Drew reached for her but missed. He leaped to his feet and hurried after her. They were too close to the group for him to stop her from speaking. He had noticed the men watching his discourse with Lily from the first moment. The young woman had a gruesome cut on her forehead, still purple and swollen.
Lily smiled when she reached the young woman. “Miss White, how lovely to see you up and about. Are you quite recovered from the attack?”
The woman gasped when she saw Lily, and she rose unsteadily. “M-Miss. How unexpected to see you.” She glanced at her companions, then shifted the child to the other shoulder. “Yes, I’m fine now. Still a little stiff and sore, but very thankful to be alive. And please, call me Jane.”
“Only if you call me Lily. I’m Lily Donaldson.” She leaned close to look at the baby. “Who is this little one?”
“This is my little Hannah. She is six months old.” A tender smile lit the woman’s pale features with an unexpected beauty, and she brushed her lips across the baby’s forehead.
“She’s beautiful.” Lily glanced at the grass. “What’s this?” She picked up a glass globe containing a butterfly.
Miss White winced. “I received that a couple of days ago. The butterfly was alive, and I wanted to break the globe to set it free, but I was afraid I’d kill it. By the time my brother, Nathan, got home to help me, it wasn’t moving. I probably shouldn’t have brought it, but Hannah loves to see it. Even though the butterfly is dead, it’s still beautiful.”
Drew took it from Lily’s hand. “Did you tell the police?”
Miss White shook her head. “I didn’t think to mention it.”
The taller man stared them down. He was about twenty-two with a trim brown beard and piercing green eyes. He was neatly dressed in brown pants and a white shirt. “Who are you, and why are you bothering my sister?”
Jane turned toward him. “This is the young lady who helped me after the attack, Nathan.”
Nathan’s gaze softened, and he took off his hat. His longish hair curled over his ears. He was probably attractive to the ladies with his soulful eyes and muscular form. “I thank you for that then, miss.” He glanced at Drew. “This your fella?”
Lily colored and shook her head. “Just an acquaintance.”
The pang at her words took Drew by surprise. He’d chosen his course long ago.
Nathan studied him. “I saw you talking to Vesters. Just a friendly warning since you helped my sister. He’s dangerous and you’d do well to stay away from him.”
Drew lifted a brow. “Dangerous in what way?”
Nathan turned away. “I’m not saying anything else. Just be careful.”
This might be the break Drew was looking for. He fixed his gaze on the other man, a fellow in his forties with a straggly blond beard and a rumpled white shirt. “And you are . . . ?”
The man shrugged. “Just a friend. This is none of my business.” He folded his arms over his chest.
Lily turned to Jane. “We believe Vesters is associated with the man who killed our fathers. We need to know anything that might help us.”
Jane put her hand on her brother’s arm. “Please, Nathan. She was good to me.”
Nathan turned back to face them. “I’m not surprised he would stoop to murder.” His gaze went past Drew’s shoulder. “We must go.” He seized his sister’s arm and propelled her into the trees. The other man followed them.
Drew turned to see Belle walking toward them with purposeful steps.
Belle had never seen the people with Drew and Lily before, but they slipped away into the lush green shrubs that lined the gurgling brook. They appeared to be of the unsavory sort, so she paid their departure no mind as she marched through the tall, damp grass toward the wayward maid. The chit would pay for the dampness on the hem of her new dress. Her slippers were soaked as well.
Drew’s gaze caught hers, but his expression was inscrutable as he turned to greet her. He was so handsome in his gray suit that he nearly took her breath away. And it made her all the angrier that he was consorting with the maid.
He took off his hat and nodded. “Miss Castle, what a surprise to see you here.”
“I’m sure it is.” She stared at her maid. “Lily, I must say I’m quite disappointed to find you not attending to the duties I gave you this morning.”
Lily didn’t appear discomfited. She held up a book-shaped package wrapped in brown paper. “I completed my duties.”
“Then you should have gone home!” Belle waited for her to explain her appearance with Drew, but the young woman kept her chin up and didn’t appear to fear the tongue lashing she was about to get. “Who else were you with? I saw the other men.”
“And woman,” Lily said. “The young lady was the one I helped after she was attacked. I wished to make sure she was doing well.”
“And I accompanied her,” Drew put in.
Belle’s gloved fingers curled into her palms. Why was he taking up for Lily? Was he one of those men who liked to trick maids into bed? But no, it was much more likely Lily had set her cap on him. “I see.”
