“Thank you both for your support, but since Reggie was attempting to be discreet, he didn’t choose to explain the attraction to me.”
“Well, I have to agree with you,” Lily said, her voice quivering in outrage. “We are not going to her ball. How dare she even ask you?”
“Oh, no. You must go,” Fiona stated, as if she would brook no argument. “There were rumors about Reggie and Alicia, but no one ever knows that sort of thing for a fact. If you are notably absent from this event, gossip will flow again. People will say that of course you couldn’t attend. After all she was your husband’s paramour. On the other hand, if you are seen to be on friendly terms with Alicia, those same people will assume the old rumors were wrong all along.” She sank back into the cushioned seat and gave me a firm nod. “You must go.”
“I can’t decide if that makes sense or not.” Poor Lily. She still looked dumbfounded.
“I’m sorry, dearest, but Fiona is right. Gossip is like currency in this town, and it’s best to manage it if one can. I should be seen to be on friendly terms with Alicia, and so should my family.”
Lily huffed in exasperation. “I’m not worried about the gossip. I’m worried about you. How did you tolerate it?”
“For the most part, I didn’t know. But I’m sure Alicia wasn’t his only affair.”
“Good heavens! Is that normal? And isn’t Mrs. Stoke-Whitney also married?”
“I wouldn’t say it’s normal, my dear,” Fiona said. “But it is hardly unusual either. I’m afraid the British aristocracy is still used to arranging marriages that are advantageous to their families. That often means the two parties don’t suit. Society looks the other way if one of them, especially the gentleman, looks for romance outside the marriage.”
Lily’s gaze caught mine. “Did you and Reggie suit?”
“I’m afraid not. I was dazzled by him at first—fascinated really, and I thought myself in love. Mother, Reggie, and I all wanted the match.” I frowned, staring down at my gloved hands, smoothing out a wrinkle, remembering how young and foolish I’d been at the time. “Reggie was part of a fast set. I assumed he’d settle down once we married. He may have assumed I’d join him in his lifestyle. But his primary goal was to have someone to fund that lifestyle. It didn’t take long for us to form separate lives.”
I looked across at my sister and gave her a halfhearted smile. “I’m sorry to disillusion you, dearest, but as you are about to enter society, and meet many eligible men, I think it’s important for you to understand not everyone is what they appear.”
“You should learn as much as possible about any men who are pursuing you,” Fiona added. She turned to me. “And it should be done before Lily falls in love with one of them. Once that happens, you’ll never be able to dissuade her, no matter what evil you hear of him.”
“Is that what happened to you?” I asked with a smile. Fiona and Robert still adored one another.
Fiona returned my smile, then focused on Lily. “My mother was looking a little higher for me than a mere baronet, but she didn’t try turning my head until I was completely besotted. I was fortunate Robert turned out to be everything I believed him to be.”
Lily had regained her composure and looked somewhat relieved by Fiona’s words. “So even with all the maneuvering and machinations there is the occasional happy ending?”
Fiona nodded, and we all sank into our own thoughts. For my part, I was still recovering from the panic that had seized me when I’d thought Fiona knew all.
* * *
The next day I’d planned to take Lily with me to pay some calls. Before we could leave the house, however, I received a caller of my own. Just before noon, Mrs. Thompson came to my room to present Inspector Delaney’s card.
“Again?” I tried to infuse the word with disdain while in truth my first sensation was panic. It was highly unlikely the man was calling to inform me that all was well, so he either had bad news or more questions. I was seated at my dressing table as Bridget worked my hair into an appropriate style for the hat I wished to wear. I caught Mrs. Thompson’s eye in the mirror. “Please show him to the drawing room and I’ll be down directly.”
“He’s already there, my lady. Your aunt was coming down when he arrived. She’s taken charge of him.”
Oh, dear. What must Hetty think of a policeman calling?
I stopped at Lily’s room to tell her our calls would be postponed while I met with a visitor, then headed downstairs. I took a steadying breath before pushing open the door.
