He drew out a pocket watch, one far too grand for a scruffy deliveryman to carry, and set it next to the teapot, to time the steeping. Then he sat next to me and laid a hand on mine, no hesitation or fear I’d jerk away from him.

“To answer, I don’t know precisely,” Daniel said. “I tried to confront my brother about Nurse Betts the night before last, after I left you here. I began to question him, but he used evensong to evade me and then disappeared after the service. I hunted him down again today, only to find that you had gone to interrogate him yesterday morning.”

“Lady Cynthia and I did.” I hesitated. “He was very fond of Nurse Betts.”

Daniel’s frown held high skepticism. “I will remind you again that Errol is a raconteur and a liar. He might indeed have had a tendre for Nurse Betts . . . or he might have been using her for some scheme that would benefit him. He was ever the trickster.”

“Mr. Fielding is a vicar now,” I pointed out. “Sent to school by his benevolent guardian, and given a living to oversee a parish, tend a flock. Wouldn’t he have left his villainous days behind him? Or is the benevolent gentleman all an invention?”

“No—I’ve met him. Lord Alois Symington, a marquess’s son, who I gather is a philanthropist, well-known in high circles. But never believe Errol is reformed because he’s become one of the clergy. I’m willing to wager he took the collar as part of a long confidence game. My brother might oversee a flock, as you call his parishioners, but he will certainly view them as sheep to be fleeced.” He finished with a wry twist of lips.

I shook my head. “You did not see him when he spoke about Nurse Betts.”

Daniel clicked his watch closed and poured me a cup of dark tea. “To me, he tried very hard not to speak about her.”

For a moment, I listened to the soothing sound of tea trickling into my cup. “Does he know she’s dead?” I asked when Daniel righted the teapot again.

“Not yet . . .” Daniel started to say more, then shook his head and poured tea for himself.

“If you are worried he killed her, I believe you wrong.” I sipped tea, letting the familiar beverage warm my mouth. “Mr. Fielding showed genuine caring when he spoke of her, a great fondness, as I said. He seemed surprised by how much he cared, as though he’d never intended to fall in love.”

Daniel made a sound like a snort. “Errol has never fallen in love in his life.”

“My point exactly. He was bewildered by his feelings. I am a good judge of character, Daniel.”