Death By Design

by Abigail Keam

  Usually I was lucky to remember to brush my hair before I left the Butterfly, though I did make an effort to look well-groomed for Teddy, but there was only so much I could do. Let’s face it. I definitely had peaked some years back.

  So again, I ask you. What was Teddy McPherson doing with me?

  And it worried me.

  We had been invited to Lady Elsmere’s house for tea at four.

  Usually I just barge through the kitchen door, but on this occasion we knocked formally on the front door. I could see Teddy was impressed with the enormous portico that graced the front of the Big House.

  “My late husband restored this treasure after Lady Elsmere came back to America and bought the farm,” I told him.

  “He did a wonderful job,” agreed Teddy. “As Queen Elizabeth I said when she learned her sister, Queen Mary had died, ‘It is marvelous in our eyes.’”

  “Yes. ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’ She was quoting from the Bible.”

  “Was she?” replied Teddy, swiveling toward the door as it opened. “That’s the only thing I remember from school besides the fabulous jewels she wore in her official portraits. Such clarity of color. Such brilliance.”

  “Hello, Charles,” I said. “We’ve come to tea.”

  Charles, dressed in his formal attire, took our wraps and gloves.

  While I was handing Charles my coat, I couldn’t help but think that Teddy’s remarks were odd, but I pushed them from my mind, as I usually do when things don’t fit, and let Charles escort us to the library.

  Lady Elsmere was waiting, dressed in a dark green taffeta and silk dress accentuated by her splendid emerald and diamond earrings and necklace, looking very regal.

  “My dear lady. Thank you for inviting us for tea and sharing your magnificent home,” remarked Teddy, bending over to kiss June’s hand.

  I thought Teddy was a little over the top, but June was eating up his words and demeanor like candy.

  As Teddy sat next to June on the couch, I plopped in a chair by the fire. That way I could get a good view of them complimenting each other. I thought I was going to lapse into a diabetic coma from the syrupy words spilling from their mouths, but I resigned myself to the lovefest. Teddy adored beautiful things, and my friend June, Lady Elsmere, owned a multitude of beautiful things. They had a great deal in common.

  “Josiah tells me you were born in London?” asked June, trying to lift the teapot.

  “Here, let me help you. That looks too heavy,” offered Teddy, grabbing the sterling silver teapot. “Milk? Sugar?” he asked while pouring.

  Liam entered with several trays of finger sandwiches and tiny cakes.

  “I’ll have mine plain, please,” I remarked, catching Liam’s eye and giving an almost imperceptible nod.

  He set the trays down and left. Neither he nor June acknowledged one another. I guess Liam was still in the doghouse.

  Speaking of dogs, I heard Ginger barking upstairs. She must know tea was being served, and wanted Matt to attend. Whenever Matt was present for tea, Ginger would beg a treat or two from him.

  “You said you were born in London,” repeated June, “but your name is Scottish.”

  “Right you are, My Lady,” concurred Teddy. “My mother was English, and my father was Scottish. He was in the Navy, and was on leave when he met my mother. They quickly fell in love and thus–here I am.”

  June clapped her hands in merriment. “A delightful anecdote. How did you reach our fair shores, Mr. McPherson?”

  “Teddy, please. May I be so bold as to call you June?”

  “I’d be crushed if you didn’t.”

  “My job is simple, Lady Elsmere . . . I mean June. I’m in the business of procuring things, usually items of great beauty and worth.”

  “What does that mean exactly, Teddy?” asked June.

  “I arrange things. People come to me with a request, and I try to fulfill the demand.”

  I took a sip of my tea and then inquired, “Such as arranging the couture exhibit?”

  Teddy looked at me with a ghost of a smile. “Exactly.”

  “And who is the benefactor of this exhibit?” asked June, looking innocent.

  “The sponsor would like to remain anonymous,” replied Teddy. “This reminds me of an old Zulu tactic called the Water Buffalo. The two horns of the Water Buffalo go left and right until they circle the enemy and catch him within their grasp.” Teddy glanced back and forth from me to June as he made this last remark.

