“I don’t want to gossip, either. I want to get some sense of what Lady Weston—and the Weston household—is like.”
The maid gave her a look. “There is much talk about how you and the Duke of Aldridge are making inquiries into the murder. It is very curious. This is not customary for a lady to do—even for an American lady.”
“Is that why you answered my note? You wanted to satisfy your curiosity?”
Another small smile. “Perhaps.” Then, she sobered. “And to tell you that Lady Weston was in her bedchamber the night of the murder.”
Kendra eyed her. “How do I know you’re telling the truth, Miss Aubert? You could be covering for your employer, protecting your own job.”
The maid looked a little nonplussed at having her statement questioned. Then she shrugged. “I do not know how to convince you, Miss Donovan, but I am telling you the truth. And I do not need to protect my position. I am from France and I am very good at fulfilling my duties. Skillful French lady’s maids are always in demand among the aristocracy of England.”
“I’ve noticed that.”
“The French have always had a great deal of influence in this country.” Miss Aubert gestured to the lake and the sloping hillside. “Did you know this royal park was actually designed by a Frenchman? England’s King Charles II commissioned André Mollet to redesign it to reflect the parks at Versailles. The King opened it to the public, but also used it to entertain his guests—and his many mistresses.”
“It’s beautiful,” said Kendra, but she wasn’t here to discuss landscaping. “Speaking of mistresses . . . tell me what happened that night at the theater when Lady Dover wore the Weston necklace.”
Miss Aubert looked surprised. “The night at the theater?”
“Yes. That’s when this first started.”
“I suppose that is true.” Her gaze shifted back to the lake thoughtfully. “Naturally, I waited for Her Ladyship to return from the theater, in order to prepare her for bed. The family returned earlier than expected and my lady was quite distraught.”
“Was she crying, or angry? Did she throw things around?”
Miss Aubert let out a laugh, but then caught herself. “She was in a temper, yes. But she is not the kind of person to throw around her perfume bottles. I was once employed by a lady who displayed such fury. She threw a jewelry box at me, hit me right here.” She lifted a gloved hand to rub her shoulder, as though the hurt was still fresh.
“What did you do?”
“I handed in my notice and was hired by Lady Weston.”
“Okay, so you knew Lady Weston was upset. Did she tell you why?”
“No. She said she had a headache, and wanted to retire. She asked for laudanum to help her sleep.”
“What did the rest of the family do? This isn’t gossip, Miss Aubert,” Kendra added when the maid hesitated. “I’m trying to find a murderer.”
Miss Aubert frowned. “Everyone was terribly distressed. Lord Weston and the Viscount sequestered themselves in His Lordship’s study. I believe they argued—this is what some of the other staff have said. Lady Louisa was . . . disturbed as well. She has hopes of marrying Lord Ludlow, but he was at the theater, too—I do not think she will be marrying Lord Ludlow.”
“I suspect you’re right,” Kendra said. “What about the next day? What was the mood like in the house?”
“Lady Weston remained in her bedchamber. She was unwell. Lord Weston and the Viscount departed shortly after breakfast. Lady Louisa, I do not know. As I said, she was very upset.”
“Do you know where Lord Weston or his son went?”
“No.”
“And Lady Weston stayed in bed?”
“In her bedchamber. Lady Isabella and Lady Frances joined her.”
“How did they seem?”
The maid gave her a look. “To be expected—disturbed, agitated. Lady Frances, now she is one who will throw things, I think. She was in a fury. When she was leaving, she said . . .” Miss Aubert hesitated, then finished her thought. “She said that Lady Dover was a strumpet. She loathed her and said Lady Dover ought to be taught a lesson. These were just words, you understand, said in the heat of anger.”
“I understand.” Still, Kendra knew that anger that began as words could end in action—violent action. “Did things eventually calm down?”
Miss Aubert’s gaze drifted back to the lake and she let out a sigh. “It is not a happy household. There has been much strife and it has infected the staff. The groom accused one of the stable boys of stealing his coat, and they quarreled. The boy’s mother is the cook, so the groom now has accused her of deliberately burning his dinner. You see how a family’s mood can affect everyone? How the cycle continues below stairs? This melancholy is not good for a person’s nerves.”
“No, I wouldn’t think it would be.”
“I am considering seeking a new position.” Miss Aubert opened her pelisse to check the small watch she had attached to the bodice of her gown. “I must go. My duties have been reduced considerably since Lady Weston has become unwell, but my services are still required.”
“Just a couple more questions, Miss Aubert. What happened on the night of Lady Frances’s party?”
“Lady Weston remained in her bedchamber; she could not face the Beau Monde. She requested laudanum . . .” Miss Aubert shrugged. “I gave it to her in her tea.”
“Did you watch her drink it?”
“I waited for her to drink the tea so I could return the cup to the kitchen,” Miss Aubert replied. “Later, when I looked into the room, she was sleeping.”
“What time did you check on her?”
“This I do not remember.”
“But you don’t think she left and killed Lady Dover?”
“No. I absolutely do not.”
“Thank you, Miss Aubert. You’ve been very helpful.”
The maid looked at her for a long moment. “You are a very unusual woman, Miss Donovan. This I do not mean as an insult.”
“Ah . . . thanks.”
Kendra watched the lady’s maid as she walked away. When she was swallowed up by the trees, Kendra turned and crossed the grass back toward Alec.
“What did Miss Aubert say?” he asked at her approach.
“She said that Lady Weston was in bed at the time Lady Dover was being murdered.”
“So not the scorned wife.”
“No.” She smiled slightly. “Now there are four.”
47