The Body in the Garden

by Katharine Schellman

After making sure the door was properly latched, Lily made her way upstairs, trembling now that all the danger was past. In spite of her bold front, she had been terrified the entire time. But there was one more thing to be done before she could return to bed.

  It took a little bit of searching—and a little reassurance to Anna that she did not need any assistance—but at last Lily found the pistol that the burglar had dropped, kicked partially under her dressing table. She examined it slowly. The quality and workmanship said it had been custom made, clearly too expensive a weapon for a common burglar. And, on the underside of the barrel, she found what she was looking for: carefully inlaid initials that spelled out AGF. Mr. Finch’s missing gun, which his killer had stolen after shooting him with it.

  If the murderer wanted her dead, that meant she was getting close.

  Lily shivered as she climbed into bed, and she lay awake for a long while, turning over possibilities in her mind.

  CHAPTER 20

  That night at the Carroways’ ball, Lily decided there was nothing more ridiculous than trying to maintain a social life while solving a murder.

  She was still irked with Jack for his high-handedness, nervous about being in her own home, and desperately trying to decide how to move forward. She was getting close but still needed proof. But no ideas presented themselves, and Lily was left with the unusual feeling that her mind was failing her, just as a murderer was closing in.

  And yet, there she was, smiling her way down the receiving line. It was absurd, but there was nothing else to do. The Carroways were an old family, and though they were not members of the peerage themselves, they had enough social standing to make them influential. They were also popular, deeply integrated into London society, and, most importantly, Lady Carroway was niece to the Earl of Portland. There had been no good way to refuse their invitation.

  The present baronet, Sir Edward Carroway, was only twenty-four and had succeeded to the title after his father’s death from apoplexy some years before. Though he was of age, Sir Edward was a birthday away from achieving his full majority; as a result, the family was still very much under his mother’s control, which seemed to suit the young baronet just fine.

  The party that evening was for his sister, who would be presented at court within the week. After meeting Miss Carroway—eighteen years old and bubbling with delight—Lily thought it was no wonder that Sir Edward was content to let his mother run the family. Miss Carroway was the first of three sisters, and a young man of four and twenty could hardly be expected to take charge of launching three girls into society, however pretty and pleasant they might be.

  So Lily went to the ball and chatted about London’s fashion and scandals. It made her want to scream, though her face showed nothing but calm. The clock was just chiming eleven—with most of the night still to come—when Lily excused herself from her group, claiming that she was in need of refreshment.

  “Allow me to accompany you, Mrs. Adler, and fetch whatever you might need,” one gentlemen offered.

  “No need.” The voice at Lily’s elbow nearly made her jump. Jack, just arrived, bowed politely. “I shall be happy to escort Mrs. Adler.”

  Lily, who had hoped to make a quick escape to the ladies’ retiring room to steel herself for the hours still left, hid a sigh behind a neutral, social smile. “A gentleman with your grace, Mr. Trawson, should be on the dance floor, not squiring about a dull widow like me.”

  “Never dull, Mrs. Adler.” Mr. Trawson bowed. “I shall hope for your company in a turn about the room at a later hour.”

  She offered him a more genuine smile. “A lovely idea, sir.”

  Jack was offering his arm, and it would certainly cause gossip if she refused to take it. So she did, managing to keep her neutral smile in place as she muttered for his ears alone, “That was rude, sir. Mr. Trawson has been most kind to me.”

  “I am certain he has been,” Jack said dismissively. “I am just as capable of fetching you a glass of wine as he is.”

  “And I am perfectly capable of fetching it for myself, as you well know, so I must assume there is a reason behind your presumption.”

  Jack must have felt something of Lily’s stiffness, because he cast her a puzzled look. “Are you truly upset? I know you hadn’t any wish for Trawson’s escort. No more,” he added with a disarming smile, “than you had for mine.”

  They had stopped by a refreshment table, but neither made a move toward it. Lily’s brows drew together before she remembered where she was. “You should know I don’t care for being ordered about without being given a chance for refusal.”

