by Anne Perry
Mariah looked totally foxed. Quite naturally, she had even less idea what Emily was talking about than Emily herself.
“I’m afraid I have no knowledge,” she admitted. “Lady Anstruther—did you say?—must have confused me with someone else. Campbell is a Scots name, it is true, but quite a common one. And I have never been to Scotland myself. I’m so sorry, I cannot be of any guidance to you.”
“Oh, never mind,” Emily waved her hand to dismiss it before she got too bogged down, and perhaps contradicted herself, having forgotten what she had first said. “I dare say I can persuade George not to go at all. He isn’t really very fond of shooting anyway.” She had no idea whether it was even the season for shooting; but then with luck Mariah would not know either.
“And of course,” Emily continued with a sudden flash of inspiration, “I must be here for the wedding!”
Mariah blinked.
“Wedding?”
“Christina Balantyne and Mr. Ross!” Emily went on with enthusiasm. “I am so very happy that poor Mr. Ross has entirely recovered from Helena Doran’s leaving so suddenly. It must have been a great shock for him, poor creature.”
“I think it was a shock to everyone,” Mariah answered. “At least a surprise. I certainly had no idea.”
“Did you not know at least that she had another admirer?” Emily raised her eyebrows at the mystery.
“To tell the truth, I am too busy with my family to have been more than slightly acquainted with Miss Doran; or indeed with most of the families in the square, except for Adelina Southeron, of course, because of her children.”
That seemed to close the subject; but Emily was not yet prepared to give up.
“I’m sure if she puts her mind to it, that Christina will make him very content.”
“Content?” Mariah’s voice showed her understanding, and pity, for such a lukewarm emotion.
But Emily meant what she had said.
“I think so. I think that is all that another person can do for one. I think happiness is something one must achieve for oneself. Do you not?”
Mariah looked at her carefully, but before she could frame a reply, the door opened and Garson Campbell came in. Emily had seen him only once before, and did not care for him greatly.
Apparently he had remembered her.
“Good afternoon, Lady Ashworth,” he said. He did not speak to Mariah.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Campbell.” Emily profoundly hoped Mariah would not repeat to him the fiction she had invented to explain her visit. “I trust you are well?”
“Well enough,” he answered. “How courteous of you to call.”
“We were about to have tea,” Mariah said quietly. “Do you care to join us?”
“I don’t think so,” his mouth turned down slightly at the corners. “I doubt I would contribute to your gossip. I prefer something a little more political.”
“Than what?” Emily said instantly, before thinking that it might not be in her interest to irritate him.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You prefer something more political than what, Mr. Campbell?”
“I take your point, Lady Ashworth. I have no idea what you were discussing. I was presuming on past experience. I never yet met a woman of good character who had any political sense; only the whores seem to have that kind of acumen.”
“Indeed?” Emily raised her eyebrows as high as she could and invested her voice with a trace of humor. “I’ve never discussed politics with a whore. But I do know Mr. Balfour slightly.”
“I apologize, Lady Ashworth,” he said with a dry smile. “Were you discussing politics when I interrupted you?”
“Not at all. We were discussing Mr. Ross, and who might have been Helena Doran’s mysterious admirer.” She watched his face. Men sometimes confided in each other. It was conceivable he might know. His skin darkened, and tightened for a moment across his temples. She felt a thrill of victory. He knew something!
“It is most courteous of you to offer tea,” she stood up, “but I fear I called uninvited, and I would be most distressed to have put you to inconvenience. It has been a great pleasure to have further made your acquaintance, Mrs. Campbell. I hope we shall meet again.” Now she wished to be out of this room, away from Garson Campbell before he read too much of her intent. He was a man with whom she did not wish to match wits.
Mariah did not appear surprised.
“I shall look forward to it,” she said, reaching at the same time for the bell. “So generous of you to call. I’m sorry I was unable to advise you regarding Scotland.”
“Oh, pray don’t concern yourself,” Emily was already making for the door where she could hear the parlormaid in the hall. “I doubt we shall go anyway, especially if this dismal weather continues.”
“It will continue, Lady Ashworth,” Campbell said from the center of the room. “It always does, from January right through until March, invariably. I have never known it to do otherwise. And the only difference you will find in Scotland is that it will be worse.”
“Then I shall definitely not go,” Emily said, almost backing into the maid. “Thank you for your counsel.” She left him smiling a little contemptuously at her foolishness, and made her escape into the street. She climbed into the carriage with an air of relief, even though it was cold, and there was a loose spring somewhere, from the feel of it. At least she was spared the necessity of extricating herself from an increasingly impossible conversation. What an unpleasant man! If there was anything more oppressive than stupid people, it was those who felt they knew everything—and disliked everything.
The next time she called upon Sophie Bolsover she found Euphemia and Adelina Southeron there, and consequently could say nothing of Helena Doran and hope to learn answers of value. It was several tedious, desperately impatient days before she felt it suitable to call again.
This time she was more fortunate, although fortune was only partly responsible. She had done a little reconnoitering beforehand, and thus discovered Sophie satisfactorily alone.
