William Monk 05 - The Sins of the Wolf

why Griselda Murdoch had gone through her mother’s possessions, and many thought they knew the answer. It was not a flattering one. It was the first rift in family solidarity, the first suggestion that there could be greed or distrust.
    Argyll sat down with an air of satisfaction.
    Behind him, Rathbone felt as if the first salvo of return shot had at last been fired. It had hit the mark, but the wound was trivial, and Gilfeather knew that as well as theydid. Only the crowd had seen blood and the air was tingling sharp again with the sudden scent of battle.
    The final witness of the day was Mary Farraline’s lady’s maid, a quiet, sad woman dressed in unrelieved black, devoid of even the simplest piece of mourning jewelry.
    Gilfeather was very polite with her.
    “Miss McDermot, did you pack the clothes of your late mistress for her trip to London?”
    “Yes sir, I did.”
    “Did you have a list of all that you put in the cases, for the maid at the other end, whom Mrs. Murdoch would supply?”
    “Yes sir. Mrs. McIvor wrote it out for me to work from.”
    “Yes, I understand. Was there a diamond brooch included?”
    “No sir, there was not.”
    “You are quite sure?”
    “Yes sir, I’d swear to it.”
    “Quite so. But there was a gray pearl brooch of unusual design?”
    “Yes sir, there was.”
    Gilfeather hesitated.
    Rathbone stiffened. Was he about to ask if everything she had packed had been returned with Mary’s luggage? It would clear Griselda of the slur.
    But he declined. Perhaps he too was uncertain if she might have taken something. It would only have to be the slightest memento, and its loss would seem theft to this straining crowd, eager for drama and guilt of any sort.
    Rathbone leaned back in his chair and, for the first time, smiled. Gilfeather had made a mistake. He was vulnerable after all.
    “Miss McDermot,” Gilfeather resumed. “Did you meet Miss Latterly that day when she came to the house in Ainslie Place in order to escort Mrs. Farraline to London?”
    “Certainly, sir. I showed her Mrs. Farraline’s medicine chest so she would know what to do.”
    There was a sharp snap of attention in the court again. Three jurors who had relaxed suddenly sat upright. Someone in the gallery gave a little squeak and was instantly criticized.
    “You showed her the medicine chest, Miss McDermot?”
    “Aye, I did. I couldn’t know she was going to poison the poor soul!” There was anguish in her voice and her face looked on the brink of tears.
    “Of course not, Miss McDermot,” Gilfeather said soothingly. “No one blames you for your quite innocent part in this. It was your duty to show her. You presumed her a good nurse who quite obviously had need to know her patient’s requirements and how to meet them. But the court has to be sure of precisely what happened. You did show her the medicine chest, and the vials in it, and you told her what they contained, and how and when to administer the dose?”
    “Aye—I did.”
    “Thank you. That is all, Miss McDermot.”
    She made as if to leave, turning in the box to fumble her way down again.
    Argyll rose to his feet.
    “No … Miss McDermot. A few minutes of your time, if you please!”
    She gasped, blushed scarlet, and turned back to face him, chin high, eyes terrified.
    He smiled at her, and it only made it worse. She looked about to faint away.
    “Miss McDermot,” he began softly, his voice like the growl of a sleeping bear. “Did you show Miss Latterly your mistress’s jewels?”
    “Of course not! I’m not …” She stared at him wildly.
    “Not a foolish woman,” he finished for her. “No, I had not thought you were. I imagine you would not dream of showing your mistress’s jewels to a relative stranger, or indeed to anyone. On the contrary, you would be most discreet about them, would you not?”
    Gilfeather half rose. “My lord …”
    “Yes, Mr. Gilfeather,” the judge said sharply. “I know what you are going to say. Mr. Argyll, you are leading the witness. Ask questions if you please, do not assume answers.”
    “I apologize, my lord,” Argyll said with outward humility. “Now, Miss McDermot, please enlighten the court as to the duties of a good lady’s maid. What would your mistress have said had you shown her jewels, or any other of her valuable possessions, to anyone outside the family? Did she give you instructions on this matter?”
    “No sir. It wouldn’t be necessary. No servant would do such a thing