His Wife Poisoned Him—A Servant's Daughter Saw Everything

CHAPTER 4 -- Dinner With a Poisoner

Eleanor and Dr. Mercer carried Adrian upstairs.

He remained limp while they discussed his future over his body.

Mercer would declare that Adrian had suffered a neurological collapse. Eleanor would assume control of the company, sell its most valuable factories and transfer the money into accounts abroad.

"What about the Finch child?" Mercer asked.

"She'll be found trespassing," Eleanor replied. "No one believed her mother. No one will believe her."

When the bedroom door closed, Adrian opened his eyes.

The soup he had pretended to swallow was sealed inside a sample container beneath his coat.

At midnight, the toxicologist and detectives entered through the servants' passage. Preliminary testing identified a compound capable of causing progressive optic nerve damage, confusion and cardiac failure.

The same blue compound covered Lucy's handkerchief.

Detectives reopened Margaret's case. The sapphire necklace had never been photographed inside her room. The only witness who claimed to have found it was Eleanor.

But Adrian wanted a confession that could not be dismissed.

The following morning, he sat helplessly in his wheelchair while Eleanor gathered the trustees in the library.

She announced that her husband had lost the ability to speak or make decisions.

Dr. Mercer presented his certificate.

Eleanor placed the forged authority document on the table.

Before she could sign it, Adrian spoke.

"You should have checked the name."

Silence filled the room.

He rose from the wheelchair and removed his glasses.

Eleanor stepped backward.

Adrian read the document aloud, proving that he could see every word.

"You poisoned me," he said. "You framed Margaret, imprisoned her daughter in fear and tried to steal this estate."

"You have no evidence!"

Lucy entered holding the stained handkerchief. Detectives followed her.

Mercer ran toward the side door but found two officers waiting.

Eleanor grabbed the fireplace poker and swung it toward Adrian. Margaret Finch--newly released pending investigation--appeared in the doorway and pulled Lucy out of danger.

The poker struck the table, shattering Eleanor's wineglass.

Adrian did not move.

"The entire conversation in my bedroom was recorded."

Eleanor looked at Mercer.

The doctor's courage collapsed.

"I only followed her instructions," he cried.

Eleanor slapped him.

Mercer then revealed the final part of their arrangement.

Eleanor had begun poisoning Adrian three weeks before their wedding.