The Hyde Park Headsman - Anne Griffin Perry [148]
Bart Mitchell?
Or Bart and Mina?
He alighted from the hansom and crossed the pavement to the Winthrops’ front door, and rang the bell. It was answered almost immediately by the parlormaid.
“Good afternoon.” He passed her his card. “Will you please ask Mrs. Winthrop if I may speak with her? It is a matter of some importance.”
She took the card, and returned only a few moments later to conduct him to the withdrawing room, where Mina was standing by the window staring into the garden. She was dressed in deep green which was so dark it was almost black except for the sheen on it where the sunlight fell. It suited her marvelously, complementing her fair skin and long slender neck. Her soft hair was coiled on her head. She was smiling, and suddenly Pitt could see in her the girl she must have been twenty years before.
Bart Mitchell was standing by the mantel shelf watching Pitt with vivid blue eyes, his expression guarded.
“Good afternoon, Superintendent,” Mina said warmly, coming towards him. “Is there something more I can tell you? I’m sure I don’t know what. I have searched my mind over and over, but nothing seems to mean anything.”
“It wasn’t about your husband I was going to speak, Mrs. Winthrop,” Pitt replied. He glanced at Bart Mitchell and acknowledged him, then looked back at Mina. “It was about Mr. Arledge I wished to ask you.”
She looked startled.
“Mr. Arledge?”
“Yes ma’am. I believe you knew him?”
“I—not to say knew him. I …” She looked confused, and glanced at her brother.
“Why do you ask, Superintendent?” Bart stepped forward into the middle of the room. “Surely you don’t imagine Mrs. Winthrop had anything to do with his death? That would be absurd.”
“I am looking for information, Mr. Mitchell,” Pitt replied with a small gesture of courtesy towards Mina. “An observation, a word overheard, or a perception which only now seems relevant.”
“I apologize,” Bart said stiffly, and without moving back. “But why would Mina know anything pertinent about Arledge’s death? She met him only very formally on the occasion of attending one or two of his concerts. That’s hardly a personal friendship where she could know the sort of detail you imply.”
Pitt ignored him and looked at Mina.
“You did know Mr. Arledge, ma’am?”
“Well.” She hesitated. “I did meet him one or two times. I am very fond of music. He was such a good musician, you know.”
“Yes, so I believe,” Pitt conceded. “But surely you also knew him a little more personally, Mrs. Winthrop? You were not merely a member of the audience.”
Bart’s chin came up and his eyes were sharp.
“What are you suggesting, Superintendent? Normally such a question might be quite inoffensive, but since you are investigating why the man was murdered, your remarks take a quite different tone. My sister’s acquaintance with Mr. Arledge was slight, and there was nothing whatsoever improper in it.”
“Of course not, Bart,” Mina said carefully and with apology in her voice. “I don’t imagine that was what the superintendent was thinking. There would be no cause for such an idea.” She turned back to Pitt. “A few pleasant words, that is all, I assure you. Had I been aware of anything at all which could help you, do you not think I would have sent word to you immediately? After all, he was killed by the same man who murdered my husband!”
“Mina!” Bart said quickly. “Of course there was nothing improper in it. That is not the superintendent’s train of thought. He is supposing that, for that very reason, you may have known more than you are willing to tell.”
“No it is not, Mr. Mitchell,” Pitt said sharply, but not entirely truthfully. “There may be a connection Mrs. Winthrop is unaware of. As you have pointed out, there must be a connection of some sort.”
Bart looked at him with his remarkable eyes hostile and guarded.
“Mrs. Winthrop?” Pitt pursued.
She looked at him with wide innocence and said nothing.