Butterfly Palace

by Coble, Colleen

  Nathan hesitated. “There’s a man who sells valuable insects to collectors. He might know if the Karrs were looking for this specific butterfly.”

  “Do you know how we could contact him?” Drew asked.

  Nathan looked down at the floor. “I’ll do it in the morning.” He headed for the bedroom door.

  Drew moved closer, and Lily wanted to sink against his warmth and comfort. “How could this happen, Drew? I know she’s innocent.”

  He draped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I love how you care about injustice in the world. Life seems unfair, but you never stop trying.”

  “For all the good I manage to do.” She stayed in the circle of his arms until he touched her chin and tipped her mouth up to meet his. While his kiss didn’t make the injustice go away, it gave her strength to deal with it. “I want to come with you tomorrow.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  “I have to see her and make sure she’s all right.”

  He hugged her. “I love your heart. But if it’s too bad, I want you to wait in the automobile.”

  She bit her lip and nodded. Nothing would keep her from seeing Jane.

  Belle smiled at Stuart over the rim of her glass. “I’ll be so glad when this election is over. It’s actually a little scary.”

  He tugged on the neck of his shirt. His face was scarlet above his tie. “Scary, my dear? Hardly. It’s quite exhilarating. And don’t be fearful. Your uncle is sure to win.”

  “It’s not the winning I fear.” She eyed him, unsure if she should continue. What if this was the wrong way to approach it? But they had to flush him out. Her uncle’s life was at stake.

  “Then what?” He motioned to Lily for more wine, and she hurried to refill his cup.

  Good. Perhaps he would be too inebriated to think through her questions. She leaned closer to whisper in his ear. He smelled sweaty, but she managed not to recoil. “I’ve heard a rumor, Stuart. It’s quite terrifying. Have you heard anything about a plot to assassinate my uncle after he’s elected?”

  He gasped and began to cough. She slapped him on the back. “Are you all right?” The rest of the guests were staring, and she smiled. “He swallowed his wine the wrong way.”

  He wheezed, then his breathing eased into a more normal pattern. “I’m fine, fine.” But his eyes were cold and wary as he stared at Belle. “Where did you hear such nonsense? Did you hear who might be involved in this so-called plot?”

  She shook her head. “I have no idea. I overheard a snippet of conversation.”

  “Between whom?” He took a cautious sip of water.

  Reckless bravery. That’s what was required here. “Between Mr. Hawkes and another man. I don’t know who he was.”

  Stuart went white, then red. He cast a venomous glare across the table at Hawkes. Had she gone too far? If he was too angry with Hawkes, might he try to harm him? But she’d thought if he suspected Hawkes wasn’t on his side, he might let something slip.

  He rose and tossed his napkin to the chair. “I’m afraid I’m not feeling well, Belle. I am going to take my leave now, and we’ll talk more tomorrow. Put this ridiculous nonsense out of your mind though. Your uncle is perfectly safe.” He made his excuses to her uncle, then headed for the door.

  She bent to whisper in her aunt’s ear. “I’m not feeling well myself, Aunt Camille. I’m going to go on to bed. Please make my excuses with your guests later.”

  “I’ll send Lily to tend you.”

  “Thank you.” Belle hurried from the dining room and turned to see Lily on her heels.

  “Quick! I have a buggy waiting out the side door.” Lily rushed down the hall and wrenched open the door that opened onto the side street. Moonlight peeked from behind the clouds scudding across the dark sky. “There he goes.” She pointed as a carriage emblazoned with an eagle rattled by.

  Lily helped her into a buggy hitched to a black horse. “We have to catch him.” She hoisted her skirt and clambered onto the seat of the open buggy.

  Belle climbed onto the seat. “You should have had Henry here. We’ll never catch him.”

  “Watch me.” Lily seized the reins and urged the horse into a canter.

  The buggy sped down the street in the direction where they’d last seen Stuart. Belle was impressed at how Lily handled the horse. “Were you close enough to see Stuart’s reaction?”