“Oh, Sophie, what a pleasure to find you unengaged,” she breezed in immediately, making no pretense. “I have such wonderful gossip to tell you. I should have been so disappointed to have been constrained to speak of trivialities.”
Sophie brightened instantly. Nothing pleased her more than gossip, except gossip from a lady of title.
“Come in,” she urged. “Make yourself comfortable, Emily dear, and do tell me. Is it about Lady Tidmarsh? I have been simply dying to discover whether she really did stay with those fearful Joneses! I can hardly bear the suspense.”
This was precisely what Emily had hoped she would ask, for she had taken great pains to provide the answer.
“Of course!” she said triumphantly. “But you must swear not to repeat it!” This added an irresistible spice. Sophie dissembled utterly, her eyes shining with excitement; she almost pulled Emily physically onto the sofa by the fire, curling up immediately like a little cat.
“Tell me!” she pleaded. “Tell me everything!”
Emily obliged, decorating it here and there with detail that might well be true enough, and was certainly no more than harmless color. When she had finished Sophie was ecstatic. It would furnish her with stories to drop hints about and retell to those she wished to impress, one by one, with further swearings to secrecy; and of course, to refuse to tell to those she wished to annoy, with many hints as to how fascinating and exclusive was the information she could not possibly divulge. And it would be only human to imply she knew yet more, which she was bound to keep in the utmost silence. She was beside herself with delight.
Now was the perfect time to ask about Helena Doran. Sophie would tell her everything she knew, or even guessed. Emily made no bones about her interest.
“Oh,” Sophie breathed out happily, “of course.” Then she frowned. “But it is all a little old now! Are you sure you care?”
“Oh yes,” Emily assured her. “I think it is fascinating. Who
can he have been?”
Sophie screwed up her face in thought.
“Helena was very pretty, you know, almost a real beauty, one might say; such hair, all the color of winter sunshine, or so poor Mr. Ross used to say. He was quite dreadfully upset, you know?
“I do hope he will be happy with Christina. She is utterly different, as different as could be; to look at, naturally, but in her character as well.”
“What was Helena like?” Emily asked innocently.
“Oh,” Sophie thought again. “Quiet, not terribly fashionable; of course she did not need to be, she was beautiful enough to get away with dressing plainly. And she didn’t need to be witty. She played the piano very well, and she used to sing also. I sometimes wish I could sing. Can you?”
“Not very well. Was she secretive?”
“Quiet, yes; when I come to think of it, she did not have a great many close friends. She was fond of Euphemia Carlton.”
“What sort of men did she admire?”
Sophie contorted her face in an effort to remember.
“Men of substance, not just material, but men who had succeeded at something, who were established. In fact, older men. Perhaps because she had had no father for years, poor child. She did admire General Balantyne, I recall. Such a handsome man, don’t you think? Such an air of authority about him, and such dignity. If I didn’t love Freddie, I would quite care for him myself!”
“Was that why she didn’t marry Mr. Ross; because he was not yet of sufficient substance for her, too young?” Emily asked.
“You know, I had not thought of it, but that could be the reason. She admired confidence in a man. Although she did not care for poor Reggie Southeron at all. But then he is so irresponsible! He has not the kind of—what the Romans used to call gravitas, so Freddie says. So very masculine, gravitas, don’t you agree? Really quite exciting!”
“So she would not have run off with a penniless romantic, then? Or someone of unsuitable social class?” Emily asked. Really, the mystery was deepening! This was fascinating, and increasingly incomprehensible.
Sophie’s eyes widened with her own surprise.
“No! No, she wouldn’t, now that I come to think about it. Oh my dear, do you suppose he was already married to someone else, and they simply ran off? Oh, how dreadful!”
“Where do you suppose she met him?” Emily pursued. “If they had met at parties and so forth, people would know who he was—and nobody does!”
“Oh, it must have been somewhere secret,” Sophie agreed. “Even Laetitia doesn’t know who he was. At least she says she doesn’t, and why should she lie? Unless, of course, he was somebody simply awful! But I cannot see Helena becoming enamored of someone awful. She was far too proud, and fastidious.”
“She was fastidious?”
“Oh very! No, they must quite definitely have met somewhere secretly.”
“Well, it must have been close, must it not?” Emily thought aloud. “Or else she would have had to take a carriage, and then the driver at least would know. And one should never trust coachmen, unless one pays them oneself; and even then they may always be better paid by someone else. No, it is good counsel never to trust servants, especially men; they tend to ally with other men.”
“Where then?” Sophie asked. “Oh! Why, of course! I know. At least I know precisely what I should do!”
“What? What?” Emily’s composure vanished completely.
“Why, the empty house, of course! That house on the opposite side of the square has been empty for years! It belongs to an old lady who will neither sell it nor live in it. I believe she prefers France, or something equally odd. It is quite dreadfully neglected now, but it used to be most attractive, and there is a summer house at the back. Quite the romantic spot to meet. That has to be it! Don’t you think I am most clever to have thought of it?”
Emily thought privately that she was quite foolish not to have thought of it immediately, but naturally it would be unkind and impolitic to say so.
