Fallen Women

by Sandra Dallas

  As she pushed the note back into the envelope, Beret read the words again. And then she blanched. She went into the hall and picked up her uncle’s note. The crabbed handwriting on it was identical to that in the message written to Lillie. Both notes were penned by the same hand. Judge Stanton, not Evan Summers, had written the love letter to Lillie. Beret’s uncle had been Lillie’s lover, the man who had promised to leave his wife for her.

  Beret put her arms around herself, for she had begun to shake. “Oh, Uncle, not you,” she whispered. Her uncle had been their rock, almost a father to the two sisters. It was Judge Stanton who had supported Beret in continuing the New York mission for women instead of closing it after her mother’s death. And while Varina had hoped the two girls would move to Denver where she could supervise them, the judge had agreed with Beret that their home was in New York and that was where they should stay.

  But how had such a monstrous thing happened? Had the judge seduced Lillie, or was it the other way around? Had her aunt known? And then Beret thought about the child and was revolted by the idea that the baby could be her uncle’s. While Beret was well aware that politicians had dalliances on the side, she knew that the judge’s career would be over if it became public knowledge that he was keeping his own niece.

  “No, no,” Beret said aloud, gripping the newel post and sliding down onto the stairs.

  “Yes, ma’am, did you call me?” Nellie said, rushing into the hall from the back stairs. She saw Beret on the steps and rushed to her. “Oh, miss, did you fall? Are you hurt?”

  Beret shook her head. “I’m all right, Nellie. I twisted my foot is all.”

  “You want me to get you a basin of water to soak it?”

  “I’m fine, just clumsy.”

  The maid helped Beret to her feet, and so as not to give away her lie, Beret, limping a little, let the girl lead her up the steps to her room.

  “You lie down there on the bed, and I’ll get a pillow for your foot. That’s what the judge does when he has the gout.” She rushed out of the room and returned with a satin boudoir pillow, placing it under Beret’s heel, then covering her with a throw. Beret was too upset to resist.

  “You want some tea. I can fix it in no time. All’s I have to do is build up the fire in the cookstove. Cook isn’t here, but she won’t mind.” The girl stood, hands clasped in front of her, anxious to help.

  And then Beret remembered something. “You’re a dear girl, Nellie. Sit beside me on the bed and keep me company, won’t you? This is a big, dark house, and I would feel better if I were not here alone.” Beret patted the coverlet.

  The maid glanced around, as if what Beret had asked was not proper, then sat down on the edge of the bed, her feet on the floor, ready to spring up.

  “How long have you worked for my aunt and uncle?”

  “Six years, that is, six years come May. My sister was here before me, but she got married, and she recommended me.”

  “Do you enjoy it here?” Beret wanted to put the maid at ease.

  “Oh yes, ma’am. Mrs. Stanton is real nice, but she’s strict. She wouldn’t like me sitting on the bed.”

  “We won’t tell her, then. My sister and I used to sit like this and talk. You don’t mind, do you? You have a sister, so you know what I mean. It’s your day off, and perhaps you have things to do.”

  “Oh no. I was only going to do my mending. Does your foot still hurt?”

  “No, it’s fine, thanks to you.” Beret leaned back against the pillows. “I was rude when you were talking about my sister the other day, not wanting to hear the things she had done, and I apologize.”

  Nellie was startled, as if no one had ever apologized to her before. “Oh, don’t think nothing of it.”

  “I believe now that I would like to hear what you were about to tell me.”

  “What was that?”

  “About some of Miss Lillie’s doings in the parlor.”

  Nellie looked away. “I shouldn’t have said nothing about that. It’s not my place, you being her sister and all. Mrs. Stanton is real strict about gossip.”

  “We’re just having a conversation. That’s not gossip, is it?”

  Nellie appeared uncertain. “I guess not.”

  “Thank you, Nellie. You would help me a great deal in accepting Miss Lillie’s death if you would tell me about her, that is, about her doings. I need to understand why she went to that awful place.”

