Whom the Gods Love by Kate Ross Page B

slightest suspicion, stop anyone for questioning, take letters from the post and read them. Your so-called police, always they need warrants. Always they cannot do this or that because your English liberties do not permit it. It is no wonder they have not found my master's murderer. They are all amateurs /"
    "But I'm an egregious amateur myself. Why have you told me?"
    Valere opened his eyes in surprise. "But you are different, monsieur. You have lived in France. You are an admirer of the French police. Last night I saw your valet at the Red Lion, and he told me so."
    "Did he indeed?" Julian said softly. He had, of course, sent Dipper out last night to spread the news that he was investigating Alexander Falkland's murder. Trust Dipper to take that opportunity to make inroads for Julian with Valere.
    "Mais oui, monsieur. So I know you will find out what this woman Martha is hiding."
    "Have you any theories about that yourself?"
    "Non, monsieur. But I think there is nothing she would not do for her mistress."
    "Are you referring to the spying, or to the murder?"
    Valere shrugged. "Qa fait rien, monsieur. She has nerve enough for either."
    *
    "Your master's murder must have come as a great shock to you," Julian observed to Luke.
    "Yes, sir."
    "You were one of the first to hear of it?"
    "Yes, sir. Mr. Clare told Mr. Nichols and me he'd been killed, and we went down to the study. I wouldn't have known what to do, but Mr. Clare said not to touch anything, and Mr. Nichols sent me back upstairs to wait on the guests and make sure that none of them left."
    "Did any of them try to leave?"
    "No, sir. I think they all knew something was amiss and wanted to know what it was all about."
    "Did anyone seem skittish or afraid?"
    "No, sir—leastways not till we heard Mrs. Falkland screaming. Then they all got in a taking. Some of the ladies had the vapours, and some of the gentlemen tried to run up the stairs. Then Mr. Nichols came and told them Mrs. Falkland had had bad news, and after that Mrs. Falkland came down herself." 
    "How did she look?"
    "She looked—like an angel, sir! She was still in her sky-blue evening frock, with a black lace shawl thrown over it. Her face was as white and still as marble. And she was so brave, all the guests were ashamed of being in such a fret. She asked them to stay till the Bow Street Runners came, and they couldn't say her nay. I'm sure no one could as saw her, sir."
    Julian thought wryly that Luke had left no doubt about his own feeling for Mrs. Falkland. It might be—very likely was—a guiltless passion, respectful and modest, if not entirely chaste. But love affairs between ladies and their footmen were not unknown, and Luke was a very comely young man. Such an intrigue seemed foreign to Mrs. Falkland's nature: her pride and honour would reject it out of hand. But Julian knew he must be especially stern in his judgements of her, because his tiresome chivalry would be constantly urging him to take her part.
    He said, "As you probably know, Mr. Falkland was killed some time between ten minutes to midnight and a quarter after. During that time, you went down to the basement to fetch more wine."
    "Yes, sir."
    "Did you see or hear anyone on the stairs?"
    "No, sir."
    "Did you stop on the ground floor?"
    "No, sir."
    "Did you go near the study?"
    "No, sir." Luke's wide blue eyes were clear and unwavering.
    "This visit Mrs. Falkland made to her friend who lives near the Strand. What have you been holding back about that?"
    Luke's guard went up with a vengeance. "With respect, sir, I haven't been holding anything back."
    "You know, you can't help her by concealing information. You can only make it appear more damning when it does come out—as it assuredly will in the end."
    "I wouldn't presume to think Mrs. Falkland needs help from the likes of me, sir."
    "Very pretty. But you don't believe a word of it, and nor do I."
    Luke said nothing.
    "My dear boy," said Julian, who was no more than five years older,