“Oh, indeed!” she agreed enthusiastically. “And I am sure beyond doubt that you are right. And one day, I dare say, we shall find out who he was.”
“Perhaps if we go and look?” Sophie suggested. “We may even find some small thing they may have left behind! What do you think?”
Emily had already resolved to do just such a thing the moment the house was mentioned. She did not wish to take Sophie with her, but there seemed no help for it.
“What an excellent idea,” she agreed. “The first opportunity it is fine. We will be thought most odd and attract unwelcome attention if we go in this rain. Tomorrow, if it is dry, I shall call for you and we will go together.” She fixed Sophie with a frank eye, to let her understand that if she crept in beforehand, Emily would confide no more gossip to her. She saw from Sophie’s expression that she grasped the message perfectly.
Emily stood up.
“My dear, this has been the most exciting visit I have paid in months. I shall look forward to our next meeting.” She moved to the door and Sophie came with her, forgetting to ring for the parlormaid in her anticipation of tomorrow.
Emily turned at the door.
“Oh, you won’t mind if I bring my sister Charlotte, will you? She is a most intelligent creature, and may be of some assistance to us.”
Sophie’s face fell for a moment, then at the mention of assistance, brightened again.
“No, of course not,” she assured. “If she is your sister, no doubt she is most charming.”
Emily would have quarreled with that; Charlotte was charming only when she meant it, and she doubted Sophie would bring out the best in her, but that hardly mattered now. She smiled devastatingly at Sophie, and took her leave, her heart singing in triumph.
Her prayers were answered, and the following day was cold and dry. She duly picked Charlotte up from her house before Charlotte had even finished her luncheon, and proceeded at a great pace to Callander Square, explaining her mission to Charlotte on the way, and the necessity for such precipitate speed. She did not entirely trust Sophie not to creep over on her own, and thus discover whatever there might be to find, before Emily and Charlotte got there. She would not have gone in the morning, because it was still rather wet and icebound, but this afternoon she might well think to slip over without Emily, and trust to not being caught at it.
They arrived at Callander Square and alighted from the carriage, bidding the coachman and footman remain where they were. They announced themselves to Sophie, who was ready waiting with her outdoor boots on and a cloak in the footman’s hands. Within five minutes they were at the garden entrance to the unoccupied house. It took the weight of the three of them to push it open, so long had it lain shut.
They hesitated on the step.
The garden inside was motionless and cold, trees rimed in frost, path stones overgrown with mosses, and slimy. There were dead leaves on the grass and rotting deep on the flower beds. If there was anything alive, it was asleep till spring.
“A garden shouldn’t be like this,” Charlotte said quietly. “Somebody must have laid it out carefully once, and people walked and talked to each other here.”
“Helena Doran and somebody,” Emily said practically. “Let’s go in.”
Feet soundless on the wet leaves, they moved reluctantly inside, Charlotte pulling the door behind them to hide their presence. They followed the path gingerly, afraid of slipping on the greasy stones. It skirted round the house and then disappeared into grass at the back. The lawn was soggy, and again covered with leaves. Halfway down there was a thatched, wooden summer house, roof collapsing. Obviously a multitude of birds had tweaked and stolen from it over the years.
“There,” Emily said triumphantly. “That is where lovers would meet.” And she hurried across the squelching grass toward it, her skirts catching in the twigs and leaves. Charlotte caught up with her, but Sophie stepped more gingerly from stone to stone round the remnants of the path.
Charlotte and Emily ro
unded the corner of the summer house and peered inside. It was very dilapidated, thatch hanging low across the ceiling, several of the seats rotted and fallen through.
“Oh dear,” Emily said disappointedly. “I wonder if all this could have happened in only two years.”
“It wouldn’t matter,” Charlotte said from behind her. “Don’t forget, this is January. In the summer it would all look quite different. The trees would have leaves on them, there might be flowers and birds. It would be more like a secret garden. They wouldn’t care if it were a little neglected.”
“A little!”
“More to the point,” Charlotte stared round, “do you see anything that makes you think it might have been used? She might have dropped a handkerchief, or something, or easily torn a little piece from a dress. There are certainly enough rough pieces around.”
They both began to look, and Sophie joined them. After several minutes they satisfied themselves there was nothing to discover, and Charlotte and Emily went out of the other door toward the back of the garden. Sophie remained behind, not having searched thoroughly herself.
Past the bushes Charlotte stopped stark, and Emily bumped into her.
“What’s the matter with you?” she demanded crossly, then stared over Charlotte’s shoulder, and felt all the warmth drain out of her body.
They were at the side of a small lawn under a great tree. From one of the branches hung a garden swing, and on it, skeletal fingers still round the ropes, were the rag-wisped bones of what had once been a woman. Remnants of her dress hung from the seat of the swing, bleached gray by seasons of rain and sun. Flies and small animals had eaten away her flesh and there was nothing left now but a little dried skin and pale yellow hair, and the fingernails of her hands. Grotesquely, the whalebone stays of her corsets were still whole, though fallen across where her stomach would have been, and on top of them, released from the womb, the tiny, birdlike bones of an unborn child.
