A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

by Dianne Freeman

  “Then the man he saw was not another suitor?”

  “It seems unlikely. I need to move on to questioning her neighbors and in the event one of them is our unknown man, I’d like Evingdon to go with me. He might recognize him. Will you carry on searching for suspects through these notes?” He indicated the satchel.

  “I’d wondered why you brought that with you. Yes, of course I’ll carry on. But now that you mention this man, does that not narrow the scope of suspects?” I considered my own question. “Should I eliminate any notes that only implicate a woman?”

  “Given what I learned from the coroner, that’s a safe assumption. A woman might possibly have strangled her with a scarf or length of rope, but the coroner has ruled the bruises on her neck were caused by a reasonably large pair of hands, probably a man’s.”

  I shuddered as I considered the method of her death, and he placed a steady hand on my arm. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  I waved away his concern. “Yes, of course. It’s a rather gruesome image I keep seeing in my mind, but it only makes me all the more determined to help. If going through those files will lead us to the murderer, I’ll do it.”

  “Tell me you’ve found some worthy suspects.”

  I frowned. “Sadly, I’ve found little anyone would pay to keep quiet. Much of it is embarrassing, but hardly scandalous. And most of the notes Charles read from his file were common knowledge.”

  “I’d like to see what you have.”

  I had him lift the satchel to the table, and I reached inside to pull out the file I’d been reviewing. “Well, now that I’m eliminating females, I believe there are only three. I haven’t gone through the entire file, of course, but we have no plans for this evening so I can keep reviewing them.”

  I leafed through the pages and handed him the three most likely suspects. “I wonder if these files were already bundled together when Delaney found them.”

  George was reading through the notes, but he spared me a quick glance. “Do you suppose that signifies somehow?”

  “Only that there was nothing of note in Charles’s folder. Everything we’ve found came from this one. Perhaps Mary already had them separated and my file has all the juicy bits.”

  “Then why collect the other information at all?” he asked. “And I should remind you there are two more files to be reviewed.”

  “Yes, I suppose I can’t make any judgments until I’ve seen everything, but I do wonder if there is some other reason she would keep such a collection. Frankly, if Mary was a blackmailer, she was not a very discerning one. She has notes about people who couldn’t possibly pay her.”

  “Perhaps they could grant her favors though.” He turned away from the pages to meet my gaze. “And that reminds me, I need to find a way to check with her bank. See if she’d made any deposits lately.”

  “Isn’t Delaney doing that?”

  “I’m sure he will, but as my official assignment is limited to reviewing these files, I can’t depend on Delaney to share his findings with me.”

  “I’d be very curious about her financial situation. I realize we’ve just begun this investigation, but I can’t help thinking we’re going about this all wrong. How do we even know she was using this information for blackmail?” I gave him a sharp glance. “By the way, do you plan to slip into Mary’s house at some point?”

  “Is there something in particular you’d like me to search for?”

  “Money.” I shrugged. “Perhaps she kept it somewhere at home rather than in her bank.”

  He gave me a half smile. “You’re becoming rather accomplished at this investigating business. That’s a very good point. I’ll try to do that this evening but this time you cannot accompany me as you have a great deal of work to do.”

  I let out a groan. “I am learning far more about my acquaintance than I ever wished to know. Once I’ve ferreted out the likely suspects, how do you wish me to proceed?”

  “I suppose you should make a list and I’ll attempt to learn if they’ve had any interaction with Mrs. Archer and where they were when she was murdered.”

  “Ah, in other words are they in possession of an alibi? Excellent notion. You have your hands full, George. I’m perfectly capable of calling on some of these suspects myself.”

  His brows shot up. “Did you hear what you just said? I will not have you placing yourself in such a dangerous position. I’ll handle it.”

  I harrumphed my disdain. “The woman has recently died. No one would become suspicious if I, very casually, ask how well acquainted they were. I realize no one will admit to having murdered her, but while you are busy hunting for Charles’s mysterious man, checking Mary’s house for evidence, and analyzing her bank account, I can narrow down this list for you.”

