The Body in the Garden

by Katharine Schellman

  Something about his quiet voice, or perhaps his military air, seemed to convince the porter. The young man’s eyes grew wide, and he nodded, standing straighter as he hopped down from his perch. “Bide ’ere a moment; I’ll go tell him. Who should I say …?” He trailed off, clearly unsure of the protocol he should follow.

  “Mrs. Adler and Captain John Hartley to see him, if you please,” Jack said, betraying no hint of judgment at the man’s unpolished manners. Though perhaps, Lily reflected, he did not feel any. In the navy, though his brother officers would have been gentlemen, he would have worked with men from a variety of classes, and his success as a captain would have depended on his ability to gain their trust and respect. Watching the ease with which Jack managed the young porter, Lily began to appreciate the air of command that lurked behind his comfortable manners.

  They waited several minutes, Lily pacing back and forth in front of the desk while Jack settled into a chair and picked up a news sheet. At last the porter returned, motioning for them to follow him. “This way, if ye will.”

  He led them to a door with a small plaque on it: Mr. Simon Page, Principal Officer.

  The office they were shown into was a surprise. Several tall windows let in the light, and there were shelves filled with what appeared to be books of law. It was rather like being in someone’s underfurnished study, and Lily was impressed in spite of herself.

  Mr. Page stood as they entered. He was just as average as Lily remembered him, from height to hair—all except his gaze, which was sharp enough to make her feel uneasy as it settled on her.

  “Mrs. Adler, Captain Hartley.” Mr. Page bowed in greeting. “To what do I owe the visit?”

  Jack glanced at Lily; at her nod, he cleared his throat. “We wish to speak to you regarding last night’s incident.”

  Mr. Page’s jaw tightened. “If you are concerned for your safety, I can assure you, the Bow Street force has things in hand.”

  “No, that is not what concerns us.” Lily tried not to speak sharply; he would be less likely to listen if she made him feel defensive. “I wanted another chance to tell you what I overheard concerning the murdered man.”

  “You wish to support the police in their work?” Mr. Page asked, one corner of his mouth lifting in an ironic smile. “How unusual. Unfortunately, Mrs. Adler, that incident is no longer under investigation.”

  Lily had expected to hear again that it was none of her business, or that she had imagined things, or something else equally dismissive. To be told that the case was laid aside entirely was so surprising that she was at a loss for words. They stared at each other, Mr. Page’s expression as shuttered as her own, neither one betraying what they were thinking. “No longer … May I ask why?” she managed at last.

  “Insufficient evidence.” He paused a moment, then with evident reluctance added, “Our magistrates, Mr. Neve and Mr. Scott, have decided that pursuing the matter would tie up resources better put to work elsewhere.”

  “What do you mean, ‘insufficient evidence’?” Lily demanded.

  The constable shrugged, rudely casual. “The coroner’s inquest was held early this morning. Jury ruled for death by person or persons unknown, predictably enough. But we can’t identify the man, and without knowing who he is, we’ve no way to discover who did it.”

  “And that is the end of the matter?” Lily’s hands clenched inside her muff.

  Jack snorted. “Don’t want to do any real work, I suppose? Bloody thief-takers,” he muttered, arms crossing as he glared at the constable.

  Mr. Page stiffened. “I am a principal officer of the Bow Street force, sir; I serve the law and obey my superiors, which I would have expected a military man to understand. If you have further concerns, you are welcome to take them up with a magistrate.”

  The two men scowled at each other, and Lily sighed. “Come along, Captain. If Mr. Page says there is nothing else to be done, then there is nothing else to be done.”

  They left the room in silence, Mr. Page glaring at their backs. Jack’s expression was thunderous, and Lily’s mood was not much better. She did not try to moderate her sarcastic tone. “You were wonderfully helpful back there, Captain.”

  “A man was murdered, Mrs. Adler, and they show no inclination to do a single thing about it. They can’t identify the man?” Jack made a sound of disgust in the back of his throat. “What is the good of the taxes we pay for them if they do not do their job?”

