“Oh, a lemonade. Thank you, sir.”
Kendra and Rebecca also requested lemonade. Alec and the Duke melted back into the crowd.
Kendra was surprised when Lady Louisa asked, “Is there any news about Lady Dover’s death? Of course, I am cognizant that you are making inquiries of my family.”
Kendra said carefully, “We’re making progress. We’ve got some good leads.”
Lady Louisa averted her gaze to the dance floor, but addressed Kendra. “Pray tell, what have you found out?”
“I’m not at liberty to say at this time.”
She gave her a sideways look. “I do not know what I can tell you, Miss Donovan. You are already aware that I was at my sister’s ball on the night of the murder, as was my entire family.”
“Not your entire family,” Kendra corrected, just to ruffle the other woman’s composure a bit. “Your mother wasn’t there.”
Lady Louisa stiffened. “She was indisposed.”
“Because of what happened at the theater?”
Lady Louisa sucked in a furious breath, but didn’t deny it. She said in a low voice, “Lady Dover’s behavior was despicable.”
Rebecca touched the other woman’s arm, her eyes filled with sympathy. “Lady Dover could be cruel.”
Lady Louisa worked her fan harder, sending the feathers in her hair swaying back and forth. “Why can’t men see women like her for what they really are? Vile, evil creatures.”
“Men are too easily led astray by beauty,” Rebecca agreed softly.
Lady Louisa hesitated, her gaze roving over Rebecca’s pockmarked face. “They never see what lies beyond.” She turned back to Kendra. “I confess that I wished Lady Dover to Jericho, Miss Donovan, but I hardly slipped away from my sister’s ball to murder her.”
Kendra gave a nod; she hadn’t expected any other response. “What about yesterday morning? Where were you?”
Lady Louisa’s eyes narrowed. “I heard about your maid, Miss Donovan. It would seem you have her blood on your hands.”
It was Kendra’s turn to suck in her breath at the verbal sucker punch—from a wallflower, no less.
“Lady Louisa, I understand that you are overwrought, but Miss Donovan is simply attempting to get to the truth,” Rebecca gently chided. “Mayhap you should look at the situation from a different angle. If you explain your whereabouts, it could eliminate any suspicion against you.”
Lady Louisa said nothing. The music and conversation flowed around them, filling the silence. The scent of flowers and bay rum cologne pressed around them, almost stifling.
Then Lady Louisa sighed. “I spent the morning in my room, writing letters to my cousins who reside in the country. My maid brought me a tray. Afterward, I went riding. It wasn’t a fashionable hour, but it is a particular pleasure of mine.”
“Mine as well.” Rebecca smiled at the other woman. “We should make an appointment to ride one day soon.”
Lady Louisa looked at Kendra. “Do you ride, Miss Donovan?”
“No.”
She seemed to relax. “I should like that very much, Lady Rebecca.”
Kendra gave a wry smile, aware that she’d just been dissed. “Did you ride with your father yesterday?”
“No. My groom accompanied me.”
“What time?”
“Half past twelve, I think.”
“And before that you were in your room?”
“Yes.”
“What time did you get dressed?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m assuming your lady’s maid helped you dress. What time?”
“Nine, I suppose. I don’t recollect exactly.”
“Then you stayed in your room, writing?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone see you, after your maid brought you a tray?”
“I . . . no. I was left alone.”
“What about your mother and brother? Where were they yesterday morning?”
“I’m certain they were about.”
“But you don’t know?”
Lady Louisa began to look hunted. “I told you, I was in my room. If I was in my room, I don’t see how I could know where anyone else was.” She picked up her skirts. “Forgive me, I see an old acquaintance and I must pay my respects. Good evening, Lady Rebecca, Miss Donovan.”
Kendra watched the other woman flee into the throngs of people. “An old acquaintance my as—eye.”
Rebecca lifted a brow. “You do have an unfortunate habit of chasing people away, Miss Donovan.”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
Rebecca heaved a sigh. “I must confess, I feel sorry for Lady Louisa. She seems terribly alone.”
“Is that why you asked her to go riding?”
“I suppose. Although I do enjoy it.”
“She doesn’t have much of an alibi for Sunday morning. Her house isn’t far from Piccadilly and she could have stolen a maid’s uniform from her household.”
“You don’t really suspect Lady Louisa, do you? She’s so . . . retiring.”
“Always standing on the sidelines.”
“Exactly. You can scarcely blame the poor thing if her dance card is not filled.” Rebecca shook her head, pensive. “Few gentlemen will take pity on her, I’m afraid. In a way, she’s become a social pariah.”
“Yes, but who would notice if she slipped away from the sidelines for half an hour or so?”
Rebecca frowned, obviously disturbed. “I agree that she is not a person who draws attention. But I can hardly credit her with murdering Lady Dover. She is not a bold person.”
Kendra thought about the unexpected blow that Lady Louisa had delivered. It would seem you have her blood on your hands.
Lady Louisa was right; Miss Cooper’s blood was on her hands. It made her sick to think about it. But to have Lady Louisa actually say it . . .
Apparently she wasn’t quite the retiring wallflower she would have everyone believe.
40
The Duke persuaded Rebecca to join him in a reel forming on the dance floor, while Alec and Kendra found Lady Isabella and her husband in the morning room. The Bensons had transformed the room into a sugar fiend’s paradise. The chairs had been removed, leaving only the massive oak table to groan under the weight of platters and serving bowls holding a vast array of desserts: lemon creams, baked custards, lavender rum cakes, glazed tartlets, and bread-and-butter pudding dotted with dark currants. The scent of warm cakes mingled with a touch of honey from the beeswax candles that flickered around the room.
Lady Isabella brandished a tiny spoon, scooping out baked custard from the bowl she held with obvious enjoyment. Kendra knew the second the other woman became aware of their presence—the spoon froze halfway to Lady Isabella’s mouth and her hazel eyes narrowed. Then the spoon continued its trajectory. She’d swallowed the dessert by the time they came to a halt in front of her.
“Lady Isabella, Mr. Sedwick, good evening.” Alec offered them a faint smile. “I believe you have already been introduced to Miss Donovan.”
“Yes. But Mr. Sedwick and I were preparing to leave,” Lady Isabella said abruptly.