The Cater Street Hangman - Anne Perry [35]
He did not move.
“You were the only one here at the time?” he asked.
“Apart from Mrs. Dunphy, and Dora, of course. Why?”
“Your mother and sisters were at some church function. Where were your father and Mr. Corde?”
“Ask them.”
“You don’t know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“But they came home passing close to Cater Street, if not actually through it?”
“If they had seen anything, I’m sure they would have told you.”
“Possibly.”
“Of course they would! Whyever not?” A terrible thought hit her like a blow. “You can’t—you can’t imagine that one of them would—”
“I imagine everything, Miss Ellison, and believe nothing until there is proof. But I admit, there is no cause to suppose—,” he left it hanging a second. “But someone did. I would like to have another talk with Maddock—undisturbed.”
That evening everyone was at home, even Emily. They sat with the French windows open onto the lawn and the late sun in the garden, but instead of the balmy air of evening, filled with the scents of the day, it seemed only heavy with oppression.
It was Sarah who said what they were all thinking, or something close to it.
“Well, I’m not worried,” she lifted her chin a little. “Inspector Pitt seems a sensible man to me. He’ll soon discover that Maddock is as innocent as the rest of us. I dare say he’ll even decide so tomorrow.”
Charlotte spoke her thoughts, as usual, before she considered.
“I have no faith at all in his good sense. He is not like us.”
“We all know he is a different class of person,” Sarah said quickly. “But he is used to dealing with criminals. He must know the difference between a perfectly respectable servant like Maddock, and the kind of ruffian who goes around strangling girls.”
“Garotting,” Charlotte corrected. “And there is a lot of difference between ruffians, as you put it, who attack and rob people, and the sort of person who garottes women, especially servant girls who have nothing worth stealing.”
Dominic smiled widely.
“And how would you know, Charlotte? Have you become an expert on crimes of passion?”
“She doesn’t know!” Edward said very sharply. “She is being contrary, as usual.”
“Oh, I don’t agree,” Dominic was still smiling. “Charlotte’s not contrary; she’s just forthright. And she has been spending a lot of time lately with that police fellow. Perhaps she’s learned something?”
“She could hardly learn anything of value, or suitable for a lady to know, from such a person,” Edward said with a frown. He turned to her. “Charlotte, is this true? Have you been seeing this person?”
Charlotte found herself colouring with confusion and anger.
“Only when he called here on police business, Papa. Unfortunately he has come on two occasions when no one else was in.”
“And what have you been saying to him?”
“Answering his questions, of course. We hardly have social conversations.”
“Don’t be impertinent! I meant, what has he asked you?”
“Not a great deal.” Now that she came to think of it, their conversations had been of no immediate relevance to his investigations. “He asked me a little about Lily, and about Maddock.”
“He’s a perfectly awful man,” Sarah shivered. “It really is appalling that we should have to have him in the house. And I think we should be very careful about letting Charlotte talk to him. You never know what she may forget herself and say.”
“Do you suggest we should stand in the street and answer his questions?” Charlotte lost her temper completely. “And if you don’t let him speak to me, he will suspect I know something shameful that you are afraid I will let slip.”
“Charlotte,” Caroline’s voice was quite soft, but there was an edge of firmness in it that had the desired effect.
“I don’t think he’s awful,” Dominic said casually. “In fact, I rather like him.”
“You what?” Sarah was incredulous.
“I rather like him,” Dominic