  Lily shook her head. “I saw his face go red though, and then he left. He was upset you’d heard the rumor?” She slapped the reins on the horse’s rump.

  “It was more than that. I told him I overheard Mr. Hawkes telling someone else about the plot.”

  Lily gasped and glanced at her before turning her attention back to the horse. “Miss Belle, you didn’t! He might harm Drew. Oh, this is terrible.”

  “I think it might flush him out. We’ll warn Mr. Hawkes to be on his guard. I’m sure he would be quite willing to be bait.”

  “You should have discussed it with him first.” Lily urged the horse around a corner. “There, is that Vesters ahead?”

  Belle squinted. “I think so. That looks like his coat of arms on the back. But he’s not going in the direction of the house. See, he’s turning off.”

  “I suspect he’s going to see his associate. Maybe to discuss getting rid of Drew.” Lily’s voice was tight. “We must find out what they are doing and warn Drew.”

  “Drew will be fine. We must save my uncle.”

  THIRTY-ONE

  Belle’s mysterious disappearance hadn’t escaped Drew. When Vesters rushed off, Drew had stepped into the hallway and had seen the two women hurry out the side door. He caught Emily in the hall and asked her to make his excuses to Mrs. Marshall, then he followed Lily and Belle into the fragrant night air.

  The buggy was already far in the distance by the time he stood along the side of the road. How could he follow them? He spied a bicycle leaning against a bush, probably left by one of the servants, so he grabbed it and pedaled after the buggy as fast as he could. The muscles in his thighs burned as he kept the wheels spinning faster and faster. He would not be able to catch them, but he hoped to at least keep them in sight.

  What were they thinking to rush off into the night after Vesters? What had he said to trigger such reckless behavior? Drew worried the questions around in his head but didn’t come up with a suitable answer. The buggy veered to the left ahead of him, and he frowned. They weren’t going to Vesters’s house as he’d expected. The buggy turned again, down an unfamiliar side road. It seemed to be slowing, then the vehicle pulled to the right and stopped. There must be a house there.

  His thighs were on fire from the exertion, but he forced himself to go faster until the buggy was close enough for him to see the two women clamber down. He pulled off the road and dismounted behind the buggy. The women stood talking softly when he stepped around the end of the buggy.

  “What are you two doing? Trying to get killed?” It was too dark to see their expressions well, but he saw Lily turn toward him.

  “Drew, what are you doing here?”

  “I just asked you the same thing. It’s not safe out here by yourselves.” He reached them and took her by the arm. “What’s going on?” The fragrance of honeysuckle in her hair made him want to hold her and make sure she was all right. “You scared me out of a year of life.”

  “Belle tried to flush out Mr. Vesters tonight at dinner. I think it worked.”

  “Flush him out.” He listened to Lily’s explanation of the dinner conversation. “That was pretty brilliant, Belle. Now he’s going to come after me, and I’ll be able to figure out who he’s working with.”

  “That was the plan.” Belle’s voice held a lilt. “You’re not frightened?”

  “I can handle myself. Where is he?”

  Lily pointed down the street. “He parked his buggy, then walked on down the street. Mr. Ballard lives on this street, Drew. We couldn’t tell which house Vesters went into though. The moon went behind the clouds when he
got out of his buggy. I know it’s not the first or second house, but we couldn’t see beyond that. Lights are on in all the houses, so we can peer in the windows until we find him.”

  He released her arm. “You go back home. I’m going to find out.”

  “If you think we came all this way to miss the excitement, you are wrong, Mr. Hawkes.” Belle started down the street with determined steps. “Come along, Lily.”

  He sighed, recognizing when he was whipped. “Stay close to me, Lily. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Her fingers crept into his. “I’m more fearful for you. What if he ambushes you?”

  “This is what I do. I’ll be fine.” He quickened his steps and fell in beside Belle.

  The lights in the second house went out as they approached the sidewalk. He strode along the iron fence to the third house in the row. All the houses here were well kept and rather grand. Not as fancy as the Butterfly Palace, but beautiful all the same. The third house was a Georgian with manicured shrubs and a large rose garden. Lights shone from what appeared to be a parlor.

