BETRAYAL OF DIGNITY
Part 17
The Marquise's Demise
The Marquises personal maidservant, who had accompanied her from Swane, was the first to discover the lifeless body.
The frightened maid wept as she recounted the grisly scene.
She had entered Marquises room in the morning to tend to her, only to find her sprawled on the floor, her face an eerie shade of blue.
"You had a question for me?" Chloe replied in a trembling voice to the interrogating officer, who appeared uncomfortable. Damien stood beside her, his arms crossed and his expression grave.
"What is it that you wish to ask my wife?"
"My apologies, but we have received testimony... the officer trailed off.
"What testimony?" Damien's eyebrows rose sharply.
Not wishing to stir unnecessary trouble, Chloe quickly interjected, "Please, proceed with your inquiry. I shall assist in any way I can."
"May we inspect the Duchess's luggage?" the officer asked apologetically.
"What are you implying?" As the Duke pressed for further information, the officer in white hesitated before saying with a resigned expression, "It is merely standard procedure."
The possibility of a murder driven by resentment could not be ruled out. Chloe, discerning what the officer dared not utter, swallowed hard before addressing him. "Of course. Marguerite, please open my luggage for them."
"Yes, my lady." The maid nodded, though her eyes were wary. As she extracted the bags one by one from the wardrobe, the officer and physician began their inspection of each piece.
"It seems there's nothing unusual. This is the last one." They had reached the blue bag nestled at the very bottom of the wardrobe. Inside was a well-used square bag that held the emergency remedies Chloe had brought from Verdier.
"This is..." the physician trailed off, his complexion turning ashen.
"What's the matter?" one of the officers asked, tilting his head.
Chloe shared his confusion. She remembered all the tonics she had packed. But among them, an unfamiliar bottle caught her attention.
"What is this?"
"It appears to be arsenic. It is the same type of poison as the kind detected in the Marquise's teacup," the physician explained.
As Chloe's legs buckled, Damien caught her, furrowing his brows.
"Are you implicating my wife now?" he demanded.
"Your Grace, I apologize," the officer faltered, wearing a pained expression on his face. "Given that there are witnesses who have given testimony of the Duchess's hostility toward the Marquise, we cannot dismiss her as a potential suspect."
"And who dared suggest such a thing?"
"I'm afraid I cannot disclose the identity of the witnesses for their protection."
It was not hard for Chloe to guess the answer. It was likely one of those who had sided with the Marquise and had been at the receiving end of her sharp tongue.
"Are you serious?" Damien glared at the officer as if he intended to slay him right there.
Chloe gently gripped his arm. Her voice trembled as she asserted, "That item is not mine."
"Yet it was discovered among your possessions. May I ask why?" the officer asked. Though his tone was polite, his gaze was stern.
Chloe swallowed hard, then exhaled a deep breath.
"Someone must have placed it in my bag."
