“And how would your husband feel—he a son of laborers—to discover that you had formed an attachment, however innocent, to a man of your own class, the sort of man he could never be, no matter how successful he became as a police investigator?”
Mrs. Treadles rose abruptly. “Your conjectures are moot, Inspector. I never brought up Mr. Sullivan’s name at home, nor did Mr. Sullivan ever seek an audience with Inspector Treadles.”
The front door rang loudly and insistently. Inspector Brighton half turned his head, revealing a sharp, frowning profile. Mrs. Treadles fell back into her seat, set her elbows on an armrest, and buried her face in her hands.
The moment the door was answered, a woman’s voice ordered, “Out of my way.”
Footsteps stormed up the stairs, followed by the sound of the drawing room door bursting open.
“Is it true, Mrs. Treadles, what they are saying about your husband?” said the same woman.
“Eleanor, please, this isn’t the best time.” Mrs. Treadles made as if to lift up her head from her hands. She did not manage that, but sank more deeply into herself, a woman at the limits of her endurance. “Can you come back tomorrow instead? I still must answer questions for Scotland Yard.”
A very pretty woman of about Mrs. Treadles’s age, dressed in widow’s weeds, appeared at her side. She set a hand on Mrs. Treadles’s shoulder. Mrs. Treadles, after a moment, turned and pressed her face against the woman’s stomach.
“Mrs. Treadles, I’m sorry!” Mrs. Graycott, the housekeeper, too, had arrived. “I didn’t even have a chance to tell Mrs. Cousins that you aren’t at home to visitors.”
Mrs. Cousins, the wife of Mrs. Treadles’s late brother?
Mrs. Cousins glared at the policemen. “And who are you barbarians?”
Inspector Brighton, who had already risen when the woman entered, bowed slightly. “Inspector Brighton of Scotland Yard at your service. And this is Sergeant Howe, also of Scotland Yard. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Cousins.”
Mrs. Cousins looked affronted at being addressed by him. She said stiffly, “Gentlemen, I am not usually so inhospitable, but I believe the time has come for you to leave. Mrs. Treadles has had a horrific day and she needs to rest. Immediately.”
“Mrs. Cousins,” Mrs. Treadles protested weakly, while holding on ever tighter to her sister-in-law, “the gentlemen are here on official business.”
“And they can return for their official business tomorrow. They already have Inspector Treadles, do they not? He is not going anywhere. And the dead are still dead, so speed is of no essence whatsoever.” She turned and glared again at the policemen. “You need not torment this good woman anymore on the worst day of her life. Such a small mercy is not beyond you, I hope?”
Silence.
Inspector Brighton laughed, the sound soft yet unpleasant. “You are right, Mrs. Cousins. Good night, ladies. Mrs. Treadles, I will see you first thing tomorrow.”
* * *
“They are gone,” said Mrs. Cousins, who had disappeared from view. She must be listening at the door.
Mrs. Treadles exhaled audibly. “Thank you, Eleanor. Thank goodness you came. I don’t think I could have taken another minute of that interrogation.”
Mrs. Cousins returned to the narrow slice of the drawing room visible in the private parlor’s mirror. “I’m glad I was able to do something. At least have some rest before you must face the police again.”
Mrs. Treadles shook her head. “I don’t know how I shall sleep.”
“So is it all true, what happened?”
“Eleanor, please don’t believe what the papers are trying to imply about Mr. Sullivan and myself.”
Mrs. Cousins tsked. “Why would I? I know the kind of man he was.”
“I wish I’d listened to you better,” said Mrs. Treadles weakly. “You don’t believe Robert did it, do you?”
Mrs. Cousins rolled her eyes. “No. Even though I still don’t think you should have married your Inspector Treadles, he never would have made such a hash of things if he really wanted to do away with Mr. Sullivan.”
“Thank you. And please don’t say that in front of him—the first part, that is.”
“I make no promises. Unconscionable, the way he didn’t even ask you a single question about Cousins for that long.”
“Eleanor—”
“I know. I know now is not a good time to carry on a grudge against your husband.”
Mrs. Treadles took her sister-in-law’s hands in her own. “No, it’s not just that, Eleanor. I hadn’t wanted to tell you too much because I knew how Robert would feel, having private particulars of his life disseminated. But ever since he came back from Stern Hollow, he’s been trying to change for the better. He took over menu planning and looked after most of the details when we invited the Longsteads for dinner. He had a glass of whisky waiting for me every evening, when I came back from work. He even invited me to join the policemen’s caroling this Christmas. So please, please, don’t think so badly of him!
“In fact, if anyone’s at fault, it’s me. I should have told him about Mr. Sullivan. But I was so afraid. Finally things were lovely again at home and I was just so afraid it would all go wrong again.”
“Stop blaming yourself or I’ll hate him again.”
Mrs. Treadles wiped the corners of her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Please don’t hate him. He really has been very sweet.”
Mrs. Cousins sighed. “I’m glad he’s seen the light—if that is indeed the case—even though he should never have been that blind to begin with.”
She pulled Mrs. Treadles from her chair. “Now come, you look like you haven’t slept for days. Let me take you to your bedroom. I’ll tell Mrs. Graycott to bring some supper. After you eat, we’ll count out a few drops of laudanum for you. Don’t worry, I’ll err on the side of caution. You’ll be fully alert in the morning for your next interview with this evil-looking Inspector Brighton.”
“All right,” acquiesced Mrs. Treadles. “Thank you, Eleanor.”
“Speak nothing of it. You did the same for me when your brother—” Mrs. Cousins paused. “Never mind that. Let’s go.”
Charlotte went to the door of the private parlor. From where she stood, she could see the two women ascend, Mrs. Treadles leaning on her sister-in-law. Not long after, she heard Mrs. Cousins speak to Mrs. Graycott, who must have gone up the service stairs after having been summoned.
Mrs. Cousins, after asking for a plate of supper for Mrs. Treadles, concluded with, “And also have the staff wait in the servants’ hall for me. I will speak to them after I’ve seen to your mistress.”