  “I know.” Lily sighed. “But offending him was not going to get us anywhere. Why could you not manage him as you did the porter?”

  “I don’t know.” Jack blew out a breath and ran one hand through his hair, a frustrated gesture Lily was beginning to recognize. “Something about that man sets me on edge.”

  Lily snorted. “Perhaps both of you are too accustomed to being the one giving orders.”

  She would have continued, but a figure down the hall caught her eye. A gentleman had just left one of the offices and was heading toward the front door. His broad-shouldered build and bright-blue coat looked familiar, but it wasn’t until he paused to talk to the porter that she recognized him. She had seen him just over an hour before, leaving the Walters’ home with three hundred pounds in his jacket.

  Lily swallowed, feeling suddenly ill. “A moment, Captain.” Lily approached the porter; when he looked up, she tried to smile, hoping she did not look as disturbed as she felt. “Could you tell me the name of the gentleman who left just now? In the blue coat?”

  “Th’ magistrate? That was Mr. Philip Neve.” The porter looked confused by the question. “Him as runs the Great Marlborough Street office. Did ye need to speak with him?”

  “No, I … thank you. That is … no.” Not really sure what she was saying, Lily nodded to the porter just as Jack joined her. “Excuse me, Captain, I think I left something in Mr. Page’s office. I shall return in a moment.”

  Leaving Jack looking confused behind her, Lily hurried back down the hall. She knocked sharply on Mr. Page’s door but did not wait for a response before entering.

  The principal officer started to his feet, then sighed when he saw who had burst in on him. “Mrs. Alder, this is a place of business. I realize you may not know what that is—”

  Lily did not wait for him to finish. “What would you say if I told you that I know why this case was dropped? If it was because someone bribed your magistrate to prevent it from being investigated as it should be?”

  Mr. Page’s eyes had narrowed as she spoke, and his voice was cold as he replied. “I would say that I’m unsurprised. Your kind always thinks they can get away with anything because they have money.”

  “Then what do you plan to do about it?” Lily’s heart was pounding. Surely he would realize that this could not be allowed, that someone had to find out what had happened?

  “Do?” Mr. Page sat back down, no longer looking at her as he began to sort through the papers on his desk. “My job, Mrs. Adler, to the best of my ability. You can show yourself out.”

  Lily stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. But the constable did not look back up, and he did not reply when she said his name again. So at last she gave up, slamming the door shut behind her in an uncharacteristic display of temper.

  When she returned to the lobby, Jack took one look at her face and hailed a hack carriage without asking any questions, staying silent until a driver had pulled up in front of them. “Shall I accompany you back to the Walters’, Mrs. Adler?” he asked.

  By that point, Lily had taken several deep breaths and managed to regain at least a semblance of her normal calm. “No, thank you. I am sure you have your own affairs to attend to today, and I will only be packing up my things to return to Half Moon Street.”

  Jack ran a hand through his hair. “We can try again tomorrow,” he offered. “I shall even be polite next time. If we make ourselves enough of a nuisance, someone will listen eventually.”

  His offer took her by surprise. “You would do that?”<
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  “Of course I would. Not as if I have much else to occupy my time while I’m stuck ashore,” Jack said. He shrugged as if it did not matter, but his eyes were serious. “Say the word, Mrs. Adler, and I will do what you need. Freddy would box me soundly if I did anything else.” He grinned, looking more like his usual self. “Have I done the unthinkable and shocked you into silence?”

  “You are a dreadful man, Captain, I hope you know that,” Lily said, but her expression softened as she added, “And you are also very kind.”

  “I like to be unexpected,” Jack agreed. “So what will it be?”

  Lily thought about Mr. Page’s cold expression, the bitter way he had spoken of her class, and was about to tell Jack exactly what she thought of the infuriating principal officer. Then she thought about Philip Neve accepting a bribe worth more than his constables made in a year, about Lord Walter’s cool insistence that there be “no mess” for him to deal with. Did Serena know what her husband had done? And if not, did Lily have a responsibility to tell her?

