Sophie sat, her skin tingling all over. The time of reckoning had come.
“I suppose you can guess why your mother and I have called you in here to speak to us.”
Sophie nodded.
“We want you to know that we don’t blame you for this, Sophie,” Iris said, her eyes kind.
Sophie furrowed her brow. They didn’t blame her? Well…that was good. And confusing.
Brighton cleared his throat. “We’re very sorry that you had to go through this. I assure you that the man has been in my employ since he was a lad, and I never thought him capable of such things.”
Confusion muddled Sophie’s brain. What were they talking about?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“He is gone, and he will never bother you again.”
Should she go along? Evidently they hadn’t heard any gossip regarding her and Zach. Maybe she was imagining that it was flowing like the wind through the city of Bath and its outlying areas. Perhaps Zach and the solicitor had found a way to keep it quiet.
“I’m so sorry, my lord, but I am sure I do not know what you are talking about.”
Iris stood, walked to Sophie, and sat down in the chair next to her, taking her hand. “My dear, we’re talking about Bertram, of course.”
“Bertram?”
“Yes. But now I’m confounded. You indicated that you knew what we were talking about.”
Sophie warmed. “I’m sorry, Mother. I was confused. My mind has been so cluttered, with the theatre closing at all. I’ve…not quite known what to do with myself. Thank goodness it’s reopening tomorrow and I can get back to rehearsal.”
Iris nodded. “Of course, dear.”
“What’s going on with Bertram, Mother?”
“Bertram has been dismissed from the estate,” the earl said. “Graves found out that he had been writing secret notes to you. Why did you not inform your mother and me that you were getting notes?”
Bertram? Young and awkward Bertram? Then again, Sophie was also awkward. Perhaps he felt they were kindred spirits. “They seemed harmless, at least until the last one. I guess I never really thought about who might be sending them.”
“We’ve spoken to your sister, and she said that you thought Mr. Newland might be sending them.”
Caught in a lie. That wasn’t good. Since when had she started lying? “At first, yes. Up until the last one, that is. The last one was quite…creepy. I know Zach—er, Mr. Newland—would never have sent it.”
Brighton cleared his throat. “I’ve spoken to the inspector in charge of Miss Lloyd’s murder investigation. Newland has been exonerated, though the inspector wouldn’t tell me how. They seem to think whoever sent the notes might be responsible for the murder, so Mr. Bertram is being held for questioning.”
Sophie’s skin froze. “He seemed like such a nice man.”
“Yes, he did,” the earl said. “He has been on this estate for near twenty years now, since he was a small lad. But Graves says he has been shirking his duties, and then, when Graves discovered that he was the one sending in the notes, your mother and I felt we had no choice but to dismiss him. When I talked to the inspectors and told them that he was the one sending you the notes, things all fell into place.”
Sophie sighed. “Well, at least they have the right suspect now.”
“Was this Miss Lloyd a problem for you?” the earl asked.
“She had no love for me. I took her position in the company, so who can really blame her? She became such a problem that Zach—er, Mr. Newland—had to let her go from the company.”
The earl nodded. “I see. Well, at least her attacker will be brought to justice.”
“Yes,” Sophie said. “Though I had no real use for her, she did not deserve to be killed.” She fidgeted. “Is there anything else you wish to speak to me about?”
Brighton shook his head. “No, my dear. You may go.”