  June’s eyes narrowed as she fingered her emerald necklace. “I hope you’re not suggesting that Josiah and I resemble buffalos.”

  “No, dear lady, I was referring to you and Josiah maneuvering to get information out of me using something like the Zulu Water Buffalo technique,” Teddy laughed. “I would like to get information out of you, too. June, where did you acquired that stunning necklace? The large emerald in the center is the Kaur emerald, is it not?”

  June showed surprise. Not many people knew she owned the Kaur emerald.

  “You certainly know your gems, Teddy. I wore the necklace in your honor.”

  The talk of gems stopped when Matt and Franklin jaunted into the library, “May we join you?”

  I noticed Teddy’s eyes move swiftly across Matt as if sizing him up. I couldn’t fault him. Matt, though ravaged, was still hauntingly stunning.

  Matt reached over and shook Teddy’s hand. “Franklin and I were at the gala, but we didn’t have the opportunity to converse with you. It was a well-done affair. Very impressive.”

  Teddy smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.”

  “Teddy, this is Matthew and Franklin. Matthew is staying with me while he renovates his bungalow on Josiah’s property,” introduced June.

  “Where is that?” asked Teddy, reaching over and shaking Franklin’s hand.

  I offered, “It’s the little shack on the left as you come up my driveway.”

  “Oh, that building. It’s hardly a shack,” mused Teddy, grinning.

  “Believe me, before it was restored, it was definitely a shack that even the crows wouldn’t light on,” stated Franklin before taking a bite out of a scone. “Is there any more tea?”

  Teddy reached for the teapot. “Sorry, old man. Let me pour you a cup.”

  “It used to be the caretaker’s house,” I said, remembering more lucrative times, when Brannon and I had first built the Butterfly.

  “Milk?” asked Teddy before pouring tea for Franklin.

  I noticed that Teddy poured the milk in first for Franklin’s tea, which was an insult in upper class English circles. Historically, only the lower classes put in milk first, because they used inferior dishware. Pouring hot tea first risked cracking the cup. Only the upper classes put tea in first, for they used porcelain.

  I pursed my lips tightly, but said nothing.

  “Matt, I understand you have a new baby,” Teddy bantered, handing a cup of tea to Franklin.

  “Yes, that’s right. She’s the apple of my eye.”

  Franklin rolled his eyes. “Since that baby was born, everything Matt does or says is a cliché from the fifties. Apple of his eye. She’s more a little demon.”

  “Oh, like you don’t worship her,” Matt shot back.

  “What’s the baby’s name?” asked Teddy.

  “Emmeline Louise Rose Garth. Those are the middle names of my mother, Rennie, and Lady Elsmere,” announced Matt proudly, looking at June and me.

  “Who is Rennie?”

  “Me,” I chirped. “That’s Matt’s pet name for me, after the actor Michael Rennie. We met at a party, and I helped Matt settle a bet about what Michael Rennie’s character said to Gort, the robot, in The Day The Earth Stood Still.”

  “Klaatu barada nikto,” recited Teddy. “But wasn’t it Patricia Neal who said that to Gort?”

  Franklin clapped his hands in glee. “Gotcha on that one, Josiah.”

  “I won a lot of money with that bet, so I call Jos
iah Rennie,” Matt said.

  Teddy said, “Josiah, you didn’t tell me there was another man in your life.”

  “I’m just a good friend,” assured Matt, looking between Teddy and me.

  Franklin snorted.

  June came to the rescue. “I believe I hear the little demon crying.”

  Franklin rushed to the door and opened it, which allowed Ginger, who had been waiting to receive her treat, dash in. She took several tentative steps into the room before stopping and sniffing the air. Suddenly Ginger’s hackles rose and a low growl sounded from deep in her chest.

  Matt snapped to attention. “Ginger? What’s wrong, girl?” He turned to us. “I’m so sorry. She’s never done this before.” Tugging on her collar, Matt pulled Ginger out of the room while chastising her. “Bad doggie. BAD!”