  No, she decided quickly, her mind taking only seconds to jump through the possible consequences. She couldn’t say anything without knowing why Lord Walter had made the bribe. If she could learn more, find out who the man was and why he had been killed, then she could figure out how Lord Walter was involved in the dreadful affair. But Bow Street had laid the case aside. We can’t identify the man …

  And suddenly Lily could. She remembered exactly where she had seen the murdered young man, and he had been very much alive at the time.

  Lily drew in a sharp breath before she recalled where she was. Jack was still watching her, one eyebrow lifted. It had been no more than a few seconds since he had asked his question, but as far as Lily was concerned, everything had changed.

  “I do not think we should press the matter. But you are very good to offer.” Lily held out her hand. “Thank you for coming with me, and for your kindness.”

  “Mrs. Adler.” Jack bowed over her hand, then helped her into the carriage. “I’m sure I shall see you again soon.”

  Lily watched him stroll off, then turned to the driver. “Take me to Audley Street, please. Number twenty-nine. And quickly.”

  CHAPTER 7

  The footman who answered the door was rigidly dignified, staring at a point just above her head, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. “Madam?”

  Lily held out her card, silently amused when it took him a moment to notice; his gaze had been too high. “Would you inform Miss Oswald that Mrs. Adler has called to see her?”

  The young man bowed her in. “If you would wait in the front parlor, madam,” he said, opening the door to that room.

  “Thank you.” There was a fire in the room, and Lily settled gratefully in front of it. April was a brisk month in London. As she waited, staring absently around the room, she wondered if Miss Oswald would agree to see her. Under normal circumstances, of course, it would be odd for the girl to refuse. But as Lily had realized, the circumstances in which Miss Oswald had found herself were anything but normal.

  A moment later, though, her question was answered as Miss Oswald came into the room. “Mrs. Adler, what a pleasure to see you again so soon.” Lily rose, and the two women bowed politely. Miss Oswald smiled, but the expression looked forced, and her smile was uneasy as she invited Lily to sit down. The girl’s eyes looked tired and red, as if she had been crying or not slept well, and her jaw was tight. “I am afraid my aunt is out at the moment.”

  “That is no matter, as it was you I wished to see.”

  “Then I am flattered that you should call so soon.” Miss Oswald held a handkerchief in both hands, and she twisted and smoothed it repeatedly without seeming to notice what she was doing. “Is the draw of learning more of the West Indies so strong?”

  For a moment Lily wondered if she ought to play along, but she quickly abandoned the idea. She needed information, and being direct was likely the best way to get it. “Not precisely, though I’d not be surprised if it were somehow related to the question I have for you.”

  Miss Oswald’s shoulders tensed, and she met Lily’s eyes quickly before looking away. “I’m afraid I do not understand.”

  “I am sure you do, though I understand your wish to deny it. It is an unfortunate situation, but you may as well have out with it now.”

  Miss Oswald stood abruptly. “I am terribly sorry, but if you will excuse me, I just remembered that my aunt asked me to—”

  “I simply wish to ask some questions,” Lily said, rising as well. She tried to sound soothing; it was not a tone of voice she often bothered with, but Miss Oswald looked as if she would bolt at any moment.

  “I told you, I must—”

  “I’ll not be hurried out, Miss Oswald, so you may as well sit down.”

  “Mrs. Adler, I really am not—”

  Lily interrupted as gently as she could. “You need to tell someone what you know of this business, so it might as well be me.”

  “Kn-know of what business?” Miss Oswald sank back onto the settee, but her shoulders were still rigid with tension.

  Lily followed her own advice and sat back down as well. “You know perfectly well that I am speaking of the young man who was murdered yesterday,” she said. “The young man about whom no one seems to know anything at all. Perhaps you can be comfortable with the idea of him dying anonymously, so far from home, but I did not expect you to be so heartless.”

