A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

by Dianne Freeman

  “With pleasure.” He leaned in and gave me a gentle, tantalizing kiss. Oh, my! I was lost for some moments before I realized my fingers were combing through his hair and I was very definitely kissing him back. “George,” I whispered against his lips.

  “Did you say more?”

  “Yes. No.” I pressed my hands against his chest to gain a bit of distance. “At least not now.”

  He took a step back, a wicked smile on his lips. “Ah, I thought it too good to be true. So, if not for this, why did you wish to meet me in this dark, secluded corner?”

  If only I could remember. Oh, yes. Archer. “Graham is here. He came late to the party, but he came with some news. Delaney has arrested Archer.”

  His eyes widened. “Already.”

  “Not more than an hour ago.”

  He blew out a breath and leaned against the wall only to bounce forward as the door opened beside him and Hetty pushed her way through.

  “There you are. What on earth are the two of you doing here in the dark?”

  I pulled her to my side, allowing the door to close. “I was telling Mr. Hazelton that Archer has been arrested.”

  She raised a hand to her throat. “So quickly? But just on the fraud charges, I suppose.”

  “We don’t know,” I said. “Graham’s valet saw the arrest and told him about it. He could hardly go out and ask Delaney. Since the police moved on this so quickly, I doubt they had time to build a murder case against Archer already, so I have to assume he was arrested for fraud.”

  “That makes the most sense,” George agreed. “I’d like to go and see for myself. If he was arrested an hour ago, Delaney may be available to speak with me soon.” He glanced from Hetty to me. “But I’ll need the carriage to get there.”

  I waved away his concern. “Don’t worry about us. I’ll see if Charles can take us home.”

  “I’d be most pleased to take you ladies home.”

  Charles, with Lottie on his arm, appeared out of the darkness around the corner. Where on earth had they been? “Didn’t we leave you two in the music room?”

  “You did,” she said. “We decided to return to the drawing room, but as we tried to get out of our row, I tripped over a gentleman’s foot and tore my hem.” She gazed up at Charles in awe. “Mr. Evingdon just spared me from sprawling headlong down the aisle.”

  I gave thanks for his quick reflexes.

  “We were looking for the lady’s retiring room, where I hoped to find a maid for a quick repair.” She frowned. “But somehow we got turned around.”

  “When we heard your voices, we decided we must be on the right path.” He gave me a brave smile as if he knew what I was thinking—how many dark corners did they hide in before making their way back here?

  “Well, since you’re here and you’ve agreed to take us home, perhaps Mr. Hazelton can go about his business and we can all rejoin the party.”

  “I certainly hope you all plan to rejoin the party.”

  As one we turned to see Sir Hugo at the end of the hall. Heavens, who next? “This tends to be a rather convenient spot for young couples,” he said. “But I never expected to find a group of this size.”

  We proffered our apologies and made our way back to the reception rooms. Hetty broke away as soon as she caught sight of Mr. Kendrick. I suspected she wanted to bring him up to date on Archer’s arrest. Charles and Lottie left in search of refreshments, and Hugo was pulled into a group to settle an argument. Fortunately, Miriam Ridley was headed my way.

  “How lovely,” she said as she came to my side. “I haven’t seen you for ages and now twice in one week.”

  As we chatted, I saw Ridley listening to the gentlemen in his small grouping while watching his wife with an indulgent smile. How nice to have a husband simply content to watch his wife enjoy herself. She caught my wistful smile and pinkened. “I’ll let you in on a secret. Ridley and I are tripping off for a little adventure tomorrow.” Her brilliant smile told me she was delighted with the prospect of adventuring.

  “Truly? Where will you be going?”

  “We are to begin in Paris and from there, who knows?” Her smile faded as she linked her arm with mine and drew me in. “I’m sorry to miss the engagement party, but I thought Hugo needed a change of scene. He’s been so downcast since Mary Archer’s murder.”

  That came as a surprise. “I wasn’t aware he considered Mary a friend.”