“Ah, here is my niece now.” Hetty was seated on the sofa facing the door. She stood as I entered and gestured me to her side. I hadn’t planned on her staying for this interview. She introduced Delaney who stood on the opposite side of the tea table. He gave me a nod.
“The inspector and I have already met, Aunt. And I believe he wishes to speak to me alone.”
“That is unfortunate as I have no intention of leaving you alone.” With a determined air, she seated herself on the sofa, raising a hand against the protest she must have seen coming. “It has been my experience that a policeman—”
“Inspector,” Delaney corrected.
Hetty gave him a rather chilling smile. “An inspector never calls to deliver good news.” She patted the seat next to her and I obediently sank into it. “You may well need my support.”
I considered arguing, but realized even if I insisted she leave, I’d only have to explain the purpose of his call to her later. “Very well.” I turned to Delaney. “How can I help you, Inspector?”
Delaney took a seat and opened his notebook, flipping through a few pages before raising his eyes to mine. “The Guildford police have spoken to the doctor who attended your husband at his death.”
Hetty gave my hand a painful squeeze. “Some questions have arisen regarding Reggie’s death,” I told her. “Although Inspector Delaney has been unable to tell me why.” I glared at the man.
The inspector never took his eyes from my face. “I can tell you the doctor confirmed your husband had a heart condition which, without proper care and management, would naturally lead to heart failure.”
I held tight to my emotions. As Hetty said, he was not likely here to deliver good news.
“Because death appeared to be of natural causes, the doctor did not call for an autopsy at the time.”
A chill washed over me. “Surely you aren’t saying he wishes to call for one now?”
“He will only do so if you request it.”
“Absolutely not!” Hetty replied, before I could do more than gasp.
Delaney ignored her response and turned to me. “Lady Harleigh?”
“Are you saying this is my decision? The police cannot order an autopsy on their own?”
“If they had enough evidence, they could. So I suspect they don’t have enough.”
I stared at the man in astonishment. Exhume Reggie’s body and cut into it? Religion had never played a large role in my life, but even to me this sounded like the worst sort of desecration. “The police want me to request an autopsy of my husband’s body with no more explanation than a vague question about the cause of his death? If you cannot give me a more compelling reason, Inspector, my answer is no.”
Delaney closed his notebook and came to his feet. “That is your prerogative, my lady.”
“Come now, Inspector. This is not about any loose ends. They must suspect murder. Why won’t you tell me what brought this about?”
“As I said before, they haven’t given me that information. I’ll deliver your answer and Guildford will have to decide if they have enough evidence to proceed without your permission.” He gave us both a nod. “Thank you, ladies, for your time. Sorry to have disturbed your peace.”
I let him leave the room and show himself out. I turned back to Hetty. “Who would want to murder Reggie?”
Hetty’s gaze was full of wonder. “Well, I don’t know how they came to this conclusion, but it sounds as though they think you did.”<
br />
“Me? What would give them such an idea?”
“That’s what I would dearly like to know.” Hetty stood up and moved to a cabinet along the wall. To my surprise she opened a door in the front, removing a bottle of brandy and two glasses.
“Where did that come from?”
“I had Mrs. Thompson buy it yesterday.” She poured a small amount into each glass, and brought them back to the sofa, handing one to me. “And it’s a good thing I did. You had no spirits in the house at all, and they certainly come in handy at a time like this.”
“When one has been accused of murder?” I looked from my glass to my aunt as she took a healthy sip. I’d had no idea Hetty was a tippler.
“When one has had a shock,” she explained. “Go ahead. Brandy is an excellent restorative.”
I took a drink and found she was right. After the liquor burned its way down my throat, I did feel somewhat restored.
“We’ll find some nice decanters for you later,” Hetty said, settling back into the sofa. “Now, what was the purpose of the inspector’s previous visit?”
