Chapter 10 - The Tea Amelia DrankThe amber bottle was placed on Marcus’s library desk inside a clear evidence bag.
No one sat.
Not Marcus. Not Margaret. Not Elena.
Victoria stood near the fireplace with one officer beside her. Celeste sat in a chair by the window, hands folded in her lap, her cream silk dress smooth, her pearl earrings glowing softly in the afternoon light.
She looked like a woman waiting for tea.
Not a woman accused of poisoning the dead.
Marcus stood across from her.
“What was in Amelia’s tea?”
Celeste looked up at him.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Marcus’s hand struck the desk so hard the evidence bag jumped.
Elena flinched, and Leo stirred in Margaret’s arms.
Marcus noticed and forced himself back under control.
“What was in my wife’s tea?”
Celeste sighed.
“Grief has made you dramatic.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“Careful, Celeste.”
Celeste turned toward her.
“You always did enjoy playing queen of this house.”
“And you always did enjoy entering it through side doors.”
Victoria made a small sound.
“Mother, stop.”
Celeste ignored her.
The older officer opened a folder.
“Mrs. Whitmore, preliminary records indicate this compound can interfere with certain pregnancy medications.”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“I am not a doctor.”
“No,” Marcus said. “But your late husband funded two pharmaceutical labs.”
For the first time, Celeste’s eyes sharpened.
Marcus leaned over the desk.
“Amelia wrote that Victoria brought her tea. But the tea came from you, didn’t it?”
Victoria looked horrified.
“No.”
Marcus turned to her.
“You didn’t know?”
“I brought what Mother gave me,” Victoria whispered.
Celeste’s face hardened.
“Victoria.”
“No,” Victoria said, stepping back. “No, I didn’t know.”
Margaret laughed bitterly.
“So that is your defense? You helped poison your cousin by accident?”
“I didn’t poison anyone!”
“But you hated her,” Marcus said.
Victoria’s eyes filled again, but this time the tears seemed real.
“She had everything.”
The room went silent.
“She had the name. The house. You. The baby. Everyone looked at her like she was made of glass and light. I was the one who knew how to survive this world. I was the one who could stand beside you at dinners and not tremble. But she was the one you loved.”
Marcus’s voice broke.
“She was my wife.”
“And I was invisible.”
Elena looked away.
There it was again.
The old hunger of rich people: not to be loved, but to be chosen publicly.
Victoria wiped her tears.
“I wanted her life. I admit that. But I did not want her dead.”
Celeste closed her eyes.
“Foolish girl.”
Everyone turned.
Victoria stared at her mother.
“What?”
Celeste opened her eyes slowly.
“You never understood what this family required.”
Marcus’s voice was barely audible.
“What did you do?”
Celeste looked at him with open contempt.
“I protected my daughter’s future.”
Victoria staggered back as if struck.
“No.”
“Amelia was weak. The pregnancy was dangerous. The doctors said she was fragile. All I did was make certain nature did not hesitate.”
Margaret made a sound Elena had never heard from another human being.
Marcus did not move.
That was more frightening than if he had lunged.
The officer stepped toward Celeste.
“Mrs. Whitmore, you need to stop talking.”
Celeste smiled.
“Why? You have no proof that a bottle in my purse from years ago did anything. No direct sample. No living victim. No witness.”
A small voice came from the doorway.
“I’m a witness.”
Everyone turned.
A woman in a black staff uniform stood there, shaking.
Elena recognized her.
Mara, the former night nurse.
Victoria’s face went white.
Mara looked at Marcus.
“Mrs. Amelia begged me not to leave her alone with the tea.”
May you like
Her voice cracked.
“And I left anyway.”
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