Gerrard, watching him, picked his moment. “Sir Godfrey, you’re a man of the world-I know we can rely on your discretion. Miss Tregonning and I intend to wed once this affair is settled. Consequently, she was with me throughout the night, from before Millicent’s maid left her in her room, until seven o’clock this morning. Quite aside from my word on the matter, there are a number of staff who can verify that.”
Sir Godfrey blinked at him, then waved his hand. “Complete discretion, I assure you. Anyway…” His tone hardened, his grip tightened on the brandy glass and he drained it. “This wasn’t Jacqueline, but some man-some bounder, some blackguard who’s been leading us a merry dance through murder after murder, and laughing up his sleeve because we’ve been afraid it was Jacqueline. That’s not going to happen this time-this time, we’re going to catch the devil.”
“Indeed!” Barnaby sat forward. “We need to investigate what could possibly have drawn Millicent down into the garden. Her maid is certain she normally only strolled on the terrace, and it had rained.”
“Millicent isn’t all that fond of the gardens, y’know.” Sir Godfrey nodded. “She must have heard or seen something.”
Barnaby suddenly straightened; his gaze grew distant. “Ring for Treadle.”
Gerrard did; when the butler appeared, Barnaby put one question.
“Indeed, sir,” Treadle said. “Lady Tregonning often strolled on the terrace of a night. She had trouble sleeping.”
“Just like the elder Miss Tregonning?”
Treadle bowed. “Their habits were well-known belowstairs, sir-and, of course, I always know when the terrace door has been opened after I’ve locked up.”
Barnaby eyed him. “You don’t, by any chance, recall if the door had been opened on the night before Lady Tregonning died?”
“I do recall, as it happens, sir. I distinctly remember thinking, when she appeared so haggard at the breakfast table the next morning-the morning of the day she died-that the poor lady must have walked all night. She certainly hadn’t slept, and the terrace door had been opened.”
Barnaby thanked Treadle, who bowed and withdrew.
Sir Godfrey looked at Barnaby, horrified comprehension dawning. “You think Miribelle heard something, too?”
Lips set, Barnaby nodded. “I think she heard or saw something, but went back into the house… Whatever it was, she knew what it meant, but she thought whoever was involved-the murderer, let’s say-hadn’t seen her.”
“But he had,” Gerrard said.
“Possibly. Whoever it was knew he’d been seen by someone at least-later that day, probably because of something Miribelle said or did, perhaps simply because she looked so uncommonly haggard, he guessed it was she.” Barnaby sat back. “So he killed her.”
“Which means,” Gerrard said, “that whatever Miribelle and presumably now Millicent saw or heard was dangerous, very dangerous, to the murderer.”
Barnaby nodded. “So dangerous he killed without the slightest compunction to prevent them telling…”
“Why didn’t Miribelle tell anyone, then?” Sir Godfrey asked. “If she knew what she’d seen enough to be so upset by it, why didn’t she say?”
After a moment, Barnaby admitted, “I don’t know. There’ll be a reason, but until we know what it was they both saw, we won’t be able to guess it.”
“Regardless,” Gerrard persisted, “everything hinges on what they saw. That’s the critical thing. What could it have been?”
“Who could it have been?” Sir Godfrey put in. “Who the devil wanders the gardens at night?”
Gerrard knew. “Eleanor Fritham, for one.” He met Sir Godfrey’s eyes. “There’s a telescope in my bedchamber-I’ve seen her on a number of nights, together with a gentleman I didn’t see well enough to identify.” Gerrard hesitated for a heartbeat, a remembered vision swimming before his eyes. “In addition to that, there’s a lover’s bower in the Garden of Night, well concealed, and someone is currently using it.”
Sir Godfrey’s brows rose high. “Is that so?” But then he frowned; after a moment he said, “Neither Miribelle nor Millicent would be likely to get hysterical over stumbling on a pair of lovers in the garden, so it won’t be that per se. However”-his tone hardened; he looked at Gerrard and Barnaby-“I propose we ask Miss Fritham just who she’s been meeting in the gardens at night, and see if either she or her beau can shed light on what Millicent saw.”
At Barnaby’s suggestion, Sir Godfrey sent to Tresdale Manor, requesting Eleanor’s presence at the Hall. She arrived an hour later, with Lady Fritham, who led the way into the drawing room.
“I’m sure I don’t know why you need Eleanor, Godfrey, but of course I brought her straightaway. All the ladies at my at-home are agog to know what’s afoot.” Lady Fritham smiled in pleasant query at Sir Godfrey.
The magistrate looked blank, then cleared his throat. “Ah-just a little matter I need to clear up, Maria. Perhaps…” He glanced at Barnaby. “If Mr. Adair and I could have a quiet word with Eleanor in the study, while you remain here with Marcus and Jacqueline and Mr. Debbington…”
Smiling easily at Eleanor, Barnaby offered his arm. She took it; she cast an uncertain glance at her mother, but Barnaby irresistibly led her from the room, with Sir Godfrey making haste in their wake.
“Well!” Lady Fritham looked nonplussed. “How strange.”
Seated on the chaise, Jacqueline drew in a breath, strengthened her smile, and patted the cushions beside her. “Do sit down, ma’am. Whom did you leave at the manor? I know Aunt Millicent would love to know.”
Frowning, Lady Fritham sank to the chaise. “Where is Millicent?”
“She’s a trifle indisposed,” Lord Tregonning said.
“Oh.” Lady Fritham accepted that without a blink. “Well, let me see. There’s Mrs. Elcott, of course…”
She ran through her guests; Jacqueline was racking her brains over how to spin out the conversation-but then Eleanor reappeared in the doorway.
An Eleanor transformed-her color was high, her eyes flashing. She gave every sign of being highly offended. “Come, Mama! It’s time we left.”
Lady Fritham blinked uncomprehendingly. “But my dear-”
“Now, Mama! I wish to leave immediately.” Eleanor narrowed her eyes at Barnaby, who came to stand just back from the doorway. “I have nothing more to say to Sir Godfrey, or Mr. Adair. So if you please…”
Eleanor didn’t wait for a reply, but swung on her heel and stalked off.
Lady Fritham looked stunned. “Good gracious! Well! I’m sure I don’t know…” Her hand at her throat, she rose. “Do excuse us, Marcus-I have no idea what’s got into her.”
“Of course, Maria.” Lord Tregonning and Gerrard rose, bowing as Lady Fritham, agitated, fluttered toward the door.
“Maria?” Lord Tregonning waited until Lady Fritham looked back. “Just one thing-I would appreciate it if you would inform your family and household that the Hellebore Hall gardens are to be considered out of bounds. It seems they’ve grown too dangerous.”
“Dear me! Yes, of course I’ll tell everyone, Marcus. Do tell Millicent I’ll call later to see how she is.” With a wave, Lady Fritham hurried out into the hall in the wake of her wayward daughter.
Barnaby walked in; an instant later Sir Godfrey joined them. They all waited for the front door to shut, then Gerrard asked, “What did you learn?”
“Very little.” Barnaby dropped into a chair. “She flatly denied ever being in the gardens at night. She was lying through her teeth.”
“Indeed.” Sir Godfrey sank heavily into an armchair. “Never seen her like that before-all bold as brass and spit in your eye.”
“She panicked,” Barnaby said. “And took a high tone to conceal it.”