  “Of course,” he said, surprising her. “That wasn’t well done. I offer my sincere apologies. If I promise never to do it again, will you stop scowling at me?”

  Lily sniffed. “I do not scowl. It gives a lady wrinkles. But I will allow you to fetch me a glass of Madeira and tell me what was so important that you had to drag me away.”

  Jack’s demeanor instantly changed, as if he had forgotten his errand until that moment. His back was stiff as he snagged two glasses of wine for them, and he looked around quickly to make sure there was no one nearby before saying, so quietly it was difficult to hear him, “There is something you need to know.”

  Lily felt suddenly cold, but she let nothing show on her face as she accepted the drink. “Have you discovered how to prove our suspicions? If so, I shall be rather put out. I had hoped to be the one to do so.”

  “This isn’t a matter for joking, Lily.”

  His use of her given name in public, where anyone might overhear and wonder, told her how serious he was, and a shiver of apprehension slid down her spine. “What did you find?”

  He had placed them in one of the alcoves that lined the ballroom, so that they stood some distance from the closest group of people. But Jack still lowered his voice. “You will not like this, but … Miss Oswald …”

  “You saw something?”

  “Yes. She disappears from ballrooms.”

  Lily took a sip of her wine, giving herself time to think before replying. “A lady may leave a ballroom without intending anything nefarious. Perhaps she tore a flounce and had to go mend it.”

  Jack shook his head, his expression stony. “I’ve watched her at two different galas. At each one, just before half eleven, she sneaked away from the main room.”

  Lily turned his story over in her mind. “At half eleven both times?”

  “Yes. And after what happened last night …”

  “Where did she go?”

  “I’ve not followed her that far.”

  Lily’s eyes narrowed as she watched the dancers, Miss Oswald among them. She had been certain for some time that the girl had not told the entire truth about Mr. Finch, and Lily, suspecting what that truth was, had not pressed. But she could think of nothing to account for what Jack had seen. And she remembered, quite suddenly, the evening of the Walters’ party. Miss Oswald had sneaked away from the party twice that night: once to meet with Mr. Finch, and the other when Lily had found the girl alone with Reggie Harper. “What time is it now?”

  “Twenty past eleven.” He frowned. “I know you like her, Mrs. Adler, but you cannot deny that there is something odd going on.”

  “I do not.”

  “What do you think it could be?”

  “I’m not certain.” Lily lifted her chin, looking thoughtful. “But I intend to find out.” Jack looked as though he wanted to say something else, but she turned to watch the dancers and only murmured, “Patience.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw him shake his head but did not ask what the gesture meant. She had a feeling she knew already.

  They were silent for several minutes, then joined the other guests in applauding as the music flourished to an end. Under cover of the noise, Lily looped her arm through Jack’s and said quietly, “Let us stroll about the room and see if she does the same thing tonight.”

  He nodded and began to talk of inconsequential matters, his voice teasing and his cha
rming grin deployed to full effect. Lily laughed at a quip of his, and they made their way across the ballroom, looking interested in nothing more than enjoying themselves.

  Miss Oswald’s partner delivered her back to her aunt, who had made a rare appearance that evening. But Mrs. Haverweight was busy in her own conversation, and as the strains of the next dance started, Miss Oswald quietly slipped away.

  Jack gave Lily a pointed glance; she nodded, and they began to move more quickly, avoiding eye contact with those who might have stopped them. Lily’s grip tightened on Jack’s arm, pulling him behind the bulk of a well-dressed matron as Miss Oswald glanced over her shoulder. A moment later she slipped out of the ballroom.

  Lily would have gone immediately after her, but Jack laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Wait a moment. I think the other side of that door is a hallway. She might look back and see us.”

  Lily nodded, nearly twitching with impatience as Jack finished up a story of a bet among his friends at Oxford. She laughed in all the right places, but her mind was fixed firmly on the doorway just a few steps beyond where they stood. After a minute, Jack nodded. With a quick glance around to make sure they, too, were unobserved, they followed Miss Oswald.

