Evidence was taken of identity, then the doctor who had first attended described the wound. ‘It would have been almost instantly fatal without extensive external bleeding.’ He lapsed into anatomical technicalities, then described the weapon as Adrien had reported to us, and concluded, ‘The deceased had been in good health.’
‘Other than being dead,’ James whispered in my ear, making me choke into my handkerchief. That earned me several sympathetic looks from the jury who presumably thought I was a grieving relative.
The Coroner asked about defensive injuries to the hands or other wounds on the body and was told there were none. From the condition of the corpse Doctor Harris estimated that death had occurred in the late evening or during the night.
He was excused and Grainger the butler was called, followed by Adrien and then his father.
Doctor Partridge expressed surprise that Alexander had not seen the body of his nephew when he had called and was told stiffly that, as gentlemen did not go nosing around other gentlemen’s studies, there was nothing remarkable about it. He had sat down and waited, he said, until he judged he could not delay longer without arriving back late to the Palace reception. The jury were clearly thrilled by the reference to royalty.
At that point James stood up, gave his name and asked to speak. He explained that an experiment had been tried and described what had been done. Alexander Prescott bristled, so James said smoothly that there was a concern that the body might have been hidden elsewhere and brought out later, but that it was clear from the experiment, and the state of rigor, that the Viscount had been very effectively concealed behind the desk from the moment of his death.
Alexander subsided. The Coroner looked torn between delivering a lecture on interference and gratitude that the point had been clarified and compromised by telling James to sit down.
Two footmen and two housemaids testified that they’d had no reason to go into the study that evening. There had been no summons by bell and they had heard nothing from the room. They were aware that it was their master’s habit to open the long window onto the terrace when he was working: it opened smo
othly and almost silently.
The valet confirmed that the Viscount did sometimes spend the night in the study and that he did not welcome interruptions to his work. Eventually he would ring and then hot water would be taken to his room and the valet would attend to shave and dress him.
The Constable testified that the gate to the mews from the back garden was locked and bolted but that his assistant, a “lively lad”, was able to scale it with ease. There was a ripple of amusement in the room and a voice at the back called out, ‘Good thing it weren’t you and your pot belly trying it, Sim Wiggins!’
Once order had been restored and the red-faced Constable had resumed his seat, the Coroner sent the jury out to consider their verdict.
We sat on the hard benches and I wished someone would open a window but, before the general miasma of unwashed bodies, stale beer and dust became too oppressive, the jurors filed back and their spokesman stood and faced the Coroner.
‘What are your findings, Joseph Baines?’
‘We’re agreed that the dead man is Henry, Viscount Tillingham and that he was murdered by being stabbed in the heart on Sunday last by some person what we don’t know the name of,’ Mr Baines pronounced and sat down.
‘That was not a great deal of help,’ Luc muttered, but I was watching Alexander Prescott who was staring at us with a strangely considering expression.
When the Coroner dismissed the jury and everyone stood up, Alexander did not join the mass of people making for the door, but turned towards us. ‘Lord Radcliffe,’ he said, when he was a few strides away.
‘Mr Prescott. My sympathies, this is a very difficult time for you. I trust Doctor Prescott was not completely prostrated by the shock.’
‘He was very much distressed, but he is determined to do his duty,’ Alexander said stiffly. ‘He is making his way to Tillingham Hall, with a nurse and his medical man in attendance. I must go now and speak to the funeral undertaker so that my nephew’s body may be sent home as soon as possible.’ He hesitated. ‘Lord Radcliffe, Might I call upon you later today? This afternoon, perhaps?’
‘Certainly. I will be at home.’ Luc watched the older man walk away. ‘I wonder what that is about.’ He shrugged. ‘Ah well, Prescott has a great deal to concern him and I had no plans for this afternoon.’
Chapter Eight
We were all sitting in the drawing room after luncheon – Luc, his mother, James and myself. Kit had gone up to Jermyn Street to return a shirt on the grounds that, on close examination, he was not happy with the quality of the stitching.
We had talked ourselves to a standstill on the subject of the inquest and Luc and his mother had moved on to discussing whether or not to try and find another young man to assist with the twins, who were still too young for a proper tutor, but were more than enough to exhaust the most sprightly of nannies, nursemaids and grandmothers.
‘There are Adrien’s younger cousins,’ I suggested. ‘Although the only one I have met – Jerald – appears to be something of a gambler, so he would not be suitable. Quite a pleasant type, but immature, I thought.’
‘George and Percy are about Adrien’s age,’ Luc said. ‘I will ask Adrien how they are situated when he is slightly less preoccupied. Or some of his university friends may have suitable younger brothers.’
Wilkins came in. ‘Mr Prescott, my lady.’
‘Show him in,’ Lady Radcliffe said, and stood to offer her hand when he entered. ‘My condolences on the loss of your nephew. A very shocking thing. You know my younger son, I believe. Cassandra, may I present Mr Alexander Prescott? Mr Prescott, Miss Lawrence, a friend of the family from America.’
I went and shook hands, then we all sat down and gazed expectantly at Adrien’s father.
‘I had not intended disturbing you, Lady Radcliffe,’ he began.
She waved that aside, quite deliberately ignoring his discomfort at the presence of the rest of us. ‘If this concerns your unfortunate nephew, please feel quite free to speak in front of all of us. Miss Lawrence and James were both with Radcliffe when he saw the body and I have nerves of steel, I assure you.’