  Miriam lifted an elegant shoulder. “No, Mary was more of an acquaintance. His friendship was with Jasper, her husband. I think her murder brought the loss of his friend back to the fore. He’s been distracted and keeping to himself. I thought it would be refreshing to get away. As much as he hates travel, I was surprised when he agreed to the plan and I decided we must leave immediately before he changes his mind. My maid is packing furiously at this moment.” She chuckled as Ridley joined us. “You cannot back out now.”

  He looked rather pleased with himself. “I have no intention of backing out, my dear. Life is short. One should enjoy it while one can.”

  “I cannot argue with that,” I said, noting that Miriam had turned to speak to someone behind her. “As you are to be off soon, I’m doubly glad I thought to drop by the other day. It sounds as if you’ll be gone for some time.”

  His smile faded. “Yes, about your visit. Can you tell me why your maid was questioning my valet?”

  My stomach churned though I allowed myself only a slight moue of distaste. “Questioning? Whatever would she question him about?”

  “Oddly enough, about his time working for Jasper Archer. He thought she seemed very curious indeed. Do you know why?”

  “I couldn’t say. Jenny came with me on occasion to visit with Mary, both before and since her husband died. Perhaps she just saw that as common ground for starting a conversation with your valet.” I smiled. “Is he by chance an attractive young man?”

  His lips turned down, but he merely shrugged. “I hadn’t thought of it in that light. When he mentioned it to me I gained the impression he thought your maid was seeking some titillating news about Mrs. Archer’s murder.”

  I donned my most solemn expression. “If that was the case you can be sure I will take her to task. The details of someone’s death are hardly fodder for gossip.”

  He leaned toward me. “Perhaps gossip was precisely what she was after. I’m sure you’re aware of Mrs. Archer’s vocation as a writer, Lady Harleigh, as you were such good friends.”

  I didn’t have to feign surprise this time. How could he possibly know that? “Other than letters, I was not aware Mrs. Archer did any writing. Certainly not as a vocation.”

  “No? Then perhaps I have said too much.”

  “Perhaps, but now that you have said it, you must continue.”

  “I’m referring to the column she wrote for the Daily Observer, as I’m sure you know. Women can rarely keep such things to themselves.”

  Amazing. Why were men so eager to charge the entire opposite sex as hopeless gossips when he was clearly bursting to share this little tidbit with me? Since the man had knowledge of Mary’s column there was no sense in denying mine. “How do you know this?”

  He gave me a wry smile. “Her late husband’s valet works for me now, remember? He mentioned how she would obtain gossipy information from other servants. In fact, I wondered if your maid was trying to find out if he knew who was writing the column now.”

  “Good God, Frances. Is that what all the paperwork is in your drawing room? Are you researching some writing project?” I turned to see Graham at my shoulder. While I faced away from Ridley, I gave him a significant glare, willing him to keep quiet.

  I waved a hand in the air. “Just cleaning out some old records, Graham. Since Hetty is using my library, the drawing room was my only choice.”

  Ridley smiled. “So, you are not the new Miss Information?”

  My cheeks grew heated. I hoped I could pass it off as a blush of modesty, but Graham’s protest made the lie unnecessary. “I
should say not. Frances has far too much integrity to spread gossip in such a way. I’ll thank you never to suggest such a thing.”

  Ridley raised a hand as if to soothe Graham’s wounded sensibilities. “Forgive me. There was no insult intended. It was foolish of me to imagine it.”

  Graham accepted the apology as if the comment had nothing to do with me, and Ridley made some excuse to move on. I watched his back recede into the crowd.

  “He knows,” I said, almost to myself.

  “I should hope he knows,” Graham replied. “No one insults a member of my family.”

  I’d nearly forgotten he was beside me. “Excuse me, Graham, but I must find Hetty.”

  * * *

  It took a good quarter of an hour to find her and along the way I collected Charles and Lottie. Once I’d pulled all three aside, I explained my concerns about Hugo.

  “Are you saying he was involved in the fraud with Archer?” Hetty asked.