  “That was bad, all right. The servants was surprised.” Nellie fidgeted. “Maybe not me and Mr. William. We knew Miss Lillie entertained plenty of men. That’s for sure.”

  “Mr. Joey Summers was one of them?”

  Nellie nodded.

  “And his father?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Mr. Staarman?”

  Nellie looked away and started to get up, but Beret put out her hand. “It’s all right. I know about them.” She leaned forward and confided, “It started in New York.”

  Her eyes wide, Nellie stared at Beret. “I’m sorry, Miss Beret. You’re ever so much nicer than your sister.”

  Beret squeezed the maid’s hand. “And Judge Stanton. He was another of Miss Lillie’s lovers.”

  Nellie was startled, and her eyes darted back and forth, not looking at Beret. “How did you know? I never told nobody about that. I started to tell you, but you stopped me, and I’m glad. William would put me out if he knew I told.”

  “I just know, that’s all. You didn’t tell me.”

  “You won’t tattle on me, will you?” Nellie begged, looking at Beret now. She took Beret’s hands in both of hers. “Mrs. Stanton would let me go without a reference, and where’s a girl like me to find another job as good as this one?”

  “Of course I won’t tell. But I want you to give me the details. William knew, of course.”

  “Nothing gets past Mr. William. Me and him was the only ones that knew. Cook don’t come out of the kitchen, and I kept Louise—that’s the other maid—away when Miss Lillie was with the judge.”

  “That was wise of you.”

  “It went on for a long time. When Mrs. Stanton left the house, the judge would go in Miss Lillie’s room and close the door, and I’d have to make the bed later on. Miss Lillie would tell me she’d taken a nap, but I’m not such a fool.”

  “When did my aunt find out?”

  The maid shook her head. “My mother was sick, and I was out four, five days, and when I come back, Miss Lillie was gone. I asked Mrs. Stanton should I pack up her dresses, but she told me no. Then Jonas said Miss Lillie had gone to that place on Holladay Street. I asked Mr. William about it, but he told me to mind my business and keep my mouth shut.”

  “And how did my uncle react?”

  “He never said a word about Miss Lillie, but he was working hard to be nice to Mrs. Stanton, gave her that diamond ring and all. I think at first she might have throwed it at him, because I found it on the floor. Mrs. Stanton said she dropped it, but if you drop a diamond ring, you don’t leave it there, do you? After a while, she started to wear it.”

  “So she forgave him?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t say. They’d have the worst rows you ever heard. Sometimes they were so loud that Mr. William sent Cook and Louise to run errands. But like I say, him and me knew what it was about. Well, ma’am, you couldn’t blame Mrs. Stanton, now, could you? She was working so hard to get him in the government, and there he was with Miss Lillie. Ungrateful, he was.”

  Beret realized her hands were cold, and she rubbed them on the coverlet. “Did my uncle visit my sister at Miss Hettie’s?”

  Nellie fidgeted, looking down at the coverlet, then tugging at a loose thread. “How would I know that?”

  “But you did know. Jonas told you.”

  The maid looked up as if she’d been caught. “I guess you’re pretty smart. Jonas told me, all right.”

  “And he told your mistress?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t know, but I’ll tell you one thing. Judge Stanton, he isn�
�t sleeping in the bed with Mrs. Stanton anymore. I can tell he sleeps on the lounge because that’s where his pillow and a blanket are when I come to make the bed in the morning, and his side of the bed isn’t ever mussed. I expect he’d sleep in another room, except he’s afraid the servants would talk.” She added quickly, “I never told the others about it, even William.”

  “I expect he knew.”

  “Mr. William always knows.”

  “Did he know my sister was pregnant?”

  The maid put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, ma’am, that’s a terrible thing.” Nellie burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

  Beret squeezed the girl’s arm and waited until she had taken control of herself. “And who do you think was the father?”

  “Any one of them, I expect.”

  “Did the men know about the others? Would the judge have known that Lillie entertained other men?” The girl’s answer was important to Beret.

  Nellie shrugged. “How was I to know? You don’t think they’d tell me, do you?”

