“I understand what you mean but would you explain to Her Majesty how a plant can be noisy?”
Granny stood next to me whispering, kneepsy repeatedly. I imagined it was to calm her nerves.
Mrs. Medici shrugged. “Why not? It’s a poorly kept secret that mandrake root, shaped like a man, screams when it’s pulled from the ground. Every once in a while you get a plant that won’t stop screaming.” She looked at Queen Victoria as if what she was saying made simple sense. “It’s a narcotic. Puts a lady in a curare corset to sleep before she dies.”
The Queen exchanged horrified looks with Florence.
“And so you gave Mrs. Dupree the mandrake root to quiet her as she was dying?” Florence asked.
“Of course. Wouldn’t you?” The poisoner snapped.
“I have one more question. How did the mandrake root get into Mrs. Throckmorten’s gloves?”
“That ain’t my doing! I sold it to a customer. What she done with it was her business!” She suddenly sounded like a guttersnipe.
“Can you tell me who that customer was? Is she in this room?” Florence asked.
“That is private between me and my customer! In the poison business, once you break a confidence you might as well give up brewing!” She shook her head stubbornly and bit her lip. “I ain’t telling you. My family’s coming to get me. I had enough of this English law. I’m going back to Italy.”
“Madam, the only place you will going is to the hangman’s noose,” Lord Melbourne’s booming voice caused both Granny and me to jump.
Glancing at Florence, she nodded and I understood. “Take Mrs. Medici aside,” I said to the guards. “Do not let her out of your sights.”
If I hurried along the Queen would be on time for her meeting with Prince Albert. She would have this vile assassination business off her mind. The monarch must be terribly excited although she conceals it well.
“Excuse me Your Majesty,” I curtsied and headed for the door. Florence took over; standing in the aisle she held the little brown box Moon had handed her. “I wish to present one of the royal footman who will explain what this box contains. “Moon?” She beckoned him from the sidelines. He stepped into the aisle as Florence opened the box.
Chapter 38
I stopped and worked my way back through the crowd. Florence was opening the box. She reached in and removed a blotter with a handle. Even from where I stood I could see it was a match for the letter opener used to kill Lady Julia.
“Please tell the Queen where you obtained this blotter,” Florence said.
“It was given to me by Duchess Frederica’s maid. She provided it at my request.”
I realized it was the first time I had heard Moon’s voice out loud; we had always spoken in near whispers. His was an enchanting voice, but soon covered by the shrieking of Lord Cumberland’s wife. Whatever she screamed was irrelevant for I had yet another nail to drive into her coffin. Try to poison my Granny? I think not!
The guards at the door let me pass. Bailey stood in the shadows of the corridor for his safety. But now was his time to strike back for what had been done to Mrs. Dupree. He followed me into the room and up the aisle to where Duchess Frederica was conducting an all-out tantrum.
Bailey bowed to the Queen as I introduced him. He then proceeded with his testimony. “This is the woman who met with Mrs. Medici at the dress shop the day that your Lady Julia was looking at ribbons. The young lady would have been near enough to hear what they said. Before this woman left the shop she received something from the corset maker. It was a small package that she tucked into her cloak. I only just now remembered it.”
The Duchess advanced on Bailey but I wedged myself between them. “Did you see Lady Julia leave the shop?” I asked the butler.
He nodded. “The young lady ran from the shop right after this woman left.”
When Bailey had finished speaking, I motioned for Granny to step forward. In contrast to all the tall people who had taken to the aisle to address the Queen, Granny seemed adorably tiny. She curtsied to the Queen and without being asked launched into a tirade.
“Your Majesty, in the last hour I almost died if not for my brave granddaughter. This woman here, this Duchess and would be Queen—she put poison in my gloves!”
The Queen appeared confused. “Why would the Duchess of Cumberland want to harm you, Mrs. Throckmorten?”
Granny shook her head. “She wasn’t aiming for me, but rather you. Does Your Majesty recall my box of gloves that I set out for you to admire? They had been dampened with poison.” She glared at Duchess Frederica. “This big blob of evil thought you were going to wear them. She was the only one to enter your dressing room today, beside Poppy and me. She did not know I was your new dresser and barely noticed my presence; but I saw her!”
Rather than address Frederica, the Queen spoke to Lord Cumberland. “Uncle, what have you to say for yourself?”
His Lordship strode to the closest point he dared to stand and bellowed, “I know nothing of this. It’s a trumped up plan designed to alienate me from inheriting the Crown—should anything happen to you.”
Queen Victoria shook her head. It appeared she was overcome with sadness at his remarks. “Lady Beryl, come forward!” she said. “Why would you wish to take part in murdering us?”
