The watchman considered that, then nodded. “She has helped Sir William discover several comets, hasn’t she?”
“Actually, Caroline Herschel discovered several comets by herself,” Kendra remarked drily, and gave the Duke a sidelong glance. She knew he was trying to protect her reputation, but it rankled to have her contributions reduced in such a way. She was now second chair in the string orchestra, not because of her talent, but because of her sex.
She turned to Sam. “Mr. Kelly, why don’t you tell . . . the Duke about the murder while I take notes?”
“Oh. Aye.” He coughed, and to Kendra’s ears, it sounded suspiciously like he was masking a laugh. The gleam in his eyes was definitely amused.
The levity vanished when he told her, “Her Ladyship was stuc—er, stabbed. And . . . cut . . .” He paused as Aldridge rifled through a nearby desk, producing foolscap and a graphite stick, which he handed to Kendra.
“Go on,” Kendra encouraged as she sat down at the desk.
“Her housekeeper, Mrs. Pierson, discovered her last night. Mr. Drake here was brought ter the scene, and sent for me. I arrived about ten minutes before midnight.”
“What time did the housekeeper find her?” she asked.
Sam raised a brow at the night watchman. “What time, would you say, Mr. Drake?”
“Eleven, or thereabouts. I arrived about fifteen minutes later.”
Kendra wrote that down. “The servants didn’t hear anything, see anyone?”
“Ah, well, no . . . Lady Dover sent her staff away for the evening,” said William.
“Why?”
William looked like his cravat had suddenly shrunk a size, choking him. “Ah, um. Well, as to that . . .”
“It looked like she was expectin’ someone,” Sam supplied slowly.
“I see.” And Kendra did. She shot Alec a cool look. “You?”
“No.” Alec met her gaze as he brought her the brandy-filled goblet.
“Then why are you a suspect?” she asked, keeping her eyes on his as she accepted the glass.
“A misunderstanding.”
“Aren’t they all?” Kendra murmured. Her throat was dry, so she indulged in one tiny sip before setting the brandy aside. She looked at Sam. “Why do you think Lady Dover was expecting Lord Sutcliffe?”
“Mrs. Pierson. She believed . . . she was under the impression . . .” Sam stuttered to a halt and glanced at Alec.
Kendra turned back to the Marquis. “I know you were involved with Lady Dover,” she said bluntly. “I’m assuming the housekeeper knew about your relationship?”
“Lady Dover and I had a special friendship,” he acknowledged dispassionately. “But our liaison was finished more than a month ago. Shall I tell you why?”
“No.” She knew why. It made her feel . . . she didn’t know what it made her feel. She cleared her throat. “If you broke up a month ago, why did Lady Dover’s housekeeper think you were the person she was meeting last night?”
“Broke up?” Alec looked briefly amused, his green eyes brightening. “A unique way to phrase it, implying something was shattered.”
“Was something shattered? Lady Dover’s heart, for instance?”
His mouth twisted into a small, humorless smile. “No. Cordelia’s heart had no room for anyone other than herself. She wasn’t in love with me. She was, however, a proud and beautiful woman. She refused to accept that our relationship was over. Or, perhaps, more accurately, that I was the one who ended it. She wrote me several letters, expressing a desire that we continue our . . . friendship.”
“I see.”
“Do you? Lady Dover was not an innocent maid, nor was our relationship what you would describe as exclusive.”
“Are you saying that she was involved with other men?”
“As I said, she was a beautiful woman. She collected admirers like other women collected fripperies.”
Kendra remembered the Lady from the house party, when the only admirer she seemed to want to collect was Alec. “Do you have the names of her other admirers?”
“No. Cordelia did not discuss her friendships with me.”
Given her romantic interest in Alec, her silence on the subject made sense. Kendra glanced at Sam, who gave a nod, anticipating her question. “’Tis something we’ve been askin’ in the course of our inquiry, Miss.”
“Any names come up?”
The Runner shook his head. “Nay, not yet. But sometimes it takes a bit of time ter get folks talking, especially when what they’re talking about has ter do with their betters.”
Kendra understood. Nothing silenced the general population like fear of reprisal from the wealthy and powerful, even in her era. “What time did she send her servants away?” she asked.
“Eight o’clock.”
“So she was alive at eight. Who was the last person to see her?”
“Mrs. Pierson and the butler, Mr. Sayers. They left together after seeing ter their mistress’s comfort. It was only later, when Mrs. Pierson realized she’d forgotten her medicine, that she returned and found her mistress dead.”
“She didn’t see anyone or hear anything?”
“Nay. But the back door was open.”
“You think the killer came in from the back door?”
Sam hesitated. “Maybe. Or he came in the front door and left by the back. Mrs. Pierson said the back door was ajar.”
Kendra stared at the Bow Street Runner. “Was the front door open as well?”
William Drake answered, “It was closed but unlocked.”
“Okay.” She decided to let that line of inquiry go for now. She’d get a better sense of it when she was actually at the crime scene, walking the perimeter. “What about the neighbors? Did they hear anything? See anyone around the house?”
“Nay.”
Kendra consulted her notes. “You said that she was cut. That wasn’t part of the stabbing?”
Sam shook his head. “She was cut on the face,” he said slowly. “It was . . . peculiar. I think it was done after she was stabbed. Leastwise, I hope so. Dr. Munroe will most likely be able ter tell us.”
Kendra raised her eyebrows. “Dr. Munroe is doing the autopsy?”
“Aye.”
“It would seem that we are coming together once again,” murmured the Duke, shooting Kendra a pointed look.
She ignored him, not wanting to contemplate just now if their reunion had a deeper meaning. It was too distracting. She shifted her gaze to Alec. “You know, it would really help if you had an alibi for last night, between eight and eleven.”
Alec’s mouth twitched, but Kendra couldn’t be sure if it was from amusement or annoyance. “I am aware of that, Miss Donovan. Unfortunately, I don’t have one, as Mr. Kelly and Mr. Drake can already attest. And my staff is not with me. Not even my valet. When I left Aldridge Castle yesterday morning, I rode to London—alone.”
“And came directly here?”
“I believe I had some vague notion of going to my club. When I arrived here, I decided to stay. I polished off an excellent comet vintage. I can show you the empty bottle.”
Aldridge eyed his nephew. “Brooding, Alec?”