The Body in the Garden

by Katharine Schellman

“And Augustus shall have justice.” Ofelia stood very quickly, turning away from them and swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I owe him that. He was such a fool, but he meant no real harm. And he …” She sniffed, fishing for her handkerchief. “He would be alive were it not for me.”

  Lily couldn’t think of anything to say. She hadn’t realized that Ofelia blamed herself for Mr. Finch’s death.

  To her surprise, it was Jack who stepped in, taking the girl’s hands. “You mustn’t think that way, Miss Oswald. You made it quite plain that you were uninterested in his proposals. If he chose to follow you, to engage in some ill-gotten scheme to win your affection and your father’s consent, that was his own choice.” He lifted her chin with one finger. “His choice, Miss Oswald. Not yours. You are not to blame for this.”

  “And no matter what choices he made, his murderer should be brought to justice,” Lily added. “So that is what we are going to do. For his sake and for yours, Ofelia.”

  Giving her eyes a final wipe, Ofelia nodded, her jaw firming. “Yes. We will.”

  Seeing that she was calmer, Jack stepped back, and Ofelia bent to gather up the papers and replaced them in the ledger. “To do that, we must decide what to do next,” he said, gesturing at the ledger. “What do you propose, Mrs. Adler?”

  They all stared at it for several moments, no one speaking. Part of Lily wanted to grab the book and run to the magistrate’s office, brandishing it triumphantly. Part of her—the part that remembered the muzzle of a gun pointing at her bed—wanted to throw it in the Thames and be done with the whole business. But the practical part of her mind knew exactly what to do next.

  “It cannot go to the offices on Great Marlborough Street,” Lily said firmly. “Mr. Neve is the magistrate there, and he was the one who accepted Lord Walter’s bribe. Even with new evidence, he might refuse to take up the investigation again.”

  “Bow Street, then.” Jack nodded.

  “We should take it to them immediately,” Ofelia insisted.

  Lily glanced at the clock and shook her head. “It’s too late. Something of this import must be handed directly to a magistrate, not whichever fellow has been so unfortunate as to pull the late shift.”

  “In the morning, then?” Ofelia clutched the ledger to her chest, eyes wide and pleading.

  “In the morning,” Lily repeated, looking at Jack for confirmation.

  The navy captain nodded, holding out his hands. “I shan’t leave until I put it in the hands of a magistrate myself.”

  Ofelia swallowed as she handed over the ledger, then turned away, wiping at her eyes once more. Lily laid a hand on her shoulder. “It is hard to be so close, I know. But for now, we must let it be. And as that is the case, I think you should stay for tea.”

  They both stayed, Ofelia because she was not yet composed enough to go home and face her aunt, Jack because all he had to look forward to at home was the meager offering of a bachelor’s kitchen. Lily had been amused to discover what a draw a hot meal was for an unmarried gentleman. It explained why they were such reliable attendees at society dinners.

  Lily did her best to distract her two friends. They retreated to the book-room where, over cold meats and scones and a selection of fruits, they discussed society scandals, the latest exploits of the Dukes of Clarence and York, the possibility of travel to the continent—anything except the nearly solved case that had them all so on edge. It seemed to work. Ofelia laughed in shock at the princes’ behavior, and Jack had several tantalizing bits of gossip to share that he had picked up over the last week. At one point, Lily fetched an atlas and began outlining the trip she and Freddy had planned to take, south through France and into the Iberian Peninsula, as soon as the war was done.

  “You should still do it, Mrs. Adler,” Ofelia insisted. “The war cannot last much longer.”

  “By myself?” Lily laughed. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, but I have never traveled farther from London than Bath. I don’t think I could manage to navigate through the Continent on my own.”

  “Of course you could.” Jack smiled. “If anyone gave you trouble, you’d simply turn that icy glare on them. You would leave a trail of terrified devotees in your wake.”

  “You make me sound dreadful,” Lily protested. “I hope I am not terrifying!”

  “Only when it does the most good,” Jack said comfortably, and even Lily laughed at that.

  Eventually, Ofelia stood. “I must go.” A flush crept up her neck and ears. “A friend of my aunt’s has offered us her box at the theater, and I shouldn’t wish to be late.”