  I counted off each piece of evidence on my fingers. “He knows Mary wrote the Miss Information column. He tried to tell me Jasper’s valet told him about it, but Mary wasn’t writing the column when the valet was in her employ. Hugo was mentioned in the note Jasper wrote as one of the men duped in Archer’s scheme over a year ago.” I pictured the note I’d read so many times it was committed to memory. “Mary used initials for first name and surname, but this was Jasper’s note and he used the men’s titles instead. Thus, S H for Sir Hugo.”

  They all seemed to be following so I continued. “Those are the facts; the rest of this is conjecture. Hugo had an argument with Jasper. I suspect it was about his brother’s fraudulent dealings. I further believe that since that time, rather than expose Archer, he’s been encouraging others to invest with him.”

  “Like Graham,” Hetty said, her forehead puckered in worry.

  “Exactly,” I said. “Rather than expose him, he joined Archer in his scheme, and probably made a good deal of money in the bargain.”

  “Money he’d lose if Mrs. Archer had exposed her brother-in-law,” Lottie said.

  “Giving him the same motive for murder as Archer.”

  Charles still looked confused. “But the police arrested Archer. If he didn’t commit the murders, isn’t he’s likely to suggest his partner did? Then they’ll come and arrest Ridley.”

  “Which brings me to my third bit of evidence,” I said. “Ridley learned Jenny was questioning his valet about Jasper Archer and he’s become suspicious. So much so, that the Ridleys, who never leave town on any account, are leaving tomorrow on an extended visit to the Continent.”

  This did not bring on the gasps of horror I’d imagined. “He’s running away, possibly going into hiding.”

  “That sounds like a guilty man,” Charles said.

  “We can’t be certain, of course, but this does make him just as likely a suspect as Archer. We need to get this information to Delaney so the police can question Ridley before he leaves the country and is out of their reach.”

  “I can go right now and tell him of your suspicions,” Charles said.

  I’m certain the expression on my face was as dubious as that of my companions.

  Hetty took his arm. “I should go with you to help explain the more salient details.” She turned back to me. “It might be wise to keep a watch on Ridley. Does he know Archer’s been arrested?”

  “I don’t think so. Graham said it happened just this evening, so I don’t know how Ridley would have heard of it. Lottie and I will keep an eye on him just the same.”

  Once Hetty and Charles left, Lottie and I did seek out Ridley. I hesitated to engage him in conversation for fear I’d give myself away, but we watched him from a distance for the better part of an hour. Weaving our way through the crowd we nodded and smiled at the other guests while avoiding all but the most superficial of conversations, leaving them each time Ridley moved on.

  Then Graham came to Ridley’s side.

  Lottie relaxed her posture. “Perhaps the earl will keep him in one place for a few minutes at least.”

  The two men spoke quietly. Ridley’s expression darkened, and he looked at Graham with a sharp focus. I squeezed Lottie’s arm in my alarm.

  “What is it?”

  “Graham’s telling him about Archer. I’m certain of it.” I raised my eyes to heaven and huffed out a breath. “For all that men profess women gossip, I should have realized Graham could not have kept this news to himself. I should have made some attempt to keep them apart.”

  A servant broke into their conversation, handing Ridley a note. After a hasty glance at it, he excused himself from Graham.

  “He’s leaving.” Lottie squeaked and nudged me with her elbow.

  Indeed, he was, and at a brisk pace. He was halfway across the room already, past the entrance to the music room, and headed toward the family rooms of the house. I tugged on her arm. “We have to stop him.”

  A lady could never be seen running across a crowded room, but we moved as swiftly as propriety allowed. Still, he was nowhere to be seen by the time we rounded the corner and turned down a shadowed hallway. There were two doors along one side of the passage and a green baize door at the end that led to the servants’ stairs. He might have left that way, but I couldn’t imagine him escaping without any funds. One of the other doors must lead to an office or study.

  I stopped in indecision and Lottie bumped against me. Somehow, we had to keep Ridley here until the police arrived, but we couldn’t do that until we found him. I pulled her closer.

  “Go through there,” I said, pointing to the servants’ door at the end of the hall. “If he went that way you should be able to hear him on the stairs.”

  As she passed by me, I turned back to the first door, pushed it open a crack, and peered into what appeared to be a library. I would have backed out again if not for a shuffling noise behind the door.