  “Stay here.” He opened the gate and slipped into the yard, then approached the window. A man and woman sat sipping tea on the sofa. No sign of Vesters. He retreated to where the women waited. “He’s not there.”

  “Th-The next house belongs to Mr. Ballard.” Lily’s voice was tight. “Let me check it.”

  He shot her a glance. “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  She quickened her steps to the gate. Without answering him, she opened the gate and sidled through the yard. He pressed his lips together and followed her. She hurried to the large window where light spilled into the yard.

  Vesters, the movements of his arms punctuating whatever he was saying, stood talking to a man with his back to Drew. Then he turned. “That’s Ballard’s son, Norris.” This had to convince her Ballard was as black as the night sky. Vesters was in the Ballard house.

  “Someone’s coming!” Belle’s hushed voice came out of the darkness. “Hide.”

  He glanced around to see her dive into the bushes. He dragged Lily into the shadows, and they crouched behind a yew shaped like a sheep. The front door opened, and a woman stepped into view.

  “It’s Mrs. Ballard,” Lily said in his ear.

  “Is someone out here?” the woman called.

  Norris joined her in the doorway. “What’s going on, Grandmother?”

  “I thought I heard a voice.”

  “No one’s there. It was probably a passerby.” He pulled her back inside and the door shut.

  Lily exhaled. “Could Norris be involved in this?”

  Drew pressed his lips together. “I’m going to find out.”

  Belle found her uncle perusing the paper over his eggs and toast. “Good morning, Uncle Everett. Is that a new morning coat? You look very dashing. I like the gray stripe.”

  “It is.” He folded the paper and laid it aside. “What happened to you last night? Half the dinner party disappeared. Surely it wasn’t the food.”

  “Stuart and I had a—a little spat.”

  He frowned. “It’s all resolved now?”

  She seated herself beside him and rang for her breakfast. “Oh yes. He’s taking me for a ride in the park this afternoon. You know how these things can blow up out of nothing.”

  His expression cleared. “Very good. I want you settled, my dear. Have you set a date yet?”

  “Not yet. I’m thinking next fall though.” For the first time, her lies bothered her. Her uncle loved her, and it was painful to deceive him. She wanted to tell him about the assassination plot, but Lily had convinced her to hold her tongue for one more day to try to discover the co-conspirators.

  Lily brought in a tray of coddled eggs, toast, and jam. She poured the tea and set the food in front of Belle, then backed off and stood at a discreet distance.

  Uncle Everett picked up his knife and spread jam on his toast. “That’s a bit far off, don’t you think?”

  “Not at all. It will take time to have the wedding dress made as well as all the clothing for the honeymoon. We’re going to Europe.”

  His smile was soft and reminiscent. “Camille and I went to the south of Spain for our honeymoon. It was quite lovely.”

  “I think we’ll make a visit there as well.” She studied his face. “There’s something I’d like you to do for me in lieu of a wedding gift, Uncle.”

  His expression went wary. “This sounds serious.”

  “I don’t want little Hannah to grow up without her mama. Would you visit the police station and see if you can get Jane released?”

  He slammed his fist down on the table. “Absolutely not, Belle. Have you forgotten my butterfly is still missing? I believe she is in this nasty mess clear up to her neck. That child is better off without a mother like that.”

  She put her hand over his. “Please, Uncle Everett. I don’t believe Jane had anything to do with the theft of your butterfly. She thought the woman only wanted to look at it. I believe her story.”

  He glared at Lily, who was standing by the wall. “Come here, Lily. Come on, I won’t bite.”

  Her head high, Lily approached the table. “Would you like more toast, sir?”

  “I want to know why you would recommend someone like that into our employ. You knew she’d had a baby out of wedlock, correct?”

  Lily nodded. “There were unusual circumstances though, sir. Jane was not at fault.” Spots of color stained her cheeks, and she looked at the carpet. “She was—forced into the situation.”