  Lily raised a brow. “Is Sir Edward attending the theater this evening?”

  Ofelia ducked her head. “His family also has a box. And it is so easy to mingle during the promenade hour.”

  Jack laughed. “How much longer until he’s his own man?”

  “Two more months.” Ofelia sighed. “It’s very nearly unbearable.”

  “I’m sure you will manage,” Lily said, squeezing her friend’s hands as she led the younger woman to the door. She refrained from adding that at nineteen, any sort of wait for what you wanted was unbearable. She remembered far too clearly what it had been like to be forced to wait for Freddy. “Enjoy the performance this evening. Shall you see As You Like It? I hear Miss Foote is splendid …”

  Once Ofelia was gone, Lily returned to the book-room, settling into her chair with her feet drawn up and casting a malevolent look at the ledger Jack had begun paging through once more. The expression made him laugh.

  “Cheer up, Mrs. Adler; all that remains is details. The rest is solved. Between us, we must have some of the best brains in London.”

  “Do you mean the two of us, or are you including Miss Oswald?”

  “Including her,” Jack admitted, one side of his mouth kicking up in a grin. “I can admit when I’m wrong, you know, and there’s more to her than I originally thought. Give her a few more years in the world, and she may might end up as clever as you are.”

  “Flatterer,” Lily accused, but she smiled as she said it.

  “That I am,” he agreed cheerfully. “You would be amazed how far it gets you in life.” He set the ledger aside, and without meaning to, they both settled back into their chairs, sighing in a nearly identical manner, which made Lily laugh and Jack grin wryly. “It seems we have been spending too much time in one another’s company,” he said.

  Lily shook her head. “No such thing.” Impulsively, she sat forward and reached out to take his hand. “Truly, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “On this case?” He raised an eyebrow. “I believe we covered that already.”

  “No, not on the case. In London. I felt so lost when I first came here, Jack. But you have been a good friend to me.”

  “Well, oddly enough, I discovered that I liked you.” He grinned again. “Not that I should have expected anything else from someone Freddy fell in love with. I think you may be the most interesting woman in London.”

  “As long as there is a murder to solve,” Lily said, but the mention of Freddy had made her catch her breath, though she did not pull her hand away.

  Jack was watching her closely, and he saw. “You still miss him.”

  “Every day,” Lily agreed. “Though it has been a little better, being so busy these last few weeks. Solving a murder is very distracting.”

  That made Jack chuckle. “And what will you do now?” he asked, absently running a finger along the back of the hand he still held.

  A few weeks ago, such a gesture would have made her pull away, wrapping her grief around herself like an icy barrier. Now, comfortable in his presence and their unexpected friendship, Lily barely noticed. She shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I know I shall stay in London.” Her look grew distant. “I have no desire to return to my father’s home, and though Freddy’s mother is all kindness …” She met Jack’s eyes again. “I prefer being the mistress of my own home and my own affairs.”

  “You
could always look for another murder to solve.”

  “Oh, don’t tease.” Lily pulled away, crossing her arms and scowling at him.

  Jack smiled. “I wasn’t.” He stood. “I should be going, I think. Lady Bolton’s card party is this evening, and she asked me to come balance the supper table.”

  “The benefits of being a bachelor with a well-turned leg and good conversation.” Lily rose with him. “Rarely must you make shift to find your own meals.”

  “You forgot to mention my very dashing smile.” Jack flashed that particular feature in her direction as they moved into the hall to collect his hat and gloves.

  Lily laughed. “You are shameless, sir,” she said as she held out the ledger.

  “And you are a jewel among women, Mrs. Adler.” He bowed as he took it. “I shall deliver this to Bow Street tomorrow.”

  “Jack.” Lily’s voice stopped him as he reached the door, and he turned back, waiting patiently. She hesitated, then met his eyes and asked, “Do you really think I could?”

  He didn’t need to ask what she meant. “I think you could do anything you wish, Lily. Anything at all.” He settled his hat, offered a friendly salute, and sauntered down the steps, whistling.

