Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) (8 page)

“What the devil is Lewis doing here?” asked Peyton, as
Heskiss left to escort their visitor.

“Language, Peyton!” said Grayson, who obviously hadn’t
forgiven him for being forward with Rose.

Nick turned to Olson. “Is this a good idea?”

Olson slowly nodded. “We should at least hear what he
has to say.”

A moment later, Win looked up to see a man enter the
room who was wholly different from any gentleman she’d ever seen. He was of
average height, but with a muscular build. He looked strong and powerful, and
her first instinct was to flinch. Unfortunately, he caught the movement and
stopped in his tracks, while he was barely inside the room.

Win was embarrassed for showing weakness to this man
who would be her adversary. But there was nothing for it now but to proceed.

Olson crossed to Mr. Lewis and shook his hand.
“Lewis, it is good to see you again, though I must say they’ve given you a case
you simply cannot win.”

“A case
he
can’t win?” asked Peyton with a
snort from his seat. “I’m the one with the task that’s so difficult. It’s
like that poor devil in Hades, the one rolling the boulder. What’s his name?
Sisy-something? Don’t waste your pity on Lewis. I never do. Do you think we
could get that butler back in here? I could use a drink.” He picked imaginary
lint off his well-pressed trousers.

“Perhaps later,” said Colin curtly.

“Come in,” Olson said to Lewis, who was still standing
just inside the room

“Thank you, but I am fine where I am.” Lewis gave
Olson a look that had the solicitor turning to Win. “My lady, would you like
to meet the man who will lose his case in court?”

Win had a feeling Mr. Lewis would not step one foot
closer to her if she was uncomfortable. The truth was, she didn’t feel
entirely at ease with him. But she wouldn’t be a coward. Not with everything
she’d been through.

“Please come in, sir,” she said with more courage than
she felt.

He walked slowly toward her and with each step it
seemed to Win like there was a shift in the room. It was more difficult to
breathe. She seemed warmer. He stopped a good three feet further away from
her than was customary, then bowed.

“Mr. Alexander Lewis, my lady,” he said. “How do you
do?”

“I am in a difficult position, Mr. Lewis, but pleased
to have the support of my family around me. I am Mrs. Pierce.”

Lewis was in turn introduced to Win’s family and
Grayson, each of whom greeted him civilly, but coolly.

“I have come here today to ask you a few questions,
Mrs. Pierce.”

“You mean, ask her directly?” asked Peyton.

“She is the defendant.”

“But she’s a woman,” said Peyton in a bewildered state.

“Nothing gets past you, Peyton. My quest is not out
of the ordinary. I have had many conversations with women.”

“Why on earth would you do that?”

“Mrs. Pierce,” said Mr. Lewis, apparently choosing to
forgo an argument with an imbecile. “I have spoken to the late Mr. Pierce’s
brother and sister, as well as the servants. I have read the file, but I am
still desirous of hearing from you about the events of the night of your
husband’s murder.”

“Very well.” She did not look forward to talking
about the beating. She didn’t wish to appear vulnerable to this man who was
powerful both in position and body. But perhaps Mr. Olson would gain insight
into Mr. Lewis’s mind from the questions he asked. She certainly couldn’t
count on Peyton’s help. “Please have a seat.”

She watched as he sat on a chair that seemed too
delicate for his strength.

She turned her mind back to the matter at hand. “It
started out as an ordinary day…”

“What does that mean?” asked Lewis. “What were your
days like?”

“It depended on what Pierce wanted to do. On most
days, I rose shortly after sunrise. If the weather was warm, I would break my
fast, then walk in the garden.” Supervised by the servants, for she was never
alone. “In the winter, I would usually wait until closer to midday to
exercise. I often spent my mornings in the sunroom reading or attending to
household matters.”

“What kind of household matters were they?”

“Just the usual. Planning the menus, sorting through
invitations.”

“Did you tend to any of his business correspondence?”

“No, sir.”

“But you must have seen some of what came to the
house.”

Win smoothed her skirts. “The servants had been
instructed to take the post directly to Pierce. I only saw what he wanted me to
see.”

“He showed you no letters?”

“Only some of the ones from my family. And only then
after he’d opened them.”

Lewis raised his eyebrows. “How do you know he was
only showing you some of them?”

“Because I know my family would have written to me
more often.”

“How do you know this?”

“Because they are my family,” she said, simply.

“When you wrote to them, did you tell them about
Pierce’s business affairs?”

“I did not know much about Pierce’s business and he
never would have permitted me to speak of it to others. In addition, I was
not…allowed to write to my family often. And he always read the letters I did
write.”

Mr. Lewis nodded, though it was impossible to tell
what he was thinking. “What about social engagements? Did you hear anything
about your husband’s business practices then?”

“We were not a very social couple.”

“Not even at tea? I have found matrons to be an
invaluable source of information.”

Win was growing a bit tired of his rapid-fire
questions. “I would be interested to know how you gain information from
matrons, Mr. Lewis.”

He was surprised by the question, but continued in his
even tone of voice. “I disguise myself as a seamstress then spy on them at
their
modiste
, as I hem their gowns.”

It was everything Win could do to keep from laughing
aloud. She simply looked at him, suppressing her reaction. And the way he
looked at her made it clear he knew she was trying to keep from laughing.

“I say, Lewis,” said Peyton. “That’s a very odd thing
to do. Does Sir Wilfred know about your excursions to the
modiste?
”

“Peyton,” said Colin. “Who exactly appointed you as
Lady Winifred’s barrister?”