Beryl was a mess and had to be supported by a Dragoon. She whimpered and whined. “My mother is held prisoner in Hanover. She was taken by the Duchess’s guards at the beginning of summer and is being held in a horrid confine where she suffers greatly.”
“You realize you face the hangman for the murder of Lady Julia?” the Queen said. “And you would see us dead and your country in chaos to save your mother?”
“I wouldn’t have done it if the Duchess had not forced me. She came at me in such a flurry that I acted in panic. She told me Lady Julia had overheard her buying the mandrake to poison you. She shoved the letter opener into my hands and pushed me down the corridor.”
Lady Beryl’s words saddened me for even now she would not admit full responsibility for the murder. No one can make you take the life of another, no matter the threat. Her uncle had been a highwayman, a killer—perhaps it was in her nature?
The Queen’s eyes glistened with tears. “And so without a thought you killed a human being? We are so disturbed by the person you have shown yourself to be. You deserve to meet the hangman. You are guilty of murder and treason.” She motioned to Captain Wainright. “Have her taken away!”
“And now, Uncle, are you a party to this attempt on our life?”
Before he could answer, the Duchess elbowed him out of the way. “He knew nothing about it. He is content to see if you marry. I cannot wait that long. I would be consort to the King of England if not for you!”
“You have committed murder and treason.” The Queen said. “You face the hangman.”
“I murdered no one. I simply made suggestions. If they were misinterpreted that is the flaw in the listener, not me.” The Duchess approached the throne, her hands on her hips, thrusting her chin out. “I am the Queen of Hanover, and beyond your powers.”
“You provided the murder weapon to Lady Beryl,” the Queen said.
“I always carry a letter opener. It is better than a derringer. I contend that Lady Beryl took it from me forcibly.”
“It is common knowledge that our uncle is your third husband. It is also rumored that your second husband died from poisoning. Do we detect a pattern?” Her Majesty asked, with a twist of sarcasm.
The Duchess attempted to break through the barrier created by the two guards, but fell back in anger.
“Enough, Frederica!” Lord Cumberland said. He pulled his wife away as she was dangerously close to the guards who had unsheathed their swords. “Niece, I will take the Duchess to our quarters to wait for your verdict. I wish you well with Prince Albert.” He pulled a gold watch from his pocket. “It appears you have ten minutes before your meeting.”
“Perhaps, dear uncle you deserve this po
isoner as your forever mate?” said Queen Victoria with a smirk.
He escorted his wife from the room. All those gathered were stunned by his daring exit as stomped by the guards dragging the Duchess behind him.
Her Majesty left the gathering escorted by Lord Melbourne and a force of eight Dragoons. Her entire being seemed to have altered as she walked down the corridor to meet the man who might become the love of her life. Queen Victoria shone with confidence.
“What of Mr. Harley and the Chartists?” I asked Florence.
“They are two separate problems. With any luck, Harley and his gang will be foolish enough to return to Brown’s Hotel in the morning. A squadron of Dragoons will be waiting for them. Parliament will deal with the Chartists who remain civil.”
I was a bit befuddled. We had worked so hard to discover the schemers and the killers. “What will become of Mrs. Medici and Lady Beryl?”
“They can be dealt with over time. The Queen must keep her promise to meet with Prince Albert. Priorities, dear Poppy, priorities!” Florence said. She turned to Granny. “And what are your thoughts, Mrs. Throckmorten?”
“What do I think?” Granny said. “I think the Duchess of Cumberland owes me a pair of new gloves!”
~*~
Epilogue
Looking back I have to admit things came together rather nicely. Mr. Harley and his gang did return to Brown’s Hotel the following morning. Under the impression we had the body of Mrs. Dupree, they were determined to get her back before they were caught. Greeted by the Dragoon squadron, they were tried and sentenced to life imprisonment for inciting insurrection and other things too numerous to mention. Miss Nancy disappeared from the Palace jail and thus eluded prosecution.
Lord Cumberland and the Duchess, made a hasty escape to his small kingdom in Hanover. The Queen did receive a note from her uncle professing his innocence and apologizing for his wife’s behavior. Two years later Frederica died after a short illness. It was noted that Mrs. Medici attended the funeral escorted by members of her family. It was through her family connections that she was able to avoid trial and quickly relocated to Padua, Italy where she established a chain of pharmacies.
The seamstresses were released from protective custody and scattered about London seeking employment. They did not join the Chartist movement.
Lord Melbourne overheard Dr. Carbuncle telling his tall tale of the curse of the Averoff emerald. The doctor was made to confess his falsehood in front of Parliament. The public humiliation drove him to seek refuge in Australia.
Lady Beryl kept her date with the hangman.
Lord Melbourne remained Prime Minister for two more years during which time Mrs. Ponsonby was successfully mated to an Admiral who for some odd reason enjoyed her company and took her to sea.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married on February 10, 1840. Theirs was one of the happiest royal unions in British history.