“Miss Jane is doing fine,” Lily said. “She is still bruised but alive. Which is more than can be said for some of the villain’s other victims.”
Belle shuddered. Perhaps she would agree to having Lily for her maid after all. At least she would have direct contact in controlling her. “It’s hardly a topic for polite company. Go back home at once, Lily. I’m sure Mrs. O’Reilly has other duties for you to tend to.”
“Of course, Miss Belle.” Lily’s long lashes swept down, obscuring the expression in her eyes. “I’ll see you there.”
She didn’t look at Drew, which was just as well, because Belle had had all she could take of the girl’s impudence. How dare she even look at a cultured man like Drew? Once she got Lily alone, Belle intended to make it clear there would be no more of this type of behavior.
Once Lily hurried toward the street, Belle composed herself and smiled up at Drew. “I hope she wasn’t too much of a nuisance. Thank you for taking care of her. I know it was your way of helping me and my uncle as well. We can’t let any rumors fly about the integrity of one of our maids.”
He offered his arm. “I’m sure you need to return home.”
“My uncle is waiting for me at Lammes Candies.” Drew smelled most divinely of bay rum as she took his arm. Her bad mood evaporated, and they strolled back toward the café. “Someone tried to shoot Uncle Everett.”
He stopped. “He’s all right?”
“Oh, of course. I saw the villain myself and warned my uncle just in time.” She warmed at his expression of admiration. “The police are searching for the man, but I think he escaped. Did you see anyone running through the park? He came this way.” She described what the fiend wore and what she could remember of his appearance.
She gasped, putting her hand to her throat. “One of those men you were speaking with. He had on a white shirt just like my uncle’s attacker.”
“There are many men with white shirts.” He began to walk again.
“But that fellow was about the same height and build. Who was he? The police should interrogate him.”
“I don’t know his name. The other man was Miss White’s brother. But it would be a kindness not to drag the fellow into something like that. I would have noticed if he’d run past us to where Miss White was sitting. And he was not panting or showing any signs of exertion when we went to talk to his sister.”
“That you noticed.” She wasn’t about to let him talk her out of such an important clue. “It can’t hurt to tell the police. If he’s innocent, no harm will come to him. And it might spare my uncle another attack.”
“Any reason why he might be attacked?”
“He wishes to give women the vote. That’s not a popular move.”
“No, it’s not.”
He lifted a brow and smiled. “What is your view? Wouldn’t you like to vote?”
Would she? She hadn’t given it much thought. “P
erhaps.”
They reached the sidewalk and stood waiting for the lorries and drays to pass so they could cross. Her aunt and uncle were still sitting at the outside table. Her aunt gave a discreet wave and smiled. Belle knew her aunt would approve of Drew.
The street was clear, so she lifted her skirts free of the mud and dashed across to the café. Her fingers held tightly to Drew’s arm, and if she had her way, she intended to make her claim on this man very clear to Lily.
NINE
The two men, hands pocketed, strolled along the river walk in the fading light of day. Drew had requested the meeting, but now that he had Ian’s attention, he was beginning to wonder if he’d overreacted.
The sunset threw brilliant colors onto the water, and the rich scent of river mud filled the air. They reached a vacant bench with no one around. Drew gestured to the seat, and the two settled onto it.
Ian’s erect military bearing and muscular build were at odds with his age of about fifty. He’d been with the Secret Service since his late teens, first as a Pinkerton agent, then staying on when the real agency was formed. Even after all these years, Drew didn’t know him well. The man kept his private life well hidden.
“What’s this all about, Drew? You have new evidence on the counterfeiters?”
Drew shook his head. “Everett Marshall was nearly shot earlier today.”
Ian absorbed the news, then frowned. “Political reasons?”
“I hear he plans to try to get through women’s suffrage, and someone isn’t happy. I thought you should know. There may be more attempts. It’s possible it was an attempted political assassination.”
“It might be our problem, but it could have been a random event that we wouldn’t handle. Did they catch the shooter?”
“No, he escaped.”
Ian took out his pipe and a pouch of tobacco. “That puts a different spin on it.”
“And what if it’s part of something bigger?” Drew had been unable to put his finger on why Everett’s attempted murder had set all his alarms ringing. It was more than just a liking for the man. This felt bigger, more sinister than some random attack from a disgruntled citizen.
“How much do you know about Marshall?”
“Not much. He’s been my introduction to Vesters. Rich as Job but he seems to be in politics because he cares about other people. He’s in charge here of the big push to reelect President Roosevelt.”