“He wanted to know everything that happened on the day Reggie died—who was there, what we did all day, what we ate and drank.”
Hetty nodded. “That’s good. You may not be their only suspect.”
That did not give me any relief. “Why should any of us be a suspect? Reggie died of a heart attack. What else could have killed him in his sleep?”
“Poison, perhaps?”
Poison? The word gave me such a jolt, I took another sip of brandy. “Good heavens, do you think I should have let them exhume his body?”
Hetty’s eyes widened as she gave a vehement shake of her head. “Definitely not. We have no idea if their suspicions have any basis in fact, so there is no reason to desecrate his grave.”
“But what if someone did poison him?”
She placed a calming hand on my arm. “My dear, if they exhume his body and find some trace of poison, as his wife, you would be their first suspect.”
“That’s absurd. I was nowhere near Reggie when he died.”
“With poison, I’m not sure you would have to be.” Hetty finished off her brandy in a single swallow. “Let’s just hope the police find no reason to pursue this further.” She cast a pointed look at my glass. “Drink up, dear.”
* * *
Lily and I still made our afternoon rounds. It was fortunate that paying social calls was such a habit with me. I could probably make small talk in my sleep. Between the shock and the second glass of brandy I’d had with Aunt Hetty, I was little more than an automaton, but no one seemed to notice. Lily was also unaware as I’d asked Hetty not to mention Delaney’s call to her.
I was cognizant enough to see that Lily seemed to be enjoying herself. Especially in the drawing room of Lady Georgianna, Countess Grafton, our last call for the day. She’d been a young matron when I made my debut and had been very kind to me. She carried a lot of weight as a leader of society, and her approval would smooth the way for Lily. She also had a daughter making her debut this year, and as she and Lily took to one another quickly, I turned my attention to Georgianna.
“Amazing how time flies, is it not?” she observed. “It seems not long ago you were their age.”
“And dazzled by my first London Season. I’m hoping Lily will be less so. I don’t want her to be swept off her feet by some, some . . .” I let the sentence trail off, grasping for the right word.
“Fortune hunter?” Georgianna quirked a brow as she finished my thought.
I answered her with a grimace. “Yes, I remember. You warned me about Reggie. I just hope if Lily finds herself in the same situation, she will accept advice better than I did.”
To her credit, Georgianna didn’t gloat. Instead she placed her hand on my arm and changed the subject. “I saw your brother-in-law last night at the theater.”
“Graham is in town?”
She nodded. “Just arrived yesterday for some committee meetings. And I have another word of warning for you. He is not happy you are living on your own. I can’t imagine why he mentioned it to me, or what, if anything he plans to do about it, but I thought you should know he mentioned it.”
Since I couldn’t tell her what he was trying to do about it, I merely nodded and thanked her for the warning. With this new business of the police suspecting foul play in Reggie’s death, I’d forgotten all about my problems with Graham. Is it possible only a week ago my worst complaint was boredom?
I watched Lily conversing with the group of ladies on the other side of the room. She seemed a little more reserved than her usual self, but not uncomfortable or awkward. I felt safe in leaving her to her own devices while pondering what was uppermost in my mind. If Reggie really was murdered, had we destroyed evidence by moving his body? In an effort to avoid scandal, had someone gotten away with murder? Perhaps I should allow the body to be exhumed. But would I then find myself accused of murder?
The idea was ridiculous, but the police might not find it so. And if he had been killed by poison, Hetty was right. It wouldn’t be necessary to be near him at the time of his death. But I couldn’t help remembering someone was near him at that time. Very near indeed.
Chapter 7
“Mrs. Thompson said to tell you Mr. Hazelton has arrived, my lady.” Bridget walked in from the dressing room with my gloves in hand. “He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
I nodded. Of course George would be on time. “Can you find out if Miss Lily is ready to go down?” As Bridget slipped out of the room, I turned to Rose, who was supposed to be acting as my assistant dresser, but now sat, cross-legged on the bed, chewing on the end of a pigtail. I gave her a warning frown, and she dropped the offending braid.
