Page 53 of Death at a Highland Wedding
He gazes out at the road, and I know that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
“You can’t lie, Simon,” I murmur. “I’m sorry. You cannot risk getting caught up in a murder investigation.” I lower my voice. “I think you know that.”
That’s how he ended up in Isla’s employ. He’d been framed for murder. Very clumsily framed, according to McCreadie, but when it involved themurder of a powerful man and his gay lover, it was damned easy to lay the blame at the foot of that lover’s best friend… who was also gay.
“Dr. Gray will know the truth,” Simon blurts after a moment. “Dr. Gray and Detective McCreadie and Mrs. Ballantyne. They will all know why I was with Mr. Cranston’s valet, and they will think I do not appreciate the second chance I have been given.”
“That’s not…” I pause a moment, thinking of how to frame this in the most period-appropriate way before realizing I have no idea how to do that. “The only second chance they were giving you was an opportunity to start over in a new job, in a safe place. No one expects you to change who you are. That’d be like expecting Dr. Gray to change his skin color.”
Simon slants me a look. “It is not exactly like that, Mallory. People like medochange who they are, if they wish to fit into the world.”
“Change who they are? Or hide who they are?”
He shrugs. “People expect the first and get the second. I cannot change my nature, but I can suppress it, so as not to embarrass my employers. I have been very discreet. Even last night, I would have refrained, had we not been sampling a bottle Mr. Cranston gave us.”
I meet his gaze. “I am one hundred percent certain that neither of our employers—or Detective McCreadie—would be shocked or disappointed to learn you’d slipped off with Mr. Cranston’s valet. I understand the matter must be handled delicately, and I think handling it delicately means I need to warn them. May I do that?”
He leans back against the tree. “Is that necessary?”
“If you prefer, I would only tell Dr. Gray.”
“Of the three, he’s the last I’d choose.”
“Then you’ve misjudged his character gravely. But if you are set against it, I’ll tell none of them, and we can hope that Constable Ross doesn’t ask where you were. And that no one else saw you and reports it and then Ross decides it’s very suspicious that you and Mr. Cranston’s valet didn’t see fit to tell anyone you were together last night.”
Simon sighs.
“Didyou see anything?” I say. “That’s more important, as far as I’m concerned. If you saw something but you don’t want to tell Ross, tell me and I’ll see if there’s another way to handle it.”
“I saw you,” he says. “That is the other part of my dilemma. BothTheodore—the valet—and I saw you and Dr. Gray heading up onto the hill. Together. At night.”
“Ah. Well, we both had bad timing, didn’t we? Don’t worry about that. If it comes to it, go ahead and admit you saw us. We’ve already discussed it with Detective McCreadie. He knows we were out, and that we’ll need to tell Constable Ross.”
“Andwhatwill you tell him?”
I shrug. “The truth. I’d had trouble sleeping, so Dr. Gray took me for a moonlit walk.”
Simon stares at me. “That is even worse than my horse excuse.”
I cross my arms. “In my case, it’s true. I even have the note to prove it. Dr. Gray invited me on a walk, and he brought a basket, and we had a picnic.”
Simon studies my expression until I say, “Wedid.We are friends. I know that’s hard for everyone to understand.”
“Because it is obvious to everyone with eyes that your feelings for him go beyond friendship, Mallory.”
My cheeks blaze. “We are friends,” I say firmly.
He watches me for a moment and then rubs his mouth. “I have not known how to discuss this with you, but as someone who is also your friend, I feel it must be said.” He meets my gaze. “Take care, Mallory. You tread a path nearly as dangerous as my own.”
“I’m not treading any—”
“What if Dr. Gray intended more than a picnic?” He raises his hands against my protest. “I am not saying he did. I am saying whatifhe had. If he made advances, would you have received them?”
“He did not, and he will not, so the point is moot.”
“No, the point is not moot because if you think he will never make those advances, then you are as blind—” He rubs his mouth again. “Dr. Gray is an honorable man, and if he has any intentions, they are honorable, but what he intends and what willhappenare two very different things. You were a housemaid. He has elevated you to the position of assistant, but that does not change the fact youwerea housemaid, one with a very dubious background. He would say that does not matter. So would Mrs. Ballantyne. They are correct that itshouldnot matter, but just because a thing should be acceptable does not mean it is.”
I say nothing.
