We were told you left the hunt early.”
He glared at Kendra. “I was unwell.”
“You returned to the castle?”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“I did not observe the time.”
“Early afternoon? Late afternoon?”
“Bloody hell, I don’t know. Late afternoon, I suppose.”
“Did you leave the hunt and come immediately back to the castle?” Gabriel’s sudden stillness had Kendra narrowing her eyes at him. “Don’t lie. We’ll find out the truth.”
He scowled. Then gave a jerky shrug. “I did not return immediately. I went to the lake.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
The Duke gave a sigh. “Gabe, what did you do at the lake?”