“Will I do?” I asked.
“You look beautiful, Mummy.” Her smile warmed me. I was sure hers would be the most sincere compliment I’d receive tonight.
“When will I be old enough to dress up and go to balls?”
“About the same time you’re old enough to ride in the hunt.” I reached out and stroked her cheek. “So let’s not make that too soon, shall we?”
I pulled on the gloves, then turned to the mirror for a final inspection. The dark circles under my eyes from another sleepless night had faded. I’d arisen this morning with new resolve. The police would act as they saw fit, regardless of how I worried about the matter. Since I had no idea what had raised their suspicions in the first place, I had no way of responding to it. However they chose to act, I would find out in time. So I took a rare nap this afternoon, forcing myself to think of nothing but Lily’s entrée to society.
I took a step back from the mirror. As for my dress, well, three days ago it had been a two-year-old riding habit. Madame Celeste was a genius. She’d narrowed the dark blue velvet skirt as the current fashion demanded, by cutting it into gores that flared out below my knees somewhat like a trumpet. A trail of silver bows and intricate knots wound around the skirt and served to trim the rather deep, wide neckline. Very décolleté.
“That dress is breathtaking!”
I turned to see Lily in the doorway—a vision in cream silk with blue trim. Rose bounced off the bed and threw her arms around her aunt. “You’re so pretty!”
“I especially like the accessory attached to your hip,” I said, carefully removing Rose’s arm from Lily’s dress, and moving back a few steps while Lily did a spin for us. I was relieved to see her neckline was quite a bit more demure than mine.
The longing in Rose’s eyes was palpable. “Your turn will be here before you know it, dearest.” I gave her a hug. “But right now it’s time to go up to bed and dream about horses.”
We kissed Rose good night and sent her up to Nanny. Then I linked my arm with Lily’s as we headed downstairs. “That dress suits you perfectly, dear. I expect you’ll be turning all the young men’s heads.”
Judging from our reception in the drawing room we were both quite presentable. “Well, aren’t you two lov
ely?” Hetty remarked, as I eyed the deceptively simple creation she wore, showing she still had curves in all the right places. “The men of London will be swarming around you.”
George, elegant as always, bowed over my hand. “I’m afraid all three of you will have your own swarms to deal with this evening. Before that happens, may I claim a dance from each of you?” I watched his eyes travel up my body before meeting my gaze with a smoldering look. Good heavens, I was feeling rather warm.
“Yes, thank you.” Lily’s enthusiasm brought me back to my senses. This was George Hazelton, I reminded myself. There would be no smoldering. Even if he did look devilishly attractive tonight. Even if his gaze did leave a trail of heat behind it. “Lady Caroline has arranged for me to dance the first with her brother,” Lily continued. “But you could have my second.”
“Excellent. And would you honor me with the opening dance, Lady Harleigh?”
“I’d be delighted, Mr. Hazelton,” I replied, my voice a little husky. Good Lord, what was wrong with me? I’d been dancing and flirting with the opposite sex for years with no such uncomfortable reaction. But this didn’t feel like flirting. It was much more intense. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but of course if I did, I’d have to strangle myself with my purse strings. George and I had an unpleasant past that precluded any kind of future. Although he was being kind to me, he’d never consider me in a romantic light. And just when did I start thinking of him as George? I gave myself a mental shake and picked up my reticule.
“If we’re all ready, perhaps we should be off.”
* * *
Alicia’s ball was an unqualified success. We ascended the stairs to a magnificent view of the ballroom. Brilliant chandeliers hung from the coffered ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd below, some dancing, others mingling. The decorations, all done in white, allowed the ladies, in their colorful hues, to stand out. The music swelled over the din of two hundred voices, all chatting at once—a good turnout for so early in the Season. And to cap things off, even the Prince of Wales put in an appearance.
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