  Teddy stood abruptly. “Lady Elsmere . . . I mean June. This has been a delightful afternoon, but Josiah and I have an early dinner reservation. Josiah,” he said, extending his hand to me.

  Looking confused, June declared, “I’m so sorry. Ginger has never acted like that before. Perhaps she has an upset stomach.”

  “I’m sure that’s it. Something in the room excited her. Perhaps because the tea was Oolong instead of Earl Grey,” I remarked.

  June lifted her cheek to receive my kiss. “Earl Grey is a morning tea.” She paused for a moment before remembering, “You’re still coming to my birthday party, aren’t you? It’s next week. Have you RSVP’d? We must have a head count for the caterer.”

  Teddy bent down and kissed June’s hand. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world, would we, Josiah?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, emphasizing the word I. Teddy was a bit presumptuous to assume that he would be escorting me. For some reason it irritated me. Perhaps Ginger’s growling had unnerved me.

  Teddy gave me a curious look before shining his choppers at me.

  On this occasion the blinding light from his teeth did not dispel the damp in the room.

  Curious.

  46

  “My emerald necklace is gone!” accused June. “You stole it.”

  “I did not. It wasn’t me,” Liam rebutted.

  “Who else knew where I kept it? It had to be you. Josiah gets you out of jail. I welcome you back into my household, and this is how you repay me!”

  “My Lady, there were over a hundred people in the house last night, and they had the run of the place. It could have been anyone,” Liam fired back.

  I marched in where angels feared to tread–never come between a woman and her jewelry . . . or chocolate. Being in June’s line of fire was definitely hazardous to one’s health. She had the power, the money, and the connections to make one’s life miserable if she so chose. “June, you were taking people up to your bedroom to see your jewelry collection. Did you lock the safe every time you went back downstairs?”

  June looked puzzled. “I don’t remember. I’m sure I did.”

  “But you don’t remember, do you?” I said gently. I could tell June was distressed. “Charles, was anyone standing guard in June’s room?”

  “The upstairs had been roped off. No one was supposed to be up there except Emmeline and the sitter. Matt was downstairs helping me.” Charles gave a remorseful stare at June. “You’ve been very naughty, Lady Elsmere. We talked about security before the party. No one was supposed to go upstairs.”

  “What’s the point of having beautiful things if you can’t show them?” complained June.

  Matt added, “When I saw the elevator go up, I knew people were using it, so I went upstairs and escorted everyone down. That was about nine. I switched off the elevator and gave the key to Charles.”

  “I went straight to Her Ladyship’s room, locked the safe, and then locked the closet door to the safe. After that, I locked all the bedroom doors,” affirmed Charles.

  “Did you check the rooms first?” I asked.

  Charles shook his head. “Didn’t have time. Too much going on. I needed to check to make sure the birthday cake had been assembled and would be ready at 9:30.”

  “The party started at eight, so that gave anyone an hour to steal your jewelry,” I wondered out loud. “June, do you remember who was in your bedroom?”

  “I don’t need to remember. Liam stole my necklace. It’s an heirloom. When I die, it’s supposed to go back to the current Lord Elsmere. I have to find that necklace. Liam, give it to me.”

  I could see that June was going to be stubborn, more so out of fear than actually believing Liam had stolen the emerald and diamond necklace. She hadn’t remembered the security protocols she was to have followed, nor the guests she had invited to see her gem collection. June was slipping, and she knew it.

  I expressed the obvious as softly as I could. “Liam couldn’t possibly have stolen the necklace, dear. He was helping the caterer in the kitchen all evening. The caterer has already vouched for Liam. His alibi is tight.”

  “Then he had an accomplice,” insisted June. “Liam took my necklace. I know he did.”

  “Let’s do this,” suggested Matt. “Amelia, Franklin, and I will do a top-to-bottom search of the house. If we can’t find it, I’ll call the police. We’ll need a report for the insurance company. It was insured, wasn’t it?”

  Charles nodded while June wailed, “This isn’t about the money. The late Lord Elsmere entrusted the necklace to me. I am to return it. I must keep faith with his family. Oh, Liam, please tell me what you did with it.”

