“Stop right now.” The sharp tone of Jack’s voice made her look up in surprise. “We are not going to stand around looking for clues. I am taking you home immediately. In case you’ve forgotten, there is a killer out here, and—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Captain. Anyone who shot a man in someone else’s garden is hardly going to wait around to shoot whoever happens to wander by.” She turned back to the body. “The man who did this is long gone. What we need to do is have Lord Walter summon one of the officers from Bow Street—”
She broke off with a yelp as Jack, grabbing one arm, hauled her to her feet. She yelped again when the petticoat of her dress snagged on the edge of a shrub, making her stumble. “Now look what you have done.” She bent to twitch her skirt free and discovering a sizable bit of lace had been left behind. She yanked it free and shoved it in her reticule, glaring at the captain. “What is the matter with you? You were in the navy, for heaven’s sake; you must have seen a dead body before.”
“And have you as well? Is that why you are so damned calm about this?” Jack snapped, either not noticing or not caring that he was swearing at her. “You should be swooning or going into hysterics, not looking around for bloody clues.”
“Would you prefer it if I did swoon or become hysterical?” Lily only barely remembered to keep her voice low. “Because I assure you, that would be my preference. I am staying so damned calm because anything else would not help the situation.” Pursing her lips, she surveyed the clearing. “Now, what should we do? We cannot risk anyone else finding the body.”
Jack glared at her. “I knew you were an unusual girl, but Freddy never mentioned that you were so—”
“A footman, perhaps,” Lily interrupted, not interested in finding out what he might call her. “We should find one immediately and make sure he does not allow anyone else into the gardens. And then we should go straight to Lord Walter.” She met Jack’s eyes. “Do be some sort of helpful, please. You may berate me for being unfeminine later, but for now we have a dead body to deal with, and I do think that takes precedence.”
Jack blew out an annoyed breath, but to her relief he nodded. “A footman’s a good idea, and one of the Bow Street fellows.” He held out his arm. “Try to look faint or ill. People will assume I am helping you to your carriage and hopefully will leave us alone until we find Lord Walter.”
Taking his arm, Lily discovered she was glad of the support, and it didn’t require much pretending to lean on him and let him help her from the grisly scene. Fortunately, they encountered a footman checking the candle sconces as soon as they gained the terrace. Seeing an apparently ill lady leaning on the arm of a gentleman, he came quickly to offer assistance.
“What is your name, young man?” Jack asked sternly.
“Jeremy, sir.” The footman bowed.
“You are Anna’s cousin,” Lily broke in, noting the resemblance in their faces. “My dresser, Anna Swift.”
“Mrs. Adler.” Jeremy bowed again. “How may I be of service, ma’am?”
“We need to find Lord Walter,” Jack said. “And, Jeremy, it is imperative that you prevent anyone from entering the gardens until he tells you otherwise. Can you do that?”
To Lily’s surprise, Jeremy glanced at her before agreeing. At her nod, he bowed once more. “His lordship was in the card room last I saw him, sir. I’ll make sure no one goes past the terrace while you find him.”
“Good man.” Jack clapped the footman on the shoulder, and Lily briefly saw the twinkle of several coins before they found their way into Jeremy’s pocket.
“Thank you, Jeremy,” she said, pausing, though it was clear Jack wanted to hurry.
He looked like he wanted to ask questions, but of course he knew better. He said only, “Anna speaks well of you, ma’am,” before taking his position on the stairs.
* * *
Lily hoped the small parlor where she and Serena had sat after dinner was enough removed from the ballroom that they wouldn’t be interrupted there. But though she and Jack managed to make their way through the ballroom without attracting attention, they were brought up short before they were halfway down the hall to the parlor.
“Mrs. Adler! Are you unwell?”
The woman’s voice was quiet and concerned, and they turned to find Isobel Harper frowning at them.
“What are you doing here?” Lily asked without thinking.
Miss Harper’s brows rose. “Looking for my uncle, the general. Do you need assistance?” She glanced askance at Captain Hartley.
Lily leaned more heavily on Jack’s arm. “Thank you, Miss Harper, but please do not trouble yourself. I clumsily twisted my ankle out on the terrace, and the captain is helping me to my carriage.”
“I should never describe someone with your grace as clumsy, Mrs. Adler.” Miss Harper’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Lily bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from saying anything unwise. Miss Harper had never been known as a gossip, but even she would be suspicious of a lady and gentleman sneaking away from a ballroom. The last thing Lily needed was rumors following her. “The heat, you know. I stepped outside for a breath of air on the terrace, and—” She waved her hand vaguely, wondering how pained she should try to look. “It is nothing serious. May I make Captain Hartley known to you, Miss Harper? He was a childhood friend of my dear Freddy’s and gallantly came to my rescue. Captain, Miss Harper.”
“Charmed, madam.” Jack somehow managed to bow smoothly from the chest up while keeping a supporting hand under Lily’s arm. “I must apologize for my abruptness, but Mrs. Adler really should not be straining her ankle any further. But we should be most grateful for your assistance. Would you be so good as to seek out Lady Walter and send her to Mrs. Adler in the blue parlor?”
