“Did you find out if someone could have put the poison in the flask the day before?”
“Miss Yingling said Mrs. Van Orner emptied her flask daily, so it seems likely someone put the laudanum in it the same day she died.”
“Someone at her house still could have put it in before she left home that morning.”
“Yes, but who?”
“Miss Yingling, for one. I don’t like her at all. She’s a bit of a . . . a prig, although it sounds odd to say such a thing about a woman with her past.”
“I know what you mean, though. I think she’s just trying very hard to be what she thinks a respectable woman should be.”
“Do you think she imagines Gregory is interested in her?”
Sarah considered this. “I have no idea, of course, but it’s interesting that while Mrs. Van Orner was alive, she took great pains to make herself plain and unattractive, but as soon as Mrs. Van Orner died, she changed her clothes and her hair and every part of her appearance to make herself as beautiful as possible.”
“A woman only does that when she wants a man to notice her,” Mrs. Decker said.
“Or when she wants to influence him,” Sarah said. “According to Malloy, she first made the change when she went to speak with Van Orner about allowing the police to investigate the murder.”
Mrs. Decker considered this. “Gregory could easily have forbidden the police from getting involved. He could have just claimed Vivian died of some mysterious ailment and let her be buried quietly. Even if he suspected she’d been murdered, no one wants their family secrets dragged through the newspapers, and they certainly don’t want to be involved with the police . . . No offense to Mr. Malloy, but you know very well—”
“Yes, I know very well what people in your social set think of the police, and you’re right, no one with the means to prevent it would allow them to be involved in their lives.”
“So Vivian’s death could have passed with little notice from any but her closest friends, and yet Gregory chose to let Mr. Malloy investigate.”
Sarah was beginning to see the point her mother was trying to make. “Yes, why would he do such a thing? If he was devoted to his wife, he might want justice, but . . .”
“Believe me, he was not devoted to Vivian.”
“Then it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Just as important, why did Miss Yingling work so hard to convince him to accept Mr. Malloy’s assistance?”
“And she did work hard. She changed her entire appearance, becoming a woman he couldn’t fail to find appealing before making her case to him.”
“Even more amazing, she succeeded,” Mrs. Decker said. “She must have some influence over him, more than his wife’s secretary should have, at any rate.”
“Miss Yingling thinks Amy poisoned Mrs. Van Orner.”
Mrs. Decker looked at Sarah in amazement. “Does she? How do you know?”
“She made it very clear to me that she believes Amy is the only one with something to gain from Mrs. Van Orner’s death.”
“I don’t know if she’s the only one, but she certainly did stand to gain. She’d get nothing but crumbs as long as Vivian was alive. Gregory might have taken her as his mistress again, but he’d never acknowledge the child openly. Vivian would have made sure of it. She’d never allow him to humiliate her like that.”
“How could she have stopped him?”
“She would make sure he understood that she would win the support of the wives of all his friends. He’d be socially ostracized. Even though his friends might not care what he had done, their wives would make certain he was never invited anywhere. The threat of such a fate would be enough to ensure his discretion.”
“Now he doesn’t have to worry about that,” Sarah mused.
“No, he doesn’t, but I still don’t understand why he’s letting the police investigate the murder.”
“I got the feeling the whole thing was Miss Yingling’s idea. She dressed up and went to see him, sort of like in the Bible, the way Queen Esther dressed up to go see the king to plead for the safety of her people.”
“It’s a trick as old as time.”
“And she convinced him to do it.”
“Yes, she did,” Mrs. Decker said with a frown. “But why? Why would she care so much?”
“Maybe we misjudged her. She had good reason to be grateful to Mrs. Van Orner, who’d rescued her from the depths of degradation and given her a place in her own household and a respectable way to earn her living. I can’t even imagine how grateful I’d be to someone who had done that for me.”
“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. She hasn’t shown it, but she must be devastated that Vivian is dead.”
“And if Vivian was murdered, Miss Yingling would surely want to find out who did it and see them punished.”
“That would be perfectly natural, and the only way to find the killer is to involve the police.”
Sarah nodded. “So that explains why she went to so much trouble to make sure Mrs. Van Orner’s death was investigated.”
“And if they find out Amy is the killer, she’ll be rid of an annoying problem into the bargain.”
“Yes, everything would work out very neatly for Miss Yingling . . . but only if Amy is the killer.”
11
“MOTHER, COULD YOU HAVE YOUR DRIVER DROP ME OFF someplace?” Sarah asked, even though they were almost back to the Decker home.
“Of course, dear. Where would you like to go?”
“I need to see Mrs. Spratt-Williams. She was very concerned when I told her Amy had left the rescue house, and I’d like to let her know she and the baby aren’t in any danger.”
“I’m sure she’ll be surprised to learn she landed at the Van Orner house.”
“Maybe not. Amy certainly gave plenty of hints that she was involved with Mr. Van Orner.”
“Still, hinting and moving in with the man are two very different things.”
“Would you like to go in with me?”
“Yes, but I don’t know Mrs. Spratt-Williams and I have a feeling I don’t want to. She’ll surely be looking for patronesses to replace Vivian. Your father would never permit me to support such a cause, and I’d rather not have to refuse her.”
“Since when do you worry about what Father approves and doesn’t approve?”
Mrs. Decker shook her head in mock dismay. “Sarah, I was trying to be discreet. When I don’t want to do something, I always blame your father. How unkind of you to make me admit it.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sarah said with a grin. “Then I won’t force you into an acquaintance with Mrs. Spratt-Williams. Do you know anything about her? She said she’s a widow.”
“Hmmm, I seem to remember some scandal about her husband. He’s been dead a number of years, though, and there have been so many scandals in the meantime that they’ve started running together in my memory. I could be completely mistaken, too. I do know she doesn’t go out in society. She’s probably one of those widows who devote themselves to good works.”
That seemed to describe Mrs. Spratt-Williams perfectly.
Mrs. Decker gave her driver the address, and they chatted about Catherine for the rest of the drive. Mrs. Decker had taken a healthy interest in the child who would likely be the closest thing to a grandchild she would ever have. Mrs. Decker instructed the driver to wait until Sarah had been admitted into Mrs. Spratt-Williams’s house, and Sarah waved good-bye before stepping through the front door.
Mrs. Spratt-Williams looked much better today than she had yesterday. She was dressed and groomed, and her color was good and her eyes clear.
“Mrs. Brandt, what a delightful surprise. Please come in and sit down. I’ll order some tea.”
“Oh, don’t go to any trouble for me. I can only stay a few minutes. I just thought you’d want to hear some good news for a change.”