  Beret turned to look out her bedroom window. The rain was still coming down, and the branches of the trees dripped with moisture. The room felt stuffy, moldy, and not just from the dampness, she thought. She reached for the maid’s hand and held it a moment. “Now I want you to think carefully and not be afraid to answer me, Nellie.” She paused until the girl looked at her. “Do you think my uncle would have left my aunt for Miss Lillie?”

  Nellie thought that over for a long time. “He wouldn’t have gone to Washington, would he? It would be a scandal.” She looked up. “Is that why Jonas killed Miss Lillie?”

  “Did Jonas kill her, or was it someone else?”

  Nellie’s eyes went wide with shock. “You’re not saying…”

  Beret realized she had gone too far. “No, of course not. I’m not saying anything. I was only thinking out loud. I have a hard time accepting Miss Lillie’s death, is all. What you said makes sense. Jonas probably stabbed Miss Lillie, thinking he was helping his mistress.”

  “Then why’d he kill those other’n?”

  “That’s the question, isn’t it? Maybe he liked killing.”

  Nellie thought that over. “If that’s so, do you think he might of killed one of us, I mean me?”

  “I can’t answer that, but you don’t have to worry about it now that he’s gone.”

  “You really think somebody else killed Miss Lillie?”

  Beret could see the fear in the girl’s eyes, and she said quickly, “No. Detective Sergeant McCauley is certain Jonas is the killer, and he knows more about it than I do.”

  The two women heard a noise downstairs and turned together toward the door. “My aunt and uncle?” Beret asked.

  “I best check,” Nellie said. “You won’t tell—”

  “I won’t say a word,” Beret assured her. “And thank you, Nellie. You’ve been a great comfort.”

  “That’s all right, miss.” The maid rose and went out, and Beret steeled herself for the hardest confrontation of her life.

  Chapter 21

  “Nellie says you’ve turned your ankle,” Varina said, bustling into Beret’s bedroom.

  “She makes too much of it,” Beret replied, trying to sound casual. “I slipped a little on the stair, and Nellie insisted on my lying down on the bed with a pillow under my foot. I’m perfectly fine now.”

  “Well, then, come down to the library. I’ve told Nellie to light the stove and fix a kettle of hot water. Since you don’t need it for your foot, your uncle will fix us a toddy. It’s a cold and miserable day. You’ll feel better by the fire.”

  For a moment, Beret was tempted to say she would rather rest in bed, but that would only put off what must be done. She placed a shawl around her shoulders, because she was chilled, and not just due to the weather. She slid the envelope into the pocket of her skirt rather than leave it in her room where Nellie might find it, and went downstairs. The library was warm now, bright with the fire the judge had made, and had she not been distressed, Beret would have enjoyed sitting in the cozy room on such an unpleasant day. She watched her uncle mix bourbon and hot water and lemon in a pitcher, sprinkle in a bit of brown sugar, then stir the concoction and pour it into three glasses that were set in silver holders. He handed them around, raised his own, and said, “Here’s to better weather.” Her aunt and uncle drank, but Beret only sipped her toddy.

  “How was church?” Beret asked.

  “The choir was lovely,” Varina said.

  The judge rolled his eyes. “We had a guest preacher. It is my opinion that weak advocates do religion no good. He preached on whether the poor were poor because they were wicked or because they were lazy and refused to work. He concluded both and made no allowance for the man who was born defective.”

  “Or for the woman who was married to such a man. I hope Jesus was not so devoid of compassion. I spoke with the reverend afterward and found him a nice enough man for a minister,” Varina said. “We had thought to ask him to join us for luncheon, but Evan Summers said he’d sooner eat with some degenerate bum. I thought that was quite funny, but when I laughed, Evan looked at me strangely, as if he hadn’t intended it as a joke. I am sure Evan has forgotten he was once a member of the lower class.”

  “They only live to serve him now. And you know, Varina, the man has no sense of humor,” the judge said. “He was in a foul mood today. I wonder you could have stood him for even half a minute last night, Beret. You’d think with all his money, he’d enjoy life a little.”