  His mouth dangled open several seconds before he shut it with a snap. “I find myself quite disbelieving of such a story. It makes a convenient excuse.”

  Lily bit her lip but held his gaze. “It’s no excuse, sir. Jane is an honorable woman. All she wants is to be left in peace to work and raise her daughter. She asks for nothing beyond that.”

  Belle put her hand on her uncle’s arm. “Please, Uncle Everett. See what you can do to get her out. Hannah has been quite fretful, and I know she misses her mother.”

  “What are you going to do with that child? I suspect Miss White will either hang or go to prison for the rest of her life.”

  “Not if you can intervene. Otherwise, I’ll raise her myself.”

  He scowled. “That’s not a good idea. What do you know of raising children, especially the child of a murderer?”

  “The baby had nothing to do with that woman’s death!” Belle took a sip of her tea. “You’re being very obstinate. You could help, but you refuse to because of a silly butterfly.”

  “That butterfly is worth a great deal of money.” He rose and threw his napkin to the table. “I’m not going to discuss it anymore. And you need to make alternate arrangements for the child. She isn’t going to stay here for long.”

  “The phone has already been ringing with people congratulating you on your largesse,” Belle said. “Caring for Hannah will win you votes. Interceding for her mother would win you even more votes as it will show your strong support of women.”

  “I doubt that. Men will say I’m too soft to send a woman to the gallows. I have no choice in this, Belle. You don’t understand politics.”

  She rose and faced him. “I understand it perfectly well. You are hardhearted and cruel.” She burst into tears and rushed from the room.

  Lily followed Belle to her bedroom, where she found her staring out the window with Hannah in her arms. “I want to go see Jane. If your uncle won’t help, maybe the police would listen to you. Drew is bringing the car around at nine.”

  “We can try, but I’m not hopeful.” Belle kissed the top of the baby’s head. “Let’s go now before I lose my courage. We’ll take Hannah. Maybe that will sway the police.”

  They rode in silence with Drew and Nathan to the jail. After nearly half an hour of arguing, Lily and Nathan were finally let in to see Jane, but they refused to let them take the baby, so Belle stayed behind with Hannah. When they stepped into the cell block, Lily saw her
sitting on a cot with her head down, the picture of despondency.

  She rushed toward her. “Jane!”

  Jane looked up and joy lit her features. She leaped to her feet and rushed to the bars. “You came to get me out? Where’s Hannah?” She was dressed in a shapeless gray gown the police had given her, and her hair hung out of its bun onto her shoulders. Though disheveled, she looked beautiful and vulnerable. Lily ached to make it right, to get her out of there. The injustice of it all nearly did her in.

  “Stand back,” the gruff officer ordered. “Or I’ll escort your visitors out of here.”

  “Visitors? Then I haven’t been released?” Jane began to cry, no sound but with large tears coursing down her cheeks. She backed away from the bars. “Where’s Hannah? How is my baby? She needs to be fed.”

  “She’s fine. Miss Belle has her in the other room. She’s demanded to see the officer in charge and is trying to insist Hannah be allowed to see you.” The officer retreated a few feet, and Lily stepped as near to the bars as she could. “We fetched goat’s milk from the neighbors. You should have seen the faces she made at the bottle’s nipple, but she drank it. Miss Belle has taken a great interest in her and even had her own crib brought down from the attic and set up for Hannah.”

  Jane sniffled. “Hannah’s in the big house?”

  Lily nodded, forcing herself to smile. “And Miss Belle bought her some new gowns and nappies. Hannah is being very well taken care of. And luckily she’s used to so many of us. She’s doing fine, Jane, really. We’ll get you out of here soon, but in the meantime, I wanted you to know you needn’t worry about Hannah. We’re all looking out for her.”

  Nathan tried to smile but the effort was more like a grimace. “They feeding you okay in here, Janey?”

  “I—I couldn’t eat. I’m sure it was fine though.” She stared at her brother. “They said I murdered her, Nathan. If I wanted to kill Mrs. Karr, I would have had plenty of opportunities. Lord knows I had reason, but I wouldn’t do anything like that.”