“You would not have asked that question three months ago. What did you say to the patroon the night you came, when he asked you to go into service? Yet—what is that?”
He leaned forward and placed his hand upon my breast. This action threw me into a fury.
“Hands off, you dog,” I cried. “Stand back or take the consequences.”
“It is clear enough,” he replied. “She is the witch. You cannot be trusted. But you are all I have. Listen to my story. When your sister was murdered I got word secretly to Lady Marmaduke. The grave was opened in her presence. She knew that his story about branding her was a lie. Yet she would not act. She would not do what I wanted her to. If she had, I should have told her the great secret. But I did not and that must wait.” He turned on me sharply. “Will you kill the patroon?”
“He asked me to do the same by you.”
“Me? When?”
“Four days ago.”
“The day he learned who Ronald was. I knew it would be so. Why did you refuse?”
“I am not a murderer.”
“A spy?”