  Eyes wide, Miss Oswald gasped, “Oh, Mrs. Adler!” before bursting into tears.

  Lily wanted to sigh with impatience, but instead she fished out her handkerchief and handed it to the girl, who was reduced to hiccups in her effort to hold back her sobs. “You really should have spoken when you saw his face in the paper. But I suppose you were worried that someone would come banging down your door and call you a murderess?”

  That made Miss Oswald sit bolt upright and glare at her. “I did not kill anyone!”

  “Of course you did not,” Lily said, glad to see the girl pulling herself together. “I’m not here to accuse you of anything. I simply wish to find out who the young man was and what he was doing in England. I assume he also came here from the West Indies?”

  Miss Oswald nodded, looking miserable, and blew her nose loudly. “His name was Augustus Finch. He was my father’s godson.”

  “And what was he doing in England so secretly?”

  Miss Oswald looked even more miserable. “I am staying with my father’s aunt so that I might find a husband, as I am sure you must have heard by now.” There was a slight defensive note to her voice, for which Lily couldn’t blame her. “His …” She took a deep breath. “My father’s aim was that I find a wealthy Englishman to marry.”

  “The aim of many fathers,” Lily said dryly. “Go on.”

  “Augustus followed me here, though I did not know it until yesterday. He … he wanted to ask for my father’s permission to marry me, but …”

  “No money?”

  The girl nodded. “He was not poor, really, but he was never going to be anything more than a tradesman. Not quality, by any means.” She laughed bitterly. “Not that most people consider me any better, but at least I’ve Papa’s money and name to make up for it. Augustus did not have anything to recommend him as far as my father was concerned. And I—” she broke off.

  “And you did not want to marry him?” Lily guessed.

  Miss Oswald looked startled. “How did you know?”

  “I know something of being in love and not being permitted to marry.” It took some effort for Lily to keep her tone light. “You do not show many of the symptoms. Did he think more money would convince you?”

  “He was certain we would suit if he could only get my father’s blessing,” Miss Oswald said, wiping her eyes with the handkerchief again and taking a deep breath before continuing. “He was a nice boy, most of the time, but so stubborn. We were not thrown together much until a few years ago, but he always had a wild streak. When I saw him last night—i
t was the first I knew he was in England at all!—he told me he had a plan to make himself rich. All he needed was a few more days and the right leverage.”

  Lily pursed her lips, holding back her own information a moment more. “And what do you think he meant by that?”

  “I think …” Miss Oswald’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I very much fear he intended to do something illegal.”

  “He did, I’m afraid.” Lily took a deep breath. “He intended blackmail.”

  “What?” Miss Oswald leapt to her feet. “You knew him? You saw him?”

  “I was the one who found the body.”

  “But …” The young woman twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “You mean to say he was at that party to blackmail someone there?”

  “And it seems that someone was the person who killed him.” Lily watched Miss Oswald closely as she asked, “Do you wish to go to Bow Street and tell them what you know? Who your friend was, and why he was in London?”

  The young heiress hesitated before replying, “You may think me heartless, Mrs. Adler, and perhaps I am, but no. Without knowing who might have killed him … If I am the only person in London to know who he was, and he came to see me just before he died …”

  “You are afraid they will take you up for his murder, having no one else to suspect.” Lily nodded, inwardly relieved. If the magistrate had been bribed to let the mystery go unsolved, then he would be unlikely to listen to new information. And she had no desire to confront the unfeeling Mr. Page again, not until she knew what part Lord Walter had played in the whole business. “I agree—you cannot go to the authorities without knowing who else was involved, and why.”

  Miss Oswald let out a shaky breath. “It is quite the quandary, Mrs. Adler. If I stay silent, then Augustus’s murderer goes free.” She laughed humorlessly. “And if I speak up, I could hang for it, and his murderer will still go free. So perhaps not such a quandary after all.”