  “He’d certainly go along with the minister in thinking he is deserving of his wealth, although I do not believe guile and deviousness should be rewarded as they have been with him,” Varina said.

  The couple chatted about the church service and the luncheon, which they had taken at Tortoni’s Restaurant. The judge fixed his wife and himself second toddies, but Beret, who had barely touched hers, declined.

  “You are very pensive today. What did you do with yourself while we were away?” Varina asked. She seemed in a good mood, and Beret wondered if she had had wine with her luncheon.

  “I did not sleep well,” she replied. “For a moment, when I awoke and looked outside, I thought I was in New York. Such weather depresses me.”

  “It will quickly pass. Have you eaten?” her aunt inquired.

  “A little. Teddy came,” she said abruptly, sorry at once that she had mentioned him, but she wanted desperately to find a topic of conversation to put off discussing the note and the earrings just a little longer.

  “The cad. What did he want?” the judge asked.

  “I believe he thinks I will take him back.”

  “The idea,” Varina said. “I hope you sent him on his way.”

  “I did.”

  “Good girl,” the judge said. “What else did you do?”

  Beret considered him for a long time, but there was no point now in postponing the conversation. “I was going to read in my room, but I remembered the pearl earrings I had borrowed last night, so I returned them. I thought to put them in with your diamonds.” Beret looked up at her aunt as she said that. “But Nellie told me they went with a pearl necklace.”

  “She’s right. The large casket is for my diamonds. You needn’t have bothered. I could have put them away myself.” Varina looked unperturbed at her niece’s remarks. “I suppose someday I ought to store them in a bank vault, but I keep them here. Your uncle would like to have a safe installed in the house.”

  “You have lovely diamonds. I saw a beautiful champagne diamond ring.”

  “Your uncle gave it to me.” Varina studied Beret now before she asked, “You went through my jewelry?”

  “No, of course not. I merely saw the ring when I opened the lid.” Beret paused, not sure what to say. “Nellie said you lost two diamond pieces, a brooch and a ring.”

  “Yes. Nellie thought the clasp on the one was broken.”

  “I don’t think so, Aunt Varina. I found a diamond brooch in th
e hem of one of Lillie’s dresses and the ring tucked inside her glove. I thought they were my sister’s. But if they are yours, I shall return them at once. Lillie must have borrowed them.”

  Varina exchanged a look with her husband and replied, a touch of acid in her voice, “Or was given them.” Her uncle looked away, and Beret pretended not to understand. The judge went to the fire and poked at it, although the fire was burning perfectly well.

  Varina smiled at Beret. “Someday all those diamonds will be yours, of course.”

  “I…” Beret didn’t know what to say. She had no desire for her aunt’s jewels, as she did not wear such elaborate pieces. More to the point, she had not come to the library to discuss her aunt’s diamonds. “That’s very generous, but—”

  “But what? Of course I shall leave them to you. Who else would they go to? I would have left them to both you and Lillie, only…” She let the thought linger.

  “Yes,” Beret replied. She put her hand into her pocket and felt the envelope there. She did not want to accost her aunt and uncle. She was agitated and wanted to get the confrontation over with. So she said suddenly, “I found something in your jewel casket, Aunt Varina.”

  “Yes.” Varina’s eyes narrowed, and the judge looked up. The room was suddenly still, except for the fire, which crackled as a log split and fell, sending up a shower of sparks. One landed on the Persian rug, and the judge stepped on it.

  The two stared at Beret as she stood and went to the fire, holding out her hands to its warmth, although that warmth did not seem to enter her body. She wished desperately that she had not discovered the earrings, that she had waited until her aunt returned to give the borrowed pearl earbobs to her. Beret had loved her sister, had felt obligated to help find her killer, but now, she was sorry for not leaving the investigation of Lillie’s murder up to the police. It was too late, however. She had discovered the earrings, and she had opened the conversation. “I found Lillie’s earrings, the ones taken from her room when she was murdered. They were in your jewelry casket.”

  “What!” the judge thundered, while Varina did not move.

  It was out now, and Beret could not take it back. “They are Lillie’s.”