Page 39 of Corpse in the Canal

Oh, God, I’m not ready for them as well…

Chapter Nine

Constance was not sure what she expected to find at the home of Solomon’s old love, but it was not the casually domestic scene before her.

Adelaide sat at apparent ease in an armchair while, a few feet away, David sprawled comfortably on the hearth rug, playing soldiers with Clarence.

So she has both Greys enthralled…

Adelaide rose to her feet at once. So did the child, proving the good manners he’d been taught. David rose more slowly, not obviously embarrassed by the over-comfortable position in which they’d found him.

Could that have been all Percy was doing here? Playing with the child in the hope of being approved of by the mother? Most of the men she knew were odd creatures, keeping their beloved wives and children separate from mistresses. Could Adelaide have been his intended wife, while all the other women were mere peccadillos?

She didn’t look as though she were grieving. She seemed, in fact, a little distracted, a little stiff, as she made them welcome while the tea trolley was wheeled in by the maid. She served tea with grace and had Clarence offering sandwiches, scones, and cakes. Only then did the child take his glass of milk, two sandwiches, and a cake and retreat toward the rug.

“An army marches on its stomach,” Constance murmured. “Time to feed the troops?”

Clarence grinned, stole a quick glance at his mother, and took his plate to the carnage of the battlefield, where he proceeded to mash some soldiers into an elegant sandwich. Adelaide regarded him tolerantly but didn’t stop him. Against her will, Constance rather liked her for that.

Until she said abruptly, “Well, ask your questions, Solomon, while my son is occupied.”

Constance itched to discompose her by doing the questioning, but at least Solomon did not look remotely embarrassed.

“How well did you know Percy?” he asked.

“Well enough to dislike him. Not well enough to shoot him.”

“How do you know he was shot?” Constance asked.

“Because several people told me so. There are few secrets in Channing.”

“Were you surprised?” Constance asked.

“Only by the fact that it happened here in the countryside. If anyone set himself up to be attacked, it was Percy.”

“Why do you say that?” Solomon asked.

Unexpectedly, Adelaide seemed uncomfortable, her gaze flying to her son, who was oblivious to the adults, lost in his own world.

“He behaved badly,” she said at last. “And was spoiled enough to imagine there would never be any consequences of that behavior.”

“Did he behave badly to you?” Solomon asked.

Her chin lifted. “He did. I didn’t take it personally. He probably imagined all widows were fair game.”

“All women, by what we hear,” Constance murmured. “Did you speak to him that Thursday before you went to London? When you saw him from the window?”

“I saw him approach up the garden path. I did not receive him.”

“Because he had already tried to take advantage?” Constance asked.

Adelaide nodded curtly.

“Did you or your servants tell him you intended to go to London?”

“The servants are under strict instructions not to tell him anything at all.”

“Were you afraid he would follow you there?”