  He relaxed against the back of the sofa and graced me with a smile. “I suppose that will help, but I don’t want you speaking to anyone on your own.”

  “If only Fiona were here. She’d be perfect for this task. No one can extract information from people the way she does.”

  “Unfortunately, my sister is unavailable for this task. Though perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. Fiona is also good at sharing information, and since the murderer may be someone prominent in society, we must be careful not to show our hand.”

  “Speaking of showing our hand, I have three guests in my home who are becoming curious about what we’re doing. They already know the police consider Charles a suspect. I’ve told them you are working to prove his innocence and I’m assisting you. I’m certain they’ll keep this confidential and perhaps I could ask Hetty to accompany me. She’s the soul of discretion.”

  George narrowed his eyes as he considered my proposal. “Have you told your aunt Hetty what I do?”

  I leaned back and took him in with a glance. “Heavens, George. I don’t even know what you do—not exactly. If you recall, it was Bridget who told me you previously worked for the Home Secretary. All you said”—I poked a finger into his arm—“was you were still loosely attached to that office. Regardless of how little I know, I’ve mentioned nothing to Hetty about it. But since you helped us deal with that murder last spring, she has her suspicions. I’d imagine Lily does, too.” I shrugged. “They’d never dare ask you about it.”

  He smiled. “I do believe you’re up to the task and I’m sure I can trust their discretion, but judge carefully. Don’t put yourself in any danger.”

  I was warmed by his trust in me. “I promise to take care. Now I believe you have work to do.” My gaze took in the satchel on the table. “And I suppose I do as well. Don’t worry about me. I promise to take care.”

  * * *

  As it happened, Hetty was not able to spare any time for me the next day as she was closeted in the library with Graham again. Neither was Lily free to join me in my investigation. By process of elimination that left me with Lottie. This did not bode well.

  I’d spent several more hours last night poring over the files until my eyes were red and dry. As a result, I’d only found nine notes in which the gentlemen in question might be willing to pay Mary to keep their secrets. Four of them were in the country for the summer so I had no way of contacting them. I could devise no excuse for contacting two of the remaining five and would have to leave them to George.

  The remaining three would be difficult but not impossible. I couldn’t leave everything in this investigation to him, so I devised a plan to come across them completely by chance. One of them was far afield, so I’d need to borrow George’s carriage as waiting for the train would take far too long. With Lottie by my side, I might be able to pull this off. She was, after all, a visitor to London. It would only be reasonable for me to take her about town. And reasonable for her to be highly inquisitive. Timing would be essential though as we had three separate stops to make today.

  I tore my attention from my notes as Lottie entered the drawing room and I gestured her over to the card table I’d claimed for my work. Its surface was now scattered wi
th pages from Mary’s files, but with Hetty and Graham ensconced in my library, my choices were limited to here or my dining room.

  She pulled up a chair beside me and I explained what our activities would be for the day. Her bright eyes revealed her eagerness to begin. Poor dear. Either she was completely smitten with my cousin, or so bored, she considered any activity exciting. Since her arrival in London her days had been rather dull. At least today she’d see something of the town and make some new acquaintance, though one of them might be a murderer. I tucked that concern away. We’d be perfectly safe.

  By the time I’d explained our itinerary, Mrs. Thompson came in to announce Mr. Hazelton’s carriage had arrived. We gathered our belongings and were on our way. I have to admit, I was every bit as excited to begin as my young companion.

  * * *

  Our first stop was just a short drive away in Knightsbridge. Once I’d narrowed my suspects down to three, it became necessary to devise a way of meeting up with them. Daniel Grayson was easy. Leo had mentioned a few days ago the young man had a horse to sell and would be going to Tattersalls today to oversee the sale. It was already ten o’clock when we left the carriage. I hoped we’d arrived in time.