  CHAPTER 23

  The next day, Lily hurried along Bond Street, unable to keep an expression of relief from her face. She moved so briskly that Anna, laden with parcels, had a hard time keeping up with her, and finally had to beg her mistress to slow down. “Whatever made you order so many hats, Mrs. Adler?” she asked as she rearranged her burdens.

  Lily shook her head. “They are Lady Walter’s. I offered yesterday to fetch them from the milliner for her, since she was going to be busy this morning.”

  “She couldn’t ask her own dresser to fetch them?” Anna asked, a little crossly, for which Lily couldn’t blame her.

  “She just hired a new girl and did not trust her to look them over.” The hats were now an excuse to see Serena and mend things after their fight, but she didn’t tell Anna that. Lily eyed her maid, feeling guilty. “Would you like me to take one of them for you?”

  “How positively democratic of you, Mrs. Adler.”

  The cold voice made both women look up sharply, and Lily took a step back before she could help herself. Standing in front of her, blocking her way forward, stood Mr. Lacey. He smiled, his expression as frosty as his voice. “A pleasure to see you again, ma’am. Do you remember me this time?”

  He took a step closer, and Lily had to steel herself against retreating from him. They had left the shops and crowds behind to cut through the narrow passage that connected Bond and Bourdon Streets, but the area was hardly deserted. Surely she had no reason to fear him in the middle of Mayfair?

  “Mr. Lacey.” Lily smiled blandly. It was the smile that had become her best defense against curious gentlemen, and she wielded it with cold precision. “If you will excuse me, I must be going …”

  She swallowed when he took another step closer. “I think, Mrs. Adler, that you’ve known who I am for some time now.” He stepped closer again, clearly expecting his physical proximity to intimidate her. “As I know a few things about you, ma’am. That you are known to be friendly with a certain captain of the navy. And an heiress from the West Indies.” Lily swallowed again, but her chin rose another defiant notch as he continued. “I’m not a stupid man, Mrs. Adler, but you may be a very foolish woman. You took things that are important to me. I want them back.”

  “You are mistaken, sir,” Lily said, attempting to sound bored. She did not want him to know how much he scared her. “And you are in my way. Kindly step aside.”

  For a moment he looked so angry that she thought he might strike her, but immediately his smooth expression was back. Smiling mockingly, he swept her a bow and stood aside. “Just remember, you aren’t a difficult woman to find.”

  Lily had stepped past him, but at his last words her temper rose. Before she had been scared. Now, his arrogant certainty that she would be too afraid to do anything but give him what he wanted only made her angry. So she did the last thing he would expect: she laughed. “Oh, Mr. Lacey, you are terribly amusing.”

  His stunned expression was exactly what she had hoped for. Looking away as if he were no longer of any interest to her, she beckoned to her maid. “Come along, Anna. The viscountess will be wondering where we are.” Lily glanced back at Mr. Lacey, still glaring impotently at her, and smiled. “Do have a good day, sir.”

  She waited until she was on Bourdon Street proper and out of his sight before collapsing onto a bench, shaking all over. Anna, the awkwardness of her parcels forgotten, bent over her mistress. “Are you well, ma’am? Who was that dreadful man?”

  Before Lily could answer, a small figure wiggled in between them and a rough voice demanded, “Miss is all right, ain’t she?” Lily found herself confronted by a pair of bright eyes in a dirty face as a gangly boy peered up at her. “Old Lacey didn’t do you no harm?”

  “Get out of here, you urchin!” Anna ordered, about to give him a smack, but Lily held out a hand to stop her.

  “Are you Jem?”

  The boy nodded. “Cap’n said as I was to keep an eye on you.”

  “I hope you did not let Mr. Lacey see you, then,” Lily said, looking him over. With his skinny frame and wrists jutting from his sleeves, he looked very young, and she did not like the idea of Jack involving him in such a dangerous task.

  Jem grinned as Anna looked back and forth between them in confusion. “Not me, miss. Lacey don’t look ’round when he walks. I been in more danger just walkin’ from home t’ work of a morning. He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “No, I am well. You get along now, and keep your head down while you keep your eyes open.” Lily held out a penny, keeping it just out of the boy’s reach as she ordered, “And remember you report anything that happens at my home to me, not the captain. Understand?”