  “What are you doing?”

  I started at the sound of a female voice from within the room. Caroline Archer.

  “Isn’t it obvious? I’m making my escape. And if you’re wise, you’ll do the same.”

  “Didn’t you hear me? Gordon’s been arrested. You must help him.”

  Ridley released a grunt. “If I know your husband, he’s helping himself, revealing everything to the police even as you’re standing here, wasting my time.”

  Another rustling noise came from the room as I felt a tap on my shoulder. I smothered my gasp and turned to find Lottie behind me. I motioned for her to stay quiet and returned my ear to the space between the door and frame.

  “Damn it, Ridley! You can’t leave us to face this alone.”

  “Can and will, my dear. I fear Archer is telling the police all about me, and this party is about to come to an abrupt end. I prefer to be gone when that happens. But I have one more task for you before I go.”

  “Your tasks have not worked so far. Write a note to the columnist. Go threaten the editor. Stir up suspicion about Evingdon. None of it has helped, Hugo. We’ve had enough of your tasks.”

  “Fine, consider it a favor then. Take this.”

  Caroline let out a gasp. “If you’re telling me to shoot myself, Ridley, I hardly count that as a favor.”

  Ridley tsked. “Do you honestly think me foolish enough to hand you a loaded pistol? It’s Mary’s. I invited Evingdon here tonight. Go hide it in his carriage and pay a groom to tip off the police. At least that way your husband won’t be hanged for murder.”

  “He didn’t kill them,” Caroline said as footsteps sounded and approached the door.

  “He’s coming,” I whispered, and took a step away from the door. At least I attempted to do so, but my foot landed on Lottie’s loose hem. I staggered back, she lurched forward, and we both tumbled through the door in a heap.

  Caroline shrieked. I struggled to return to my feet, assist Lottie to hers, and still keep an eye on Ridley, who rifled through his document case and pulled out—oh, dear, a gun.

  Though I’m loath to ad
mit it, Lottie and I cowered against one another as Ridley motioned us farther into the room, and we moved as one body toward the fireplace.

  Ridley grumbled low in his throat, before exploding. “Gad, Lady Harleigh, one would think you’re determined to make my life difficult. First you send your maid to question my valet, then you spy outside the door. Did no one ever tell you eavesdropping will bring you nothing but trouble?”

  He waved his arm at the two of us while heaving a sigh. “Now I have to determine what to do with you.”

  Caroline looked on in horror, Mary’s revolver dangling from her fingers. “Do? You can do nothing with them. Your only choice now is to go to the police and confess.”

  “Ha! I’ll choose escape if you don’t mind, and if you’ve any sense, you’ll do the same.” Ridley still pointed the gun toward us but cast a glance at Caroline. “Bring me the key from the desk. We’ll lock them in here. That should give you enough time to find Evingdon’s carriage and hide the revolver.”

  “And then what?” Caroline had obediently followed his orders, but squinted at him as she handed over the key. “What good is accusing Evingdon, when they are here to tell the police the truth?”

  Ridley scoffed and dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “The police won’t believe them. Evingdon’s her cousin.” He jerked his head toward the door. “You leave now. I’ll lock the door.”

  Caroline tossed a nervous glance our way and took a step toward the door. In that moment, I realized Ridley was lying. “He’s going to shoot us, Caroline!” I called out.

  She froze just as she passed Ridley, who gave me a narrowed-eye glare.

  “Don’t give him any ideas,” Lottie whispered.

  “It isn’t my idea.” I pushed the girl behind me and took a step forward. “You know he can’t leave us alive. He’s already murdered two people; what do another two lives matter at this point?” I stared into Ridley’s cold eyes as I spoke, but just outside my focus, I could see Caroline, behind him, slowly turn around. Surely, if she looked at us, she wouldn’t let Ridley commit two more murders.

  “What’s worse, Caroline, is that Ridley has his escape all planned, but he’s leaving you and your husband to face the consequences of his actions.” I tried to keep my voice steady, but even I could hear the desperation. “This is all Ridley’s fault and he’s going to get away. If you let him.”