  “Though being seen would not be as disastrous for us as for her,” Jack whispered as they made their way down the dimly lit hallway. The few doors they passed were open and the rooms beyond empty. “Anyone who saw us would only assume we were having a liaison.”

  “I am certain a number of people already think that.” Lily remembered to keep her voice low. “We spend far too much time in each other’s company for London to refrain from gossip.”

  “Then I must be the object of a great deal of jealousy.” He chuckled. “There are many gentlemen hoping to enjoy the charms of the lovely Widow Adler.”

  “You are absurd and more than a little vulgar,” Lily said without rancor. Suddenly she laid a hand on his arm and breathed a quiet, “Look.”

  The doorway up ahead was closed, but a light shone underneath. Jack glanced at her, then silently pointed to himself and jerked his head toward the door, indicating that he would go first. Lily wanted to protest, but last night had made her cautious, so she nodded and stood back.

  Moving with impressive silence, Jack slid toward the door and laid a hand on the knob. He held up one finger. Lily nodded, bracing herself as he held up a second. He lifted the third, then pushed the door open and burst into the room.

  Lily followed immediately after him. She had time to see that the room was a small library, and that the light came from a large and very beautiful stand of candles on a table in the middle of the space, before her eyes fixed on Miss Oswald.

  The young woman was alone in the room. She turned toward them with an expression of terror, taking three quick steps backward before recovering her composure and smiling brightly.

  “Mrs. Adler, Captain Hartley. Were the noise and heat too much for you as well?”

  Lily pursed her lips, but she could not help a small smile of admiration, though she tried to hide it. With a little more practice, the girl could have found herself onstage at Drury Lane. “You look surprised to see us, Miss Oswald. Were you expecting someone else?”

  “Someone else?” Miss Oswald’s eyes followed Jack nervously as he moved to place himself in front of the only other door in the room. She bit her lip, then attempted another smile. “What on earth do you mean?”

  “Miss Oswald, you are too bright to think that will work on us.” Lily swallowed the lump that wanted to rise in her throat. She had trusted the girl. She had considered her a friend. “Who have you been meeting?”

  To her credit, Miss Oswald did not attempt another lie. After another quick, nervous glance at Jack, her eyes returned to Lily. “I cannot tell you. But you must trust me, Mrs. Adler, it truly is nothing you need worry over.”

  “No?” Jack did not snap, and he did not yell, but there was a threatening rumble under his quiet tone. “We trusted you. Mrs. Adler trusted you, and you know that is not something to take for granted. And you have lied to us. Do not deny it.” His voice rose as she tried to interrupt him. “You have lied to Lily, who has been nothing but a friend to you.”

  “For which I have the deepest gratitude,” Miss Oswald said, speaking quickly as soon as she could get a word in. “But you must believe me—”

  “Believe you?” Jack could have been on a ship once more, addressing a mutinous crew, as he took a step toward the girl. “Believe that you have been sneaking around, clandestinely meeting with mysterious men, for perfectly innocent reasons while we are trying to find a murderer? A murderer to whom we know you to have some connection?”

  “Being connected to the man who was murdered is not the same thing as being connected to the murderer himself,” Miss Oswald broke in, eyes blazing with anger. “Or do you forget, Captain, that Augustus was my friend, not yours?” Her hands were clenched into fists as she faced him. “Mrs. Adler knows—”

  “It is Mrs. Adler I am thinking of, and the danger she has been in. I shan’t risk another attempt—” Jack snapped his jaw closed abruptly, scowling.

  But Miss Oswald was, as Lily had already noted, a very bright girl. “An attempt … on Mrs. Adler?” she demanded, looking ill but standing her ground. “Do you mean to say someone tried to harm Mrs. Adler? And you think it might have been me behind it?”

  “Oh, stop it, both of you.” Under less serious circumstances, Lily would have wanted to laugh, watching them confront each other. Jack stared down with all the fury of an officer of His Majesty’s Navy, and Miss Oswald, for all that she was nearly a foot shorter, glared up at him just as belligerently. “Miss Oswald, you cannot pretend that he doesn’t have a right to be suspicious, or that I don’t have reason to watch the movements of those around me. So if you have an explanation, will you kindly offer it now?”