  “Yes’m.” Jem scampered off as soon as he had the coin in hand. He disappeared from sight quickly enough, but Lily had no doubt he was still close by, keeping watch. She shook her head, impressed, and hoped Jack was paying the boy well for his help.

  “Mrs. Adler, what is going on?” Anna asked, bewildered. “Why was that urchin following us?” Her voice grew indignant. “And what did that dreadful man mean by saying you stole something? How dare he accuse you of such a thing!”

  “Well, he’d every right, considering that I had indeed. But I did not think he would know about it.” Lily frowned, wondering how Mr. Lacey had known about the ledger if the general was keeping it secret. “This would be much easier if criminals were stupid.”

  Anna’s eyes grew round. “Mrs. Adler, what are you mixed up in?”

  “It doesn’t signify, as it will be in the hands of Bow Street soon,” Lily said, rising and brushing aside Anna’s questions. Once the ledger was with a magistrate, it would not matter how Lacey had found out about it, after all. “Find us a hack, Anna. We need to get these things to Lady Walter, and I find I am no longer in the mood to walk.”

  * * *

  It took less than half an hour for Lily’s plans to fall apart.

  When she asked to see Serena, the butler looked as uncomfortable as Lily had ever seen a butler look. “Will you be so good as to wait in the parlor while I see if Lady Walter is at home to visitors today?” he asked as Serena’s dresser took the hatboxes from Anna and disappeared upstairs with them.

  Lily nodded absently, her mind preoccupied, while Anna curtsied and left to visit with the other servants belowstairs. She and Serena had never before refused to be “at home” to each other, so she fully expected that Reston would return in a moment to show her to the viscountess’s private parlor upstairs. After her confrontation with Mr. Lacey, her best friend’s comforting, comfortable presence was exactly what she needed while she waited for news from Jack and Bow Street.

  She was caught completely off guard when Reston returned, shaking his head. “I’m afraid Lady Walter is not at home toda
y.”

  For a moment, Lily could not think of a correct reply. She and Serena frequently argued; there was no reason this time should have been any different. But apparently it was, and her friend did not want to see her.

  “Shall I have your maid called back from the kitchen?” Reston asked.

  Nodding to the butler, now feeling sick to her stomach for two reasons, Lily returned to the hall to wait for Anna.

  When the maid reappeared, she was accompanied by her cousin, the footman Jeremy. Their heads were very close together, and as they drew closer, Jeremy’s voice rose as he exclaimed, “Shot in his own study!”

  A cold prickling made its way down Lily’s spine. “Who has been shot, Jeremy?”

  Both servants jumped guiltily. “Begging your pardon, Mrs. Adler.” Anna glared at her cousin. “We wasn’t gossiping, I promise. Jeremy was sharing some news, is all.”

  “What is the news?”

  “I’ve just come from the market, ma’am.” Jeremy glanced down the hall to where Reston was visible in the drawing room and lowered his voice. “Greatest shock the news was, Mrs. Adler; you don’t expect to hear the like in Mayfair—”

  “Jeremy, stop your babbling and get on with it,” Anna snapped. She glanced sideways at her employer. “Begging your pardon, Mrs. Adler.”

  Lily nodded. There was no reason to think his news had anything to do with her, and yet … “I need you to tell me who was shot.”

  “It’s a general, Mrs. Adler. General Alfred Harper.” Jeremy took a deep breath. “His niece found him in his study this morning, shot in the chest. He’s been murdered.”

  Lily had always prided herself on the strength of her constitution. She rarely fell ill and certainly never fainted. So when her vision began to blur, she had no idea what was happening. Dizzy, she clutched at Anna’s arm for support. “I believe I need to sit down.”

  * * *

  Jeremy helped her to a chair before he dashed off, calling for help. As soon as they were alone, Lily grabbed Anna and ordered her to find Jem, who she knew would still be lurking outside. “Tell the boy to find Captain Hartley and say, ‘The general is dead; we need to know what happened; do not go to Bow Street.’” Anna looked confused, but she repeated the message dutifully and slipped outside.