“I’ve sent a few and received a few. It was all so sudden and recent, wasn’t it? I expect in a few years we will write when something of interest leads us to.”

Chase resettled himself in the upholstered chair. “I have come to ask you some questions. I hope that you will share some information with me.”

Did he imagine that Mr. Edkins glanced to the window and out to the yard where Minerva had so recently been?

“Has anyone else already quizzed you about that night?” Chase asked. Damnation, what did you tell that woman?

“There was a man at the house, soon after His Grace died, before I left. He came for only a day and asked questions of many of us.”

“The magistrate?”

“I think so. I was so in shock that I did not much pay attention to his name and such. I didn’t care for his manner with us. He did not ask questions so much as bark them, if you understand me.”

“Did you answer his questions?”

Mr. Edkins assumed the bland expression that all servants knew how to wear. “Of course. Such as they were. He wanted to know what I knew about my master’s death. The answer was nothing at all. I was asleep at the time. He also wanted to know my master’s movements that day. I told him what I knew for certain because I had seen it. When he rose from bed, when he went below. I did not think it wise to report what I was told he would do, such as ride out or such as that. If I did not witness it, I did not tell this man it had happened.”

“Wise of you. What you heard would happen or did happen may not have happened, and including that could complicate the information.”

“Thank you, sir. Although I confess that I did it out of pique at this man’s manner. I admit that my goal was to give him as little as required.”

Chase stood. “Will you show me the lake? If you want to fish, you can. My questions will not take long, but they may be more specific than the magistrate’s.”

Mr. Edkins led the way through the house. He removed a rod and some equipment from a tall holder near the garden door. Together they exited the garden through a back portal and walked the fifty feet to the lake. Edkins set about preparing his rod while Chase took in the peaceful scene.

The valet cast his line. Chase sat on a large tree stump.

“Mr. Edkins, were any family members at Melton Park that day, or during the three days before?”

“I saw none and heard none. The butler would know better than I.”

“The duke may have mentioned it while you tended to him, however.”

Edkins moved his lure in a long, deep circle. “He mentioned no relative’s name to me.”