“We have heard that Mr. Cooper sometimes received strangers in his office,” I said. “Do you remember any of them?”
“Some men from the city gave their names. Mr. Yeoman and Alderman Hodgson visited a lot.” Hearing Edward’s name gave me a start, but I didn’t think Ellen noticed my reaction. “The strangers just told me to take them to Mr. Cooper.”
“Do you remember who visited him in the days before he died?”
“Mr. Yeoman came here twice,” she said with a shrug. “But he came here often.”
“Do you know if Richard Hooke ever visited your master?” I asked without much hope.
“Maybe,” she said, but without much confidence. “I don’t know Mr. Hooke.…” She thought for a moment. “There was an Italian here last week,” she offered. “Said he came from the Lord Mayor.”
I looked at her in astonishment. “A small man with bright clothes?” I asked. She nodded. “Did he have a scar?”
“Yes, my lady, running down his face like this.” She drew her finger across her face along the same line as Bacca’s scar.
“Did you hear anything of what they said?” I asked, barely concealing my excitement.
Ellen nodded vigorously. “Mr. Cooper saw him in his study. He sent me away, but even from the second story I could hear Mr. Cooper shouting.”
“What did he say?”
“He called the Italian a Papist wretch, that the King should not surround himself with such devilish company. He said that God would have His revenge on him for his Popery.”
“Did the Italian say anything?”
“Not that I could hear. When he left, he almost seemed in higher spirits than when he arrived. I don’t think Mr. Cooper frightened him. On his way out, he said I should mind my master before he got in trouble. What did he mean by that?”
I ignored the question. “Ellen,” I said, “what happened the night Mr. Cooper died?”
“I was already in bed when it happened. I heard a crash. It must have been when he fell. I came to see what was the matter. By the time I came downstairs he was dead. It was a horrible sight.”
“Did anyone visit him that night?”
“I don’t think so. But I retired early that night because…” She suddenly grew apprehensive and seemed to swallow the rest of the sentence.
“Why did you retire early?” Tears filled the girl’s eyes and she looked away from me, desperate not to answer. “Ellen, you must answer.”
“Because Mr. and Mrs. Cooper fought that night,” she cried out at last. “It was horrible. He screamed that she must submit to him, that it was God’s law. She struck him on the arm with a ladle, and he punched her in the breast. That was when I fled to my room. I never saw Mr. Cooper again until I saw his body.”
I felt a coldness gripping my heart. Could Esther have killed Stephen after all? I pushed the thought away—married couples fought. It was the way of the world.
“They say a servant found the ratsbane in Mrs. Cooper’s cupboard,” I continued.
“I found it,” she said, weeping. “Why did she kill him? Mr. Cooper could be a hard man, but he loved her.” I waited with ill-disguised impatience while Ellen dried her eyes. “Why are you here, my lady? What is your business?”
“We told you that,” I said. “We are here at Mrs. Cooper’s behest.”
“Yes, but she is my mistress. Before I help you, I must know why.” There was an edge to her voice as she came to Esther’s defense. I could not help admiring her resolve.
“Lady Hodgson believes Mrs. Cooper is innocent,” Martha blurted out. “She is here to find the guilty party.”
“Innocent? But the constable seemed so sure! Mr. and Mrs. Cooper fought that night, and I found the poison in her cabinet myself,” Ellen said. She looked at me, her eyes alight. “Do you really think someone else killed Mr. Cooper? Can you prove it?” Tears filled Ellen’s eyes once again, this time in relief that someone else had taken up her mistress’s cause.
“I will never believe that Mrs. Cooper killed your master. And I promised her that I would find out who did. I intend to keep that promise.”
Martha crossed the room and took Ellen’s arm. “Can you take Lady Hodgson to Mr. Cooper’s study?” she asked.
Ellen wiped her nose on her sleeve and nodded. She led me up two flights of stairs and stopped at a heavy door. “I don’t have a key,” she said apologetically.
“Lady Hodgson has one from Mrs. Cooper,” Martha said. “Lady Hodgson, why don’t you take care of our business, and I’ll visit with Ellen a bit more. I don’t imagine she’s had much company of late.” Ellen looked grateful, and I nodded. The two of them went down the stairs, and I inserted the larger key in the door’s lock. It turned easily, and despite its weight the door swung open without a sound.