William Monk 15 - Dark Assassin

see Mrs. Argyll on a matter of great importance and urgency. Hester guessed from the girl’s appearance that Argyll had already been arrested.
    “I’m sorry, madam, but Mrs. Argyll is unwell,” the maid began. “She isn’t receiving today.”
    “I was in court yesterday,” Hester replied. “What I have to say will prove Mr. Argyll’s innocence.” She did not add that it would also prove Mrs. Argyll’s guilt.
    The parlor maid’s eyes opened wide, then she stepped back and invited Hester in. She was flustered, happy, and still frightened. She left Hester in the withdrawing room, the only place even remotely warm from the embers of the previous night’s fire. Such domestic duties had been utterly neglected that day.
    Ten minutes later Jenny Argyll came in. Her black gown was very well cut and flattered her slenderness. Her hair was styled less severely than earlier, but her face was almost bloodlessly pale, and there were bruised shadows around her eyes. She looked feminine and vulnerable. Hester’s last doubts that Jenny was in love with Sixsmith were swept away. Jenny could have helped her actions, but her emotions were beyond her mastery.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Monk,” Jenny said with faint surprise. Her voice trembled a little. Was it tension, exhaustion, or fear? “My maid tells me you know something of urgent importance about my husband’s arrest. Is that true?”
    Hester had to force herself to remember Rose Applegate’s humiliation in order to say what she must. She was certain now that it had been Jenny who had poisoned Rose’s food or drink with alcohol, not Argyll. It was she who had the motive, and surely it could only have been she who had known of Rose’s weakness. Had Rose’s resolve slipped before, or had she confided in someone in a moment of weakness, perhaps as her reason for not joining them in wine, or a champagne toast to some event? One might require such an excuse to avoid giving offense, for example at a wedding.
    Jenny was waiting.
    “Yes, it is true,” Hester replied. “I went into court believing, as did my husband, that Mr. Sixsmith was innocent of everything except the very understandable offense of trying to bribe certain troublemakers to stop sabotaging the construction. The only reason he was charged at all was in order to bring the whole subject of James Havilland’s death to court, and during the proceedings to prove that it was actually your husband who was guilty.”
    “Then you succeeded,” Jenny said with almost no expression. “Why have you bothered to come and tell me this? Do you imagine I care? What possible difference do your reasons or your beliefs make to me?”
    Hester looked at her. Was any of that hurt or outrage real? Or was she showing that emotion to mask the sense of victory she must feel now the prize was almost in her hands?
    “None at all,” Hester admitted calmly. “It is the fact that we were mistaken that is of importance. Your husband was not guilty, and I am almost certain that we can prove that.”
    Jenny stood motionless, her eyes wide, unfocused. For a moment Hester was afraid she might faint. “Not…guilty?” she said hoarsely. “How can that be? He has been arrested!” That was a denial, almost a defiance.
    Hester hoped fervently that Sixsmith was not in the house. Was she taking a stupid risk? It was too late to retreat now.
    “But you don’t believe him guilty, surely?”
    “How…how can I not?”
    “Because you know without any doubt who it was that asked you to write the letter to your father, and since it was Sixsmith who paid to have him killed, it is impossible to believe that it was not also Sixsmith who arranged to have him be in the stables,” Hester replied.
    Jenny drew in her breath, raising her hands as if to push Hester away physically. “Oh, no! I—”
    “You are in love with him,” Hester continued. “Yes, I know. So much is apparent. But however infatuated you are, it does not excuse the deaths of your father and your sister, and the shame of a suicide’s grave for both.” The anger and all her own old pain poured into her voice until it shook. She had to gulp for breath and try to steady herself. “You may not have known at first, but don’t tell me you don’t know now!”
    “I don’t!” Jenny denied furiously. “You’re lying. My husband is guilty! The court knows that! You have no right to come here saying such terrible things!”
    “Terrible?” Hester challenged her. “It is