The Mayfair Affair Read Online Free PDF

report. Cream, Mrs. Rannoch?"
    "Thank you."
    The duchess handed Suzanne a cup with an iron grip that kept the china from rattling. "You've spoken with this Miss Dudley?"
    "She was unfortunately not forthcoming." Malcolm accepted the cup of coffee Mary was holding out to him. "Do you have any idea how your husband was acquainted with her?"
    Mary filled another cup to just below the silver rim and set down the coffeepot. "I've been assuming she was his mistress. Not that she was in his usual style, but then I've never been particularly good at predicting Trenchard's quirks." She handed the cup to Roth and sat back to survey the three of them with a raised, well-groomed brow. "You don't think I should speak ill of the dead? But murder rather changes the rules, doesn't it? Shielding the truth will only complicate your investigation."
    Malcolm looked into her dark blue eyes, wondering what wounds they concealed. "I'm sorry."
    Mary gave a quick shake of her head and leaned forwards to pour another cup of coffee for herself. "It's not as though anyone was under great illusions that ours was a love match. Though I think the common assumption was that I married Trenchard for his title and position. Which I suppose in a way I did. But it's not as though he made any pretense of being in love with me. He needed a wife and hostess, and I imagine he thought I was rather pretty."
    It was a gross understatement and she knew it. Lady Mary Mallinson had been widely considered one of the most beautiful young women in London society. "I imagine he was a complicated man to be married to," Suzanne said.
    Mary shrugged. "He gave me free rein over the household and he was discreet in his affairs. That's why I can't be sure of the sort of woman who appealed to him. Though he was rather exacting in his standards of beauty. I confess I don't have much of an image of Miss Dudley."
    "She's an attractive woman, but like most governesses she does her best to fade into the background," Malcolm said. "She denies she was Trenchard's mistress."
    Mary took a sip of coffee, as though forcing it down her throat. "I presume she also denies she killed him?"
    "She does. I'm not at all sure she's lying about either."
    A faint smile curved Mary's mouth though it did not reach her eyes. "You always did like to save people, Malcolm. I know my father considers it a weakness. Though I must say if I were in trouble I would quite like to have you on my side. Given her circumstances, Miss Dudley is fortunate."
    Suzanne leaned forwards. "You called this a murder investigation. So you aren't entirely convinced of Miss Dudley's guilt either?"
    "I'm not sure I'm privy to all the facts. But I do realize she could have fled through the secret passage rather than summoning help. If nothing else, the fact that she did not raises questions."
    "Did your husband have any enemies you know of, Duchess?" Roth spoke up for the first time.
    The look Mary gave him was appraising but not dismissive. "My husband was a powerful man close to many in the government. I daresay most of Malcolm's Radical colleagues considered him an enemy. I imagine Malcolm did himself. Probably so did my brother David, though I doubt either of them would have gone so far as to murder him. I imagine a number of northern Luddites saw him as an enemy as well, and they apparently are willing to go further, though it's a bit difficult to imagine one getting into the house. For that matter he probably had enemies among his Tory cronies. I wasn't the sort of political wife who advises her husband." She flashed a quick look at Suzanne that held a mix of disapproval and envy. "He trusted me to host his parties, but he didn't confide what was discussed over the port and billiards."
    "Any other types of enemies?" Malcolm asked.
    Mary stirred more sugar into her coffee. "It's possible his latest mistress's husband considered him an enemy." She took a sip of coffee. "I don't know the lady's name, but her husband may have