“Tonight he called on me. Unfortunately, I never learned what his intention was, because by the time I arrived in the library, he was already dead.” She shuddered. “A knife in his chest.”
Papa swung his attention to William. “How are you involved in this, Wethington?”
William straightened in his seat and placed his teacup and saucer on the table alongside him. Papa could do that to people. “I called to bring a book to Lady Amy that she wished to borrow.”
“Continue.”
“When I arrived, there was excitement among the staff and screams coming from Lady Amy, who seemed to be in distress. I found Mr. St. Vincent lying on the floor in your library with a knife in his chest. I asked one of the servants to summon the police.”
Her father nodded and took another sip of brandy. Then he turned toward her. “I assume, given the facts as they are, that you are the suspect?”
No point in showing outrage at her father’s words, since that was the case. “Most likely. The detectives who were here were not very pleasant.” The tea had helped to clear her head from the liquor and calm her nerves. She was feeling more in control of herself. Which was always important where Papa was concerned.
“’Tis their job to be unpleasant toward suspected murderers.”
Her chin rose in the air. “They told me I was not permitted to leave Bath.”
Papa rubbed his temples. “I shall have my local solicitor call on me in the morning to see if he can recommend a barrister.”
Lady Amy’s eyes grew wide. “You think I will need a legal representative?”
“Of course you do, young lady. You broke your engagement with Mr. St. Vincent. He shows up here—God only knows why—and ends up dead with a very large knife stuck in his chest. I doubt if the Bath police would believe a maid or a footman was overcome with the need to do away with the man.”
“Excuse my interruption, my lord, but there was other evidence the detectives uncovered while they were here.”
When Papa only nodded in his direction, William continued. “Lady Amy had gone into the garden to see if Mr. St. Vincent was there when she didn’t find him in the library, so her shoes were wet from the grass. One of the detectives noted that Mr. St. Vincent was stabbed in the garden and left a trail of blood to the library, where he collapsed.”
Papa shook his head. “Well done, my girl. Well done.”
Amy closed her eyes and sighed.
“May I ask a question, my lord?” William asked.
“Go on,” her father said.
“May I be present when the barrister calls? I heard the exchange between the detectives and Lady Amy, and as she was a bit distraught during the questioning, I might be able to remember things that will help.”
“Or hurt,” Lady Amy said.
“My lord, the coroner has arrived.” Stevens entered the drawing room, still looking a bit out of sorts.
“Fine. Lead them to the library.” Lady Margaret walked over to Amy and extended her hand. “Come, my dear, you best get some sleep. I will have Cook fix a tisane for you.”
Amy took her aunt’s hand and rose. She felt the result of all the evening’s events and wanted more than anything to gain her bed. Hopefully, Papa would not notice how wobbly on her feet she was.
“My lady, I left the book you wished to borrow in the library. Perhaps it is best if I bring it home with me.”
“What book is this?” Papa asked.
“Unsolved Gruesome and Ghastly Murders of London by Melvin Fulsom.” William’s voice lowered at the end when Papa’s brows threatened to fly off the top of his head.
“Lord Wethington, I think it is probably best if you took the book home once we are able to enter the room. In fact, how much would it cost me to have you burn the thing?”
* * *
After a disturbed night’s sleep, Amy was summoned from her bedchamber by Lacey, who still looked a bit pale. “Milady, Lord Winchester has requested your presence in the drawing room.”
“Thank you, Lacey.”