Somehow, whether it was his charming smile, his air of military command, or simply the practical nature of his request, Jack made quicker work of Miss Harper’s watchful concern than Lily could have ever managed on her own. After Miss Harper left to fulfill her errand, he escorted Lily to the blue parlor, hesitating briefly over leaving her alone before promising to return with Lord Walter as quickly as possible.
Lily waited anxiously for them to return, pacing the room until she heard low voices arguing in the corridor. On edge and unwilling to sit around feeling vulnerable, she flung open the door, then stared in surprise.
Miss Oswald stood directly across from her, her back pressed against the wall as a man leaned toward her, his outstretched hand resting next to her head and blocking her escape. “… saw you sneak away …” he was murmuring.
“I was not sneaking anywhere,” the girl protested, trying to edge away. She sounded scared. “Move aside, sir, or someone—” She caught sight of Lily and gasped, her eyes widening in sudden panic at being caught in such a position.
“What the devil—” The man turned, and his eyes narrowed. “You.”
For the second time that night, Lily found herself staring down Reggie Harper, and this time she was furious. After all that had happened, to be confronted with such a man was the last straw. “I believe I suggested that you depart for the evening.”
“I do not take orders from—”
“I suggested you depart,” she repeated, not raising her voice, but her chilly tone made him fall silent. “It is no longer a suggestion, Mr. Harper. You will leave, at once, or you will regret it very deeply.”
Mr. Harper glanced between the two women, clearly trying to decide whether to risk making a scene. But another look at Lily’s furious expression made him hesitate, and at last he muttered, “Frigid shrew,” under his breath and strode away.
Miss Oswald let out a breath and sagged against the wall.
“Did he hurt you?” Lily asked.
“No.” The girl swallowed, still looking afraid. Lily did not blame her; if word got out that the young heiress had been alone with a man like Mr. Harper, her reputation would be ruined, even if she was only trying to fend off his advances. “I swear, Mrs. Ad
ler, I was not—”
“I know.” Lily cut her off. “He approached me in a similar manner earlier tonight.” The girl’s mouth quivered, and Lily would have moved to comfort her, but at that moment she heard voices coming down the hall and recalled why she was there in the first place. “Go splash some cool water on your face before you return. I will make sure no one hears any gossip.”
“Thank you.” The girl glanced in the direction of the voices, then scampered off down the hall, disappearing around the corner just as Jack and Lord Walter came into view.
Jack grimaced in apology as he saw Lily’s tight expression. “My apologies. His lordship was not in the card room,” he explained as they returned to the parlor and closed the door.
“Mrs. Adler, are you well?” Lord Walter’s friendly face was wreathed in worry.
“Yes, I am. But …” Lily glanced around. “Is Serena coming? I sent for her as well.”
“If you sent for her, I am sure she will arrive at any moment.”
Lily frowned, but before she could say anything, Serena entered the room with a loud cry of, “Lily!” She seized her friend’s hand, quivering with worry. “Isobel Harper said you injured yourself—”
“What has happened, Mrs. Adler?” Lord Walter’s practical interruption didn’t seem to upset his wife.
Lily was grateful; she didn’t think she could deal with Serena’s dramatics at the moment. She met his eyes and said, matching his calm tone as well as she could, “I am afraid there is a dead body in your garden.”
There was a moment of stunned silence; then Serena and her husband began talking at once. It took several moments to quiet them down so Lily could explain what had happened.
“But, Lily, darling,” Serena said, focusing on the one detail Lily had hoped her audience would overlook. “Why were you in the garden at all?” She glanced at her husband, and they both very deliberately did not look at Jack.
Lily had no desire to explain about Mr. Harper’s advances. She would tell Serena in private, but not in front of the gentlemen. “Getting some air, of course.”
“I sent one of your footman to make sure no one else wanders into the garden, but we should not leave him alone any longer than necessary,” Jack said. He tugged at his cravat, looking as uncomfortable as Lily had yet seen him, and exchanged a glance with Lord Walter.
Whether she was saved further inquiry because they believed her, because of his lordship’s discretion, or simply by the fact that she was a widow and entitled to do as she wished, Lily could not decide. Whatever the reason, Lord Walter merely nodded. “I will have another one of the lads join him, and someone will fetch one of the Bow Street fellows immediately.”
“We cannot interrupt the party,” Serena protested, bristling when Jack made a noise of protest. “I am not so flighty as that, thank you. I meant we cannot let anyone know what has happened. We should have half our guests rushing for the door and the other half rushing for the gardens to get a look. It would be a dreadful mess.”
“You are quite right, my love.” Lord Walter touched his wife’s shoulder gently, and she subsided, though she still scowled at Jack, who to his credit did look contrite. “The officer will come through the servants’ door, and you shall do your best to keep things proceeding smoothly. All of London will find out tomorrow, but tonight we can maintain the fiction that nothing terrible has happened.” He turned to Lily. “I am sure Mrs. Adler will assist you.”
“I am sure Mrs. Adler will do no such thing.” Serena looked thunderous. “For heaven’s sake, she stumbled on a dead body not half an hour ago. How can you expect her to go dance a cotillion as if nothing happened?”