Florence, Granny, and I returned to Derbyshire to await the sale of the Averoff emerald and the funding of the Nightingale School for Lady Nurses. Athena continues to thrive and needs a larger pocket to nest in.
You ask about Roger?
Roger will always be a dear, annoying friend to the end.
But Moon has my heart.
~*~
Historical Notes
The following characters are real life; all the others are figments of my imagination. I confess to having played with history to create this second adventure in the Florence Nightingale Comedy Mystery series. I hope you enjoy it!
Florence Nightingale
Born in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820, she was a member of a wealthy Derbyshire family. The younger of two daughters, strong–willed she defied her parents who forbade her to pursue proper training in order to care for the sick and injured. During the Victorian era, when English women had almost no property rights, young ladies of Florence Nightingale’s social status were expected to marry a man of means—not take up an occupation that was viewed as lowly manual labor.
In 1856, upon returning from the Crimean War, having saved many lives by bringing her common-sense approach toward nursing to the battlefield, she was surprised to be met in London with a hero’s welcome. Humble by nature, any accolades awarded to her made her very uncomfortable.
The year before her return, Queen Victoria had rewarded Florence’s work with an engraved brooch that became known as the Nightingale Jewel. At that time there were no official medals of honor for women. The Queen also granted her a prize of $250,000, which Florence used to fund the Nightingale School for Lady Nurses. Thanks to Florence Nightingale, nursing was no longer looked down on by the upper classes; it had come to be viewed as an honorable vocation. She never married and lived to be ninety years old.
Athena the Owlet
True!
Queen Victoria
“Plump as a partridge…more of a pocket Hercules than a pocket Venus” is how the Duke of Kent described his feisty newborn daughter Princess Victoria on the day she was born at Kensington Palace, one year before Florence Nightingale. Queen Victoria went on to become one of Britain’s most outstanding monarchs. Taking the throne at the age of eighteen, she ruled for more than 60 years. Please note the Queen made frequent use of the royal we: A plural pronoun referring to a single person holding high office such as a monarch. I have done so throughout this tale.
Lord Melbourne
The first Prime Minister of Victoria’s reign was William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, a member of the Whig party. He had an important relationship with the young queen, which was judged by the opposing Tory party to be to their detriment. Early in life he fell in with some Romantic poets including Lord Byron and Percy Shelley. His beloved wife, Lady Caroline had an affair with the poet, Lord Byron. Her scandalous behavior led to his public humiliation and a broken heart. Although the couple remained friends they eventually separated. He would hold a melancholy attachment to his wife for the rest of his days, long after her death.
Lord Cumberland
Prince Ernest, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover was the fifth son of George III and Queen Charlotte and a younger brother of Queen Victoria’s father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. He fought the French in Flanders and was injured at the Battle of Tournai; his face had been permanently scarred and he lost the sight in one eye. He was inclined to maliciousness and his life was beset with scandal. Queen Victoria and those closest to her viewed her uncle with suspicion. Without Victoria, the Duke and his son would have been Britain’s future monarchs and the course of history would have changed in immeasurable ways. He remained a threat to her during the early years of her reign.
Frederica Duchess of Cumberland
Lord Cumberland was Frederica’s third husband. She was a German princess, who became by her first marriage, a Prussian princess. Her second marriage was to Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels who conveniently died before she could properly divorce him. She then went on to marry Prince Ernest August – Duke of Cumberland, the fifth son of George III of Great Britain. She found it easier to marry princes so as never to confuse their names. All of her husbands were princes.
Author’s Notes
Hi there!
I hope you enjoyed the second book in my new series of Florence Nightingale Comedy Mysteries. Please consider leaving a review; they are so very important especially for a new series just taking its first baby steps! I would so appreciate even a short review. Hugs!
Book One: The Giggling Corpse
Link: http://bit.ly/GigglingCorpse
Book Two: The Killer Corset
Link: http://bit.ly/KillerCorset
With love & laughter!
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The C
heeky Coroner©
Barbara Silkstone 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9992495-8-1
All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, or specifically mentioned in the Historical Note at the end of this publication, are fictitious and any resemblance to any real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
Queen Victoria did in fact honor Florence Nightingale, recognizing her services during the Crimean War. In 1856, Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale a brooch known as the Nightingale Jewel. At that time suitable awards for female civilians did not exist. Designed with the assistance of Prince Albert, the unique brooch was engraved with a dedication from the Queen that read, “To Miss Florence Nightingale, as a mark of esteem and gratitude for her devotion towards the Queen’s brave soldiers, from Victoria R. 1855.”
It is with respect and reverence that I have taken liberties in creating a humorous sleuthing career for Miss Nightingale, which occurs before she became the legendary ‘Lady of the Lamp.’
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