“Sir Wilfred. He’s the one who put Lewis on the case
as well. Though I certainly wouldn’t have minded having the roles reversed.”
He caught the implications of what he’d said about a minute after the words had
left his mouth. Likely a common occurrence for him. “Nothing personal, of
course, Lady Winifred. I was just comparing the two tasks. With Bow Street so
thorough, Lewis need only show up. Whereas I have my work cut out for me.”
There was another moment of silence. “Not that I haven’t enjoyed meeting all
of you. When did you say Lynwood and Riverton would be joining us?”

“It might be a good idea for you to be seen and not
heard, Peyton,” said Lewis.

“You know,” said Colin, “I believe I might like to
have your roles reversed, as well.”

“Too late,” said Peyton, completely ignoring Lewis’s
sound advice. “I may not be a KC like Lewis, but my father is a baron and
everyone knows Lewis is a bastard who…”

“Mr. Peyton!” said Olson. “There is no use in giving
Mr. Lewis more reasons to try to win this case than he already has. Do be
quiet and allow him to continue questioning Mrs. Pierce. And for the record,
Lewis earned his KC the hard way, by excelling at his profession. Though I
must point out, Lewis, that as worthy as you are, you cannot prove guilt where
none exists. Pray continue.”

Win was glad Mr. Olson had defended Mr. Lewis. He may
be her adversary, but he’d been respectful and hadn’t approached her closely
once he’d seen she was afraid. Another man might have tried to intimidate her.
But he was clearly different.

She just wished he wasn’t as intelligent as he clearly
was.

“If we might continue,” said Lewis as he checked his
notes. “If Mr. Pierce had wanted to keep something from you, do you know how
he would have done so?”

“He has a safe in his study. I saw him place items
there on occasion. I was not allowed into the room without his express
permission, so I do not know the combination. However, I give you permission
to access it, if you need to.”

“So, as far as you know, Pierce had no other hiding
places?”

“He probably did. But I don’t know where they would
have been. I am certain he has a safe at his company’s offices in a warehouse
by the docks. But I was there on only a few occasions and cannot tell you
much.”

“What happened on the night he died?”

Win drew in a breath, trying to calm herself. She did
not want to revisit that day, but knew she must. “It started off as a normal
day for me. I met with the housekeeper about a few matters, then looked over
Pierce’s evening clothes to ensure they were as they should be. My husband was
particular about his dress. I found a stain on the sleeve of his favorite
dinner jacket. I rang for his valet, but the man was not in the house. So, I
tried to remove the stain myself.”

“Wasn’t that unusual? The lady of the house doing a
chore such as that?”

“Not in my house, Mr. Lewis.”

“Then what happened?”

“It was half past four when I heard the door open
downstairs. It was Pierce in a rage.” She tried to keep her voice from
shaking. “I was almost done with the stain, but not quite. I knew it wouldn’t
do for me to be found in his dressing room – he didn’t like me to be in his
bedchamber when he wasn’t there. So I quickly replaced the jacket, hoping he
wouldn’t choose to wear it that night. Then I ran through the sitting room to
my bedchamber." She realized she was shaking. She tried to find
something to do with her hands to hide it.

“Then what happened, Lady Winifred?” Lewis asked
gently.

“He went in his room. All was quiet for a moment and
I thought I might be safe. But then he yelled my name. I heard him knock over
an end table as he walked through the sitting room. Then he opened the doors
to my room with such force that they hit the wall. He was seething mad and his
fists were clenched. He didn’t carry a sock as he often did.”

“A sock?” asked Peyton.

She shouldn’t have mentioned the sock. Her eyes were
filling with tears and the room was deathly silent. “He would fill a sock with
coins, then swing it and hit me. That way he would keep from bruising his
hands.”

There was a sob and Win looked up to see Rose crying.
Nick tried to calm her. “Perhaps you should step out, dearest,” he said.

“No,” said Rose, shaking her head. “I must hear
this.”

Win could not bear to look at the others. She didn’t
want to know what they thought of her to stay and take such abuse. She cleared
her throat. “But that night, Pierce didn’t seem to care about the effects. It
was unusual for him to strike me on the face…”

“Because someone in Society would have recognized him
for the animal he was?” asked Lewis.

Win had not expected him to be so astute about the
situation. “Yes. All the servants knew, of course. But I believe he feared
that if someone from the
ton
saw the evidence, they would never give him
the acceptance he so craved. He beat me about the face, then when I fell, he
kicked my ribs.”

Win heard Irene whisper something soothing to James. Nick
looked like he wanted to throw something. Rose was trying not to break down
completely. Ava was holding Colin’s hand and rubbing his arm. Peyton looked
like he was thinking of what he would eat for his midday meal.

And Mr. Lewis looked like he’d rather be doing
anything else than asking about her beating.

She continued. “I couldn’t catch my breath so I
slowly lost consciousness. When I awoke a few minutes later, he was gone. I
tried to get up, but the pain was so bad I remained lying there. At some
point, my maid Tawny came in to give me a tisane to help me sleep. I remember
being surprised because she’d never tended to me after a beating before. But I
gratefully accepted it, because I knew sleep would ease the pain – at least
temporarily. I do not know how much time passed until I was awakened by a
noise.”

“What kind of noise?”

“A loud noise downstairs, but I cannot tell you what
it was. I was still on the floor and shivering from the cold. It was almost
pitch black in the room, save for the dying embers of the fire. I could barely
stand, not just because of my injuries, but because it seemed like I was
underwater. I was sluggish and my head was pounding. I heard someone calling
my name downstairs.”

“Whose voice was it?”

“I do not know. To be honest, I’m not sure I didn’t
imagine the entire thing. I thought it was a woman’s voice, but I do not know
for certain. This person was calling my name and sounded like he or she was in
distress.”