“I would hardly be dancing,” Lily pointed out, but her friend was right. Despite her efforts to keep herself under control, the shock of her discovery was beginning to set it. She clasped her hands together to try to keep them from shaking, but by the sympathetic looks directed her way, she knew she hadn’t succeeded.
“Besides which, you told Miss Harper that you twisted your ankle. You can hardly wander about after that,” Serena pointed out. “No, you need a strong cup of tea and a good night’s sleep. We all do, but the rest of us will have to wait a little longer.”
“You are right once more, my love.” Lord Walter bent to kiss the top of Serena’s head. “I will see everything arranged as discreetly as possible. I do not like to wait any longer in case someone should get around Jeremy and find the unfortunate young man.”
“I would be happy to escort Mrs. Adler home,” Jack volunteered after Lord Walter had left, but Serena was already shaking her head.
“Lily will stay here tonight.” She scowled as Lily tried to protest. “Think how dreadful you will feel if this is the first night you spend in your new home. No, I’ll have someone fetch your maid and your clothes. We’ve plenty of rooms, and this way you shan’t feel so alone.”
“Well, I certainly am not going anywhere yet,” Lily said, her voice sharp. Even though she knew Serena was right, she did not like having someone else making decisions for her. Her annoyance, at least, made her feel less overwhelmed. “None of us are, until the gentleman from Bow Street arrives.”
“I am.” Serena rose. “People will talk if I stay away any longer.” She frowned at Jack, clearly still annoyed with him for scoffing. “You will stay with Lily?”
“Of course, ma’am.”
Serena left the room as dramatically as she had entered, leaving Lily as close to smiling as she had been all evening. There were few London hostesses who would react to news of a dead body with such equanimity. Or, she thought fondly, such concern for their friends.
Jack, still standing near the door, cleared his throat. “Would they take it amiss if we rang for something to eat?” He looked embarrassed. “It seems dreadful under such circumstances, but I’m famished.”
Lily wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in her throat. She hoped she wasn’t becoming hysterical; the last thing she wanted was for Jack to gallantly insist that she take herself off to bed. “Well, if you are dreadful, then so am I.” She nodded in the direction of the bell. “We may be waiting for a while, so see if you can persuade someone to bring us some sandwiches.”
* * *
In the end, they were both glad they had sent for food. It took the officer from Bow Street nearly an hour to arrive, and after that, Serena reported indignantly, he insisted on being taken to the gardens right away, “even though there were guests on the terrace! Fortunately, we were able to let his men in the back gate so they could take away the body without anyone noticing.” She shuddered. “The whole thing is dreadful. I am amazed I’ve not succumbed to hysterics.”
As she swept back out of the small parlor to return to her duties as hostess, Jack stared after her. “She doesn’t seem the sort who would succumb to much of anything.”
“She’s not,” Lily murmured absently, her thoughts still with the poor young man, his body fetched from the gardens like a sack of potatoes. Jack noticed her shudder and moved to sit with her, and though she knew she should have protested his being so close, she was grateful.
It was another half an hour before Lord Walter showed the Bow Street constable, introduced as Mr. Simon Page, into the parlor. By that point it was nearly two o’clock in the morning and Lily was beginning to droop with fatigue. As soon as the constable was shown in, though, she sat up straighter, determined to be of use.
“Mr. Page has looked over the gardens, and his men have removed the …” Lord Walter cleared his throat, too much of a gentleman to mention a dead body in the presence of a lady, even if the lady had been the one to find it. “Everything seems to be well in hand, but he wanted to ask both of you a question or two. If you are feeling up to it, of course, Mrs. Adler.”
“Certainly.” Lily smoothed down her dress, which had grown rumpled from restless pacing. “It seems to me that hardly anything is in hand, unless Mr. Page has somehow managed to apprehend the killer already.”
“No need
to be worried; I’ll only be asking a few questions to sort through the facts of the evening.” Mr. Page was a very middling sort of man: about middle height, with middling brown hair that was beginning to show a middling amount of gray, and eyes of a middling brown color. But he spoke with an air of confidence that belied his average appearance, and his gaze was sharp as he looked them over. “I’m sure this is all very distressing for you, Mrs. Adler, so I won’t trouble you for much longer. But let me know if you remember anything as we speak.”
Lord Walter excused himself, claiming a need to return to his guests, and instructed Mr. Page to ring the bell if he needed anything else. Looking gratified at such cooperative treatment, the constable turned to Jack. “I understand you found the body, Captain Hartley?”
Jack nodded. “Along with Mrs. Adler.”
The constable made several notes. “So the two of you were walking in the garden. And then you stumbled on the body of the young man?”
“No.” Lily sat up straighter. “We did not stumble onto anything. I was walking in the gardens alone when I overheard two gentlemen arguing. It was obviously a private matter, so I started to return to the house. But when I heard the gunshot, I ran to find help—”
Mr. Page had stopped writing, and his brows rose as she spoke. “Mrs. Adler, I wonder if the shock of such a terrible discovery has upset you greatly.”
His tone made Lily wary. “It was of course upsetting. Nonetheless, I remember the circumstances very clearly.”
The Body in the Garden Page 4