  Liam looked helplessly at June, not knowing what to do or say to comfort her. He hung his head and murmured, “I didn’t take it, June. I swear it.”

  “Liam, pack your things,” I advised. “You’ll be staying with me until this is resolved. You can help Eunice. I understand she’s rented my house out for a wedding reception this Saturday.”

  Liam gave June one last pitiful look before he trudged out of the parlor.

  I had a glimmer of recognition that Liam might actually care for June. Oh, he wasn’t in love with her. Romantic love was out of the question, even though those two had trysted a time or two. I think he cared for June, the actual person who was June Webster, out of Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky–not the glamour, the money, or the British title. Liam wanted June to think well of him. He might be faking his concern for her as Charles believed, but I didn’t think so.

  It’s so hard to ascertain another person’s true intention.

  Just consider my experience with my late husband, Brannon.

  Look at me with Jake.

  Look at me with Goetz.

  On second thought, don’t look. It’s a mess.

  47

  Looking through my desk drawers for some legal pads, I came across Bunny’s address book and her aunt’s diary. Golly, I forgot to give them back. And to make matters worse, the diary was damaged from when I had left it outside in the dew.

  I thumbed through the diary, wondering if it could be restored when I noticed the front end page was separating from inside the cover. While wondering if I could fix the beautiful red marbled end page with Elmer’s glue, I was fiddling with it when I felt something underneath. Peeking between the end page and the cover I could just make out some writing.

  My heart raced.

  Hurrying into my bathroom with the diary, I gathered my eyebrow tweezers. After using my arm to swipe everything off my dressing table, I set the book under the magnifying makeup light. I would clean up the mess later. Carefully, I peeled the rest of the end page from the back of the front cover. It came undone readily.

  Holding my breath, I slowly extracted two pieces of yellowing paper from their hiding place and carefully laid them on my table.

  They were handwritten receipts which had addresses with dates. 1954! London!

  One was from a London dressmaker for making a strapless white satin evening dress.

  I thought that odd. That style would have been an inappropriate evening dress for Bunny’s great aunt in 1954. She would have been far too old t
o wear a dress like that, and usually older women like to cover their arms and back. At least, that was my opinion.

  The other receipt was for a large, jeweled clip from a London jeweler.

  I went into the office holding the receipt and looked up the business on my computer. I couldn’t find anything.

  Hmm. Who was old and had lived in London that I knew? Picking up the phone, I dialed June’s private line. “Hello, June? June, be quiet and listen to me. You can rake me over the coals later. Have you ever heard of a London jeweler by the name of Mr. Antony? Say around 1954. Unhuh. Unhuh. Oh, really? It did! You’re sure it went out of business in the ’70s. You’re sure, now? Thanks, doll. Talk to you later.”

  If I could whistle, I would have whistled–for I believed I knew where the missing gems were stashed.

  48

  “Hello. Mr. Finkelstein. This is Josiah Reynolds. We met at Bunny Witt’s memorial. Yes. Thank you. I’m fine. Okay, Harry it is. Harry, I need to speak with your mother. Is she with you? Thank you. Hello? Theda? I’m fine, thank you. I need to ask you a question about Emma. Yes, that’s right. You told me she said something to you about gaslight. I need to know the exact context of Emma’s use of the word. Was she looking for a gas stove or an old-fashioned gaslight for decoration? Unhuh. Unhuh. That’s exactly how she used the word? Emma said she was ‘being gaslighted?’

  “Does it mean anything? I think it means everything. You’ve been most helpful. I think it explains why Emma was murdered. Do I know who? I think I do. I don’t want to say a name until I’m sure. Yes, I’ll be safe. I’ll keep in touch, I promise. Gotta go now. Good-bye.”

  49

  I kept a lookout while Liam took out his professional lock picking kit and, after working for only a few minutes, unlocked the back wrought iron gate to Hilltop Manor.

  Taking the lead, Liam crept silently while I followed, trying not to bump into the outdoor furniture and bushes. All the lights in the mansion were out, and there were no cars in the parking lot. So far, so good.