Page 39 of A Single Thread of Moonlight

“Father couldn’t have fallen,” I said firmly. “Not with his skill on a horse.”

A different look passed between them then. Mrs Chambers reached across the table as if she were about to take my hand. I pulled my arm back, placing my hand in my lap.

“What is it?” I asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Iris.” Her voice was full of sympathy. “There’s something you should know about your father. You wouldn’t have realized at the time – you were so young, and he was your hero.”

“Go on,” I said tightly.

She glanced at Mr Tookes and he nodded.

“He … well, he liked his drink,” she said. “A little too much.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” I laughed, disbelieving. “Are you trying to tell me that Father was drunk when he fell? That’s nonsense. I know he liked to have a glass of wine or two at dinner, and there was brandy in the library, but that’s only the same as all the other gentlemen here right now.”

“I don’t wish to speak ill of His Lordship, especially to you,” Mrs Chambers said, her voice more steady now, “but if you’ve been torturing yourself over this, you should know. It was more than that, when it came to him and drink. I don’t say he wasn’t a fine rider, but he didn’t know his limits. He had a flask that he carried with him, so that he wouldn’t have to go without. No one questioned what happened that day because it was all too easy to believe. I’m sorry, dear heart.”

A memory flitted through my head then – the hard feel of something in Father’s breast pocket when I hugged him. The sweet smell on his breath.

I pushed it away.

“It’s impossible,” I said. “And you” – I whirled on Tookes – “you said Helena was glad to see the back of him.”

“I think she was. But that doesn’t mean she killed him,” Tookes replied. “Your father’s death was an unfortunate accident. You forget, I found the man myself.”

I shook my head. “No,” I whispered. “It was no accident. Why else would Helena be so keen to be rid of me as well?”

Tookes rubbed his temples. “There was some strange business with his will,” he said slowly.

“What sort of strange business?” I asked.

Tookes frowned, trying to remember. “I don’t know exactly. But they were arguing about it before he died, him and Her Ladyship. I heard raised voices – something about the will, I know that much.” The sympathy in his eyes made me feel worse. “Arguments, maybe, Lady Iris – but not murder.”

“I still don’t believe that,” I said stubbornly. “Maybe my father drank more than was good for him – he was still the finest horseman in the county and he would never have fallen. I’m here to find out the truth. But I need to know that you won’t, either of you, give me away. No one must know that I’m here.”

“How did it come about that you are here? Posing as someone else?” Mrs Chambers’ face puckered with worry.

“I have a friend. He got me the invitation and helped with a false identity.” It was the best version of the truth I could manage.

“He?” Tookes asked blandly.

“I hope you haven’t got yourself in trouble,” Mrs Chambers fretted. “You know we would stand by your side … if someone … I mean, if he…”

Even after all the dire revelations of this evening, their worry almost made me laugh. They wondered if Nicholas Wynter had been making advances – which was about as far from the truth as possible. His whole plan revolved around getting another man to fall in love with me.

“No, no,” I said. “It’s nothing like that, I promise you.”

They both looked doubtful but said no more on the matter.

“So will you keep my secret?” I asked.

“You know we will,” Mrs Chambers said. “Though I don’t like it.” Her tone made me feel five years old again.

“Your objection is noted,” I replied, pulling myself up as tall as possible, trying to remind her that I was an adult now, in control of my own destiny.

A smile played on her lips. “You look like her, you know. Your mother. She’d make that face when I fussed too much.”

The words went straight to some vulnerable part of me and I felt a strange, sweet ache in my chest. “Then we should just be grateful that Helena never met her,” I said stiffly. “Is there anyone else here who may recognize me?”