“You’re wrong,” Emily said quietly, her eyes still closed. “George has faults, faults you probably wouldn’t put up with, but nothing like that. Do you suppose I should think of marrying anyone who would be capable of murdering like that?”
“No. I think you would find out, and that is why he would kill you, too.”
“Do you hate him so much?”
“I don’t care about him!” Charlotte said in exasperation, almost shouting. “I was thinking about you!”
Emily said nothing.
Dominic was still angry. “So you made up something vicious about Charlotte, and told Sarah to get your revenge?” he accused.
Emily’s face tightened. She looked very young, and now also very ashamed. “I shouldn’t have told her,” she admitted, looking at Dominic.
“Then apologize and withdraw it,” Dominic demanded.
Emily’s face set. “I shouldn’t have said it, but that does not make it untrue. Charlotte is in love with Dominic. She has been ever since he first came. And Dominic is flattered by it. He enjoys it. I don’t know how much?” She left it a question, painful and suggestive.
“Emily!” Charlotte pleaded.
Emily turned to her. “Can you take back what you said to Inspector Pitt? Can you make him forget it? Then why do you expect me to take back? You’ll have to live with it-just as I shall.” And she pushed past them and went out into the hallway.
Charlotte looked at Sarah.
“If you are waiting for me to apologize, you will wait in vain,” Sarah said stiffly. “Now perhaps you would be good enough to go upstairs and unpack. I would prefer to speak to my husband alone. You won’t be surprised that I have questions to ask!”
Charlotte hesitated, but there was nothing else to say, nothing that could do anything but make it worse. She disengaged herself from Dominic and turned to leave. Perhaps tomorrow there would be apologies, and perhaps not. But whatever was said, nothing would wipe out the memory of today; feelings could not be the same again. What she had said to Pitt was true. This was all like ripples on a pool, and perhaps the rings would never stop.
Chapter Nine
The following day Dominic went into the city as usual, and on returning home was due to go out and dine with a retired brigadier and his wife. It was an occasion Sarah had been looking forward to for some time, but when he returned home he found her in a mood that reflected none of the excitement and pleasure he had expected. She seemed remote, not merely preoccupied but positively offended by his presence. He tried all the usual tactics. He complimented her on her gown; he told her all he knew about the brigadier’s wife and her social connections; he assured her she would be more than equal to the occasion. He kissed her without disarranging either her hair or her gown. None of it was to any effect; she withdrew from his touch and avoided his eyes.
There was no opportunity to ask her what was annoying her. On two or three occasions during the evening he tried to speak to her without being overheard, but each time either they were interrupted, or she changed the subject and drew some other person’s attention to them.
In the carriage on the way home they were alone for the first time.
“Sarah?”
“Yes?” She kept her face away.
“What is it, Sarah? You’ve been behaving like-like a stranger all evening. No, that’s not true, a stranger would have shown better manners.”
“I’m sorry you find my manners inadequate.”
“Stop playing, Sarah. If there’s something wrong, tell me.”
“Something wrong!” She turned to face him, her eyes blazing in the flashes of gaslight from the street. “Yes, something is very wrong, and if you are not aware that it is wrong, then you have a sense of morality that is despicable. I really haven’t anything to say to you.”
“Morality about what? Oh, for God’s sake! You’re not still making a fuss because I took Charlotte’s arm when she came home yesterday? That’s ridiculous, and you know it. You’re just looking for an excuse for a row. At least be honest.”
“Looking! I don’t have far to look, do I? You are busy admiring my sister, holding her hand, whispering to her, and heaven knows what else! And you think I have to look for something to quarrel over?” She turned away again, her voice choking.
He put his arm towards her, but she was dead to his touch.
“Sarah! Don’t be ridiculous! I have no interest in Charlotte, except that she’s your sister. I like her, nothing else. For heaven’s sake, I knew Charlotte when I married you. If I’d wanted her, I would have asked for her!”
“That was six years ago! People change,” she sniffed, and then was obviously angry with herself for what she considered a vulgarity.
He was sorry, not wanting to hurt her, but the whole thing was preposterous. He could not help being irritated for a whole evening spoiled-and now a silly argument when they were both tired!
“Sarah, that’s stupid! I haven’t changed, and I don’t think you have. And as far as I can see, Charlotte hasn’t either. But Charlotte hasn’t anything to do with this anyway. Surely you can see Emily just said whatever she did because she’s in love with George Ashworth and Charlotte told the policeman-what’s his name? — that Ashworth knew Chloe a lot better than he’d said. You’ve got to have enough wisdom to see that, and discard it for the nonsense it is!”
“Why do you lose your temper if you’re not guilty?” she said calmly.
“Because it’s so damn silly!” he exploded in exasperation.
“I have just found out that you are in love with my sister, and she with you, and I am silly because it upsets me!”
“Oh, Sarah, for heaven’s sake stop it,” he said wearily. “That’s none of it true, and you know it. I have never been remotely interested in Charlotte, except as a sister-in-law; she’s intelligent, has a wit, and a mind of her own-none of them very feminine attributes, which you’ve been the first to point out-”
“Inspector Pitt doesn’t seem to mind!” she said accusingly. “He’s in love with her; anyone can see that!”
“For God’s sake, Sarah! What have I in common with some wretched policeman! And I should imagine Charlotte is embarrassed by the whole affair, if indeed it’s true. He’s-working class! He’s not more than a tradesman! And why shouldn’t he admire Charlotte, as long as he remembers his place? She’s a very handsome woman-”
“You think so!” Again there was accusation in her voice, almost triumph.
“Yes, I do!” His own voice rose in anger. Really she was being very stupid and very tiresome indeed. He was tired, and in no mood for this. He had been patient all evening, but his patience was rapidly coming to an end. “Now please don’t pursue it any more. I have done nothing whatsoever that requires apology, or deserves your criticism.”
She said nothing, but when they arrived home she went straight upstairs. When Dominic had spoken to Edward in the study and followed her up, she was already in bed, her back turned to him. He considered for a moment approaching her again, but he had no feeling of warmth, no desire. And honestly he was too tired for the effort, the hypocrisy. He undressed and went to sleep without speaking.
The following day he woke having forgotten the whole stupid affair, but he was stiffly reminded. When he returned home in the evening things were no better. There was also a certain coolness between Emily and Charlotte, but no one else seemed to observe it. Conversation was unusually restrained. Caroline spoke of neighbourhood trivialities which Edward did little more than acknowledge. Only Grandmama was voluble; she was full of speculation about what secrets gossip attributed to all the families, especially the men, in the vicinity of Cater Street. At last Edward told her rather testily to be silent.
The day after was no better, and on the following evening Dominic decided he would remain at his club for dinner. Sarah would come out of it sooner or later, but for the present she was being very tedious. He had no idea
