CHAPTER 171
“Judith Vanstead? Judith——”
Gilbert Barton spoke as a man who was utterly confounded, incredulous to the point of doubting the evidence of his own senses.
Macdonald replied in prosaic manner: “Well, she had the most to gain, hadn’t she? Judith wanted one thing and one thing only, to be mistress of Templedean Place. While her father lived, her position was secure. If Gerald had outlived Sir Charles, Judith would have been included in ‘the clean sweep.’ ”
“She was the one person I never suspected—nobody suspected,” said Barton. “She was—so good to everybody.”
Macdonald turned to Elizabeth, a question in his eyes.
She shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I didn’t suspect her, but I wondered. Why was she so generous to us? Gilbert said it was goodness of heart. I