  Miss Oswald struggled with a glare, but after a moment, she sighed, the stiffness going out of her backbone. “Ned,” she called softly. “You had better come out.”

  The door behind Jack opened with a creak of poorly oiled hinges; the navy captain cursed and swung around to face whoever was entering, his posture tense and guarded. But both he and Lily were left staring in surprise as they found themselves facing Sir Edward Carroway.

  “Good evening,” he said. “Mrs. Adler, Captain Hartley. I trust you both are enjoying my mother’s party?” He looked Jack up and down, his red hair and scattering of freckles standing out sharply against a face pale with anger. “I see we shall have to try harder to divert our guests next time, since you were so bored with our entertainments that you found time to accuse my affianced wife of murder and I know not what else.”

  Mind reeling, Lily latched on to the only thing she could. “Affianced?” she asked, and heard Jack’s voice echo the same question.

  Sir Edward had, with another glare for Jack, gone to Miss Oswald’s side and taken her hand, looking her over as if to make sure she was unharmed. At Lily’s question he turned back. “Miss Oswald has done me the great honor of agreeing to be my wife.” His posture was still stiff, but a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. He was obviously a man in love, and that, more than anything else, set Lily’s mind at rest.

  “Ofelia,” she said reproachfully, using the girl’s given name without thinking. “Why did you not tell me?”

  “Oh, I wanted to, Mrs. Adler, believe me. But we promised each other we wouldn’t say anything to anyone, and we truly could not. Not yet.”

  “A secret engagement?” Jack fixed Sir Edward with a stern glare. “That’s hardly a decent way of doing things, man.”

  Sir Edward’s dignity wavered a little at the rebuke, but he held his ground. “I can assure you, sir, it would not have been my choice had there been any other option. And I intend to rectify the situation and make our understanding public as soon as I am able.”

  “Your family?” Lily asked.

  Sir Edward’s nod was accompanied by a deep sigh, and he ran a
hand through his unruly red hair, a gesture that made him look very boyish. “I come into my majority when I turn five and twenty. Until then, my mother and uncle hold the purse strings.”

  “And while marrying an heiress is all well and good, marrying one of questionable background—from foreign parts, no less—is not the done thing. It is all right, Neddy,” Ofelia added as he cast a very pained look at her. “You know I do not blame you.”

  “Well, once you are Lady Carroway, they shall have to accept you and treat you with all the respect you deserve,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her hand.

  The gesture made Lily’s eyes prickle; to shake the feeling off, she said briskly, “So it is Sir Edward that you have been meeting so secretly in the parks and ballrooms of London?” Ofelia looked embarrassed. “And I take it you have told him what we are about?”

  Ofelia nodded. “Please don’t be angry, Mrs. Adler. I could hardly keep something so important from him.”

  “Fellow can’t much like his intended getting mixed up in murder.” Sir Edward smiled down at Ofelia. “Wanted to object when she first told me about the whole business, but of course it was her father’s godson. Couldn’t help but admire her for wanting to help. Anyone might put themselves in danger for someone they love, but it’s dashed brave of her to do it just because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Ofelia cleared her throat awkwardly. “Well, there are other things to discuss at the moment than your high opinion of me, Neddy. Such as,” she said with sudden vigor, turning to Lily, “this business of an attempt to harm you, Mrs. Adler. What happened? Why did you not tell me?”

  “There’s not been time,” Lily said, trying to dismiss the topic. Remembering the sight of that figure standing over her bed, gun drawn, made her hands shake. “Truly, it was not nearly so grave as Captain Hartley would like to make out.”

  “It was every bit as grave as Captain Hartley would like to make out,” Jack said, raising an eyebrow. “Mrs. Adler simply does not wish to talk about it. An armed man broke into her home with the clear intent of shooting her in her bed.”