  “Who are we meeting up with here?” Lottie asked as we strolled past the subscription rooms and entered the covered courtyard.

  “Daniel Grayson, if he’s still here,” I said as I took in the scene before me. Grooms led horses through their paces in the open arenalike area, while patrons milled about the perimeter. About two dozen or more. Mostly men, here to either buy or sell their horseflesh.

  “You think there’s a chance he may have murdered Mrs. Archer. Is that correct?”

  Though that was exactly the point, her words startled me. While I didn’t for a moment consider us to be in any danger, it was certainly unseemly at best to ask a young lady in my charge to speak to a potential murderer. What was I thinking?

  “Lottie, perhaps it would be better if you waited in the carriage.”

  She turned to me with an expression of disbelief. “You can’t mean to send me away, Lady Harleigh. I must have a chance to help prove Mr. Evingdon’s innocence.”

  I was about to insist, but at that moment my gaze landed on Grayson. Almost directly across from where we stood. He smiled when he caught my eye and we nodded at one another.

  Lottie took in the exchange and gave me a nudge. “Are we going over to him?”

  I released a sigh. “I suppose it’s too late now to send you back, but let him come to us.” I glanced at my young friend in her walking dress with its fitted waist and drapery at the hip, clearly the latest fashion from Paris. The dress, in that particular shade of blush, showed off not only her curves and creamy complexion, but her wealth. Grayson was a second son with little money of his own. I gave her a smile. “Once he sees you with me, I’m certain he’ll be right over.”

  “He’s very handsome.”

  Indeed. Tall, rather lean, with flaxen blond hair, and dressed in a perfectly tailored morning coat, he was the image of a fashionable London gentleman. “Don’t let him turn your head, dear. He would not make a good husband.” In fact, he once courted Lily while carrying on with a married woman.

  “Just follow my lead,” I whispered as Grayson arrived at my side.

  “Lady Harleigh, how good to see you.”

  I turned to give him my most charming smile. “Mr. Grayson. It’s been some time since we last met.”

  “Indeed. Don’t tell me you are considering a purchase? And with no one to advise you?”

  Well, this was a twist. Was he planning to push his own horse off on me? I waved a hand toward my companion. “Why, in fact, I do have an advisor. Have you met Miss Deaver? She’s a friend of my sister and is visiting us from New York.”

  I made Grayson known to Lottie. He took her outstretched hand, a smirk on his face. “Are you a good judge of horseflesh, Miss Deaver?”

  She gave him a confident smile. “Well, I should be. My father breeds racehorses on our ranch.”

  Grayson tilted his head, narrowing one eye. “Isn’t New York a city? Is that not rather crowded for a proper ranch? I would imagine such an operation would take a bit of space.”

  Lottie released a tinkling laugh. “Of course it does. Our ranch is nearby in Brooklyn.”

  Grayson threw me a glance as I struggled to turn a bark of laughter into a cough. “That’s fascinating, Miss Deaver. Has he bred any champions?”

  “I’m surprised the two of you haven’t already met.” I considered it best to turn this conversation before Lottie began spinning tales of the Kentucky Derby. “Were you not at Lady Fiona’s gathering Tuesday evening? I was sure Lily told me she’d seen you there.”

  Grayson allowed the change in conversation and turned to me. “Your sister must have been mistaken. My mother was in town briefly and I escorted her to a card party at the home of my aunt.”

  I smiled. His alibi would be easy enough to verify. We spoke of horses for another few moments until I felt it was time to depart. “It was lovely to see you again, Mr. Grayson, but I’m afraid we must be off.” I linked my arm with Lottie’s.

  “But didn’t you just arrive?”

  “Oh, no. We’ve been here for some time now,” Lottie said. “I haven’t seen anything to recommend to Lady Harleigh, but perhaps we’ll have better luck next week.”

  I leaned toward her as we walked out. “Very well done, dear. But a ranch in Brooklyn? What were you thinking?”

