“I haven’t really inquired. Divorce isn’t a subject one raises in casual conversation.”
“Then allow me to. If you had come into the marriage with any property or a dowry—”
“Which I did not.”
“But if you had, it became your husband’s when you married. If you divorce, he would keep it all, every penny. He would be under no obligation to give you anything except the clothes on your back. He could put you out without so much as a change of linen.”
“I couldn’t even keep my clothes?”
“Not if he didn’t allow it. And needless to say, he would no longer support you in any way. And your children are also his property. I know you think you don’t want this baby, but you may feel differently when it’s real and you can see it. If he chooses, you would never be allowed to see your child again. You’re a lovely young woman, and if you had been widowed, you might be able to remarry, but few respectable men would be interested in a divorced woman except as a mistress. You’d also find none of your current friends would receive you any longer.”
“You make the tenement life sound almost attractive, Mrs. Brandt.”
“The tenement life might still be in your future. You need to know what you’ll be facing.”
“And yet you’ve managed without a husband.”
“I was fortunate to have a trade. I’d learned to be a midwife before I met my husband.”
“And he left you a respectable widow. I don’t think Paul will be so obliging.”
Sarah couldn’t conceal her astonishment.
“Oh, I’ve shocked you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it, you know. Poor Paul.”
How odd. She sounded almost as if she felt sorry for him, when moments ago she’d called him a monster.
Garnet sat up a little straighter. “Well, in any case, things have changed now that the old man is dead.”
“Yes, they have.”
“Do you…? Does Mr. Malloy have any idea who…how it happened?”
“I’m afraid not. Except we know someone stabbed him, of course.”
“Stabbed him with a knife, you mean?”
“They aren’t certain what it was.”
“I see. What else has Mr. Malloy found out?”
“Oh, yes, he also suspects Mr. Devries was undressed when he was stabbed.”
Her eyes widened. “Undressed? How can he possibly know that?”
“Because he hasn’t found holes in any of Mr. Devries’s clothing.”
“Holes?”
“Yes, if someone stabbed him through his clothing, there would be a hole.”
“Oh, of course.”
Sarah thought Malloy would probably ask her something directly, if he were here. “Do you think…?”
She stiffened slightly. “Do I think what?”
“Do you think Paul could have stabbed his father? I understand his father was undressed when they argued that morning.”
She seemed to grow even paler. “I…I don’t know.”
“Or Mrs. Devries? She saw him that morning as well.”
Garnet had gone very still. “Anything is possible, I suppose. They certainly hated each other.”
“Do you know what Paul and his father argued about that morning?”
Sarah saw the emotion flicker across her face again. Anger. Or something very close to it. But she said, “I have no idea.”
Sarah knew they had argued about Garnet, and she could tell Garnet knew it, too. But why would she lie about it? “Paul said his father was being cruel to you.”
“I suppose Paul said he was defending me.”
“Do you doubt that?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “What does it matter? The old man did what he wanted, and nothing Paul said would change that. Now, Mrs. Brandt, I’m afraid I’m not feeling well. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
10
SARAH FELT A LITTLE SILLY STEALING DOWN THE STAIRS with her towel-filled basket after Garnet had so unceremoniously sent her packing, but she hadn’t wanted to wait for a maid to escort her out. Garnet truly did look unwell, and Sarah didn’t have the heart to upset her any more today. She had reached the bottom of the first flight of stairs when a maid emerged from a door that must lead to the servants’ stairway and hurried to the parlor.
Sarah froze, hoping to escape notice. The maid didn’t even glance in her direction, but her luck didn’t hold. When the girl opened the parlor door, her mother and Mrs. Devries were standing just inside, obviously waiting for a servant to show her mother out. Both of the older women saw Sarah at once.
“Mrs. Brandt, whatever are you doing out there all by yourself?” Mrs. Devries asked, her displeasure obvious.
Sarah saw no reason to lie, although she also didn’t see any reason to tell the entire truth, either. “Hello, Mrs. Devries, Mother. I stopped by to see Garnet.”
“Whatever for?” Mrs. Devries’s eyes narrowed as she took in Sarah from head to foot, focusing finally on the basket.
“When I was here before, I got the impression she would welcome some advice.”
“What kind of advice could you possibly give her?”
“Do you really need to ask, Lucretia?” her mother said. “You made it very clear how disappointed you are that Paul and Garnet have no children. Sarah is a midwife.”
The maid’s wide-eyed gaze kept darting back and forth as each woman spoke, and Mrs. Devries finally noticed her rapt attention. “Run along, Mary Catherine. Mrs. Decker isn’t leaving just yet. Mrs. Brandt, please, come inside and tell me what advice you’ve given my daughter-in-law.”
Sarah had no intention of doing any such thing, but she accepted Mrs. Devries’s invitation and joined the two older women in the parlor. Sarah couldn’t help noticing Mrs. Devries wore a new gown of black bombazine with jet buttons. Her dressmaker had done well in providing her with stylish mourning clothes.
When they were seated, Mrs. Devries looked at Sarah expectantly. Sarah returned her stare with what she hoped was a maddeningly blank expression. Apparently, it was.
“Really, Mrs. Brandt, I’m waiting.”
Sarah smiled politely. “What exactly are you waiting for?”
“For you to tell me what you and Garnet talked about.”
“Oh, my, so many things…Let’s see, she told me her mother had been to visit her. Her mother lives in Virginia, I believe,” she told her own mother.
“Mrs. Brandt, what did you tell Garnet about having a baby?” Mrs. Devries asked.
“Oh, I told her not to give up hope. Sometimes it takes years, but she’s still young, so she has plenty of time.”
Mrs. Devries frowned, her eyes fairly glittering with rage, but her mother had to cover a smile.
“We also spoke about Mr. Devries’s death. She wanted to know if I’d heard anything about the investigation.”
“Why would
“Because of my father, I suppose. He’s the one who asked the police to investigate in the first place.”
“A lot of nonsense, if you ask me,” Mrs. Devries said. “How can someone die from a pinprick?”
“I gather it was more than a pinprick,” her mother said. “Didn’t Mr. Malloy say something about an ice pick?”
This time, Sarah had to cover a smile when she saw Mrs. Devries’s expression. “How on earth did you hear such a thing, Elizabeth?”