  She released a merry laugh. “That he’d never trouble himself to discover the truth.”

  Well, well. “I take it Mr. Grayson failed to charm you.”

  “I think Mr. Grayson will always hold himself in higher regard than anyone he chooses to court.” She gave me a glance from the corner of her eye. “I am not as sheltered as you imagine, Lady Harleigh. Nor am I fooled by a handsome face. I assume you were trying to determine if he had an alibi for the time of the murder?”

  Perhaps she wasn’t as sheltered as I’d thought. “We must still determine if it’s true.”

  “May I continue as your assistant, or do you intend to have me wait in the carriage?”

  I gave her a rueful smile. She had done well. “Just don’t let your mother find out.”

  Her laughter rang out as we reached the street and headed for our carriage. I believe I was going to enjoy this day with her.

  * * *

  Lottie and I did enjoy our day. In fact, we chatted and laughed all the way out to Twickenham, where the rowing club had scheduled a meeting at half past twelve at the reading room of the Twickenham Literary Society. We arrived just in time to greet my suspect at the door along with seven other finely built young men.

  “Heavens, are all of you gentlemen here to discuss Mr. Henry James’s latest work?”

  My inquiry was met with eight blank stares. I tried again. “Are you not part of the literary society? We are to discuss The Turn of the Screw this afternoon.” I held up a thin volume of The Two Magics, which contained the work.

  “We’re here to discuss our next race, ma’am.”

  “It’s my lady, if you please.”

  Digby Fairchild, my suspect, stepped forward and gave me a nod. “I’m afraid you must have the wrong day or time, Lady Harleigh. This is the meeting of our rowing club.”

  After some feigned embarrassment, surprise, and flattery, Lottie and I managed to extract what I supposed was an excellent alibi from Mr. Fairchild. The club met every Tuesday evening when they had a race the following Wednesday morning, and they did indeed meet last Tuesday evening.

  Once their meeting began, we were back in the carriage and heading to London for Regent Street, and our next and final suspect for the day. By the time we arrived it was after two o’clock and we were both rather hungry.

  “I’m afraid we’ll have to wait for luncheon until we return home,” I said. “However, this shouldn’t take much longer.”

  She gave me a cheeky smile. “I don’t mind.
Who is our final target?”

  “You are speaking like a spy.” I returned her smile. “Or like someone who is enjoying this far too much.” She really was such a delightful companion. I can’t imagine how I didn’t see this sooner. “We are waiting for Mr. Oscar Goulding.”

  She sobered and seemed to study me. “And how has he managed to become a suspect, Lady Harleigh? Why do you suspect any of the men we spoke to today?”

  The simple answer was because Mary had a note about Mr. Goulding’s daughter. It seems she was caught in a compromising situation with a married gentleman. And somehow, Mary found out about it. And a girl’s father might do anything to save her reputation.

  “To be honest, I find it hard to believe any of them could have murdered her, but their names are on a list. The only way to take them off the list is to find out if they have an alibi.”

  “Why do you expect Mr. Goulding here?”

  “I spoke with him at the garden affair the other day. He mentioned he was picking up a gift for his wife today and it would not be ready until two, which was very inconvenient for him and required that he rearrange his schedule.”

  “Why didn’t he have it delivered?”

  “It’s to be a surprise, and he didn’t want Mrs. Goulding to learn of it until he presented it.”

  “How sweet.” Her lips pulled down in a frown. “Is it wrong to hope he is innocent?”

  I wasn’t so sure he could be called innocent. Mary’s note about the young Miss Goulding made some mention about the apple not falling far from the tree. Whether the reference was to Mr. or Mrs. Goulding, I couldn’t say.

  “Not at all. I would hate to believe it of him myself.” A movement on the street caught my eye. “Ah, there he is.”

  The driver assisted us in climbing out of the carriage and we made our way across the street to the jeweler, arriving at the door precisely as Mr. Goulding entered.