Ian lit his pipe, then took a puff. The scent of pipe tobacco mingled with that of the flowers across the walk. “I’ve met Marshall a few times. I recently heard he might be planning a run for the presidency after he wins his bid for a senate seat. I’m sure Teddy Roosevelt would support him. I assumed he might be involved with Vesters and the counterfeiting since they are friends, but we’ve found no evidence linking him to the others.”
Drew shook his head. “He doesn’t seem the type, and he’s got plenty of money. No reason for him to do it.”
“Did you ever figure out how he became associated with Vesters?”
“Vesters put a lot of money into his campaign.”
“Why?”
“He felt he was more sympathetic to business. And I think he’s had his eye on Marshall’s niece.”
Ian’s gray eyes bored into Drew. “You seem more concerned than an initial look at this might warrant.”
“It feels like it’s the tip of something larger.”
“Of what? I’ve learned to trust your instincts.”
Drew chewed his lip. “The money Vesters used to donate to Marshall’s campaign might well have been counterfeit.”
“So you wonder if Marshall himself might be involved?”
“No, that’s not it. Vesters may have some other ulterior motive for helping Marshall. And we know what a manipulator Ballard is.”
“You did well to bring this to my attention. I’ll poke around and see what I can find. I want you to stay out of it though. Your job is to get the counterfeiters. I’ll handle anything else that comes up. That last ring you brought in has been helpful. The kingpin agreed to tell Vesters you’ve worked for him.”
“That will help.”
“Is that all?”
Drew hesitated. He owed his boss the truth. “My ex-fiancée is here.”
Ian’s eyes widened. “You’ve seen Lily?”
“I’m surprised you remember her name. It’s been four years.”
One gray brow rose. “I’ve seen the toll losing her has taken on you. Her mother died recently.”
“You’ve kept tabs on her.”
Ian shrugged. “Regret has a way of fueling obsession. If our budget hadn’t been cut, I had meant to get some money to her anonymously. Then I heard she found a position and moved to Austin.”
“Yet you didn’t warn me.”
“I would have. I had no idea you’d run into her so quickly. Where did you see her?”
“She works for Marshall. She’s a housemaid.”
“Well, that’s an interesting twist. Has she seen you?”
Drew rubbed his head. “Not only has she seen me, but she’s determined to help.” He told Ian what Lily had overheard and how he’d been forced to reveal why he was in Austin.
Ian took another puff of his pipe. “Sloppy, Drew, very sloppy. This seriously compromises the investigation. She’s likely to tell someone what she knows.”
“Not Lily. And there’s more.” He told Ian about Jane White and how Lily had come to be acquainted with her. And about the warning her brother had issued.
Ian stroked his white goatee. “You need to find out what he knows. But I don’t have to tell you that. You’re good at your job.”
“I’m going to see Nathan and try to convince him to trust me. His family seems to have fallen on rough times. Can I offer a reward?”
Ian shook his head. “Sorry, there’s no money in the budget right now. If Lily wants to help, let her. They likely feel they can trust her a little since she helped Jane.”
Drew clenched his jaw. “I don’t want Lily in danger. I’ll take care of it.”
Ian gave a bark of a laugh. “Drew, you can’t save the world. You walked away from Lily to save her once before. I’ve regretted encouraging that decision. I saw you as a bright young man with much to offer the agency, and I thought a wife would hinder your effectiveness. But I was wrong. A life lived without a family is a lonely one.”
“You don’t have a wife?” Drew wasn’t sure if he was overstepping, but Ian had moved this discussion to something personal.
Ian looked down at his hands. “I did once. She was killed when someone shot at me. I thought to spare you that. But the happiest years of my life were the ones we spent together. I don’t think she would have wanted to never have experienced that even if it meant a longer life. Some things are worth the risk.”
“Not to me.” He couldn’t live with himself if he brought Lily harm. Losing his father had nearly killed him. “I did the right thing. I can’t have her death on my conscience.”
“You can’t second-guess fate. All you can do is live your life one day at a time. You really should let go of that obsession with Ballard.”
Drew clenched his jaw. “I’ll get him behind bars yet.”
“And if he slips away again, you’ll just let her go a second time?”
“It’s for the best.”
For all his courageous words, Drew prayed he was strong enough to do the right thing.
The kitchen was a scene of pandemonium when Lily stepped inside. She’d tried to find a cab, but all she’d seen had been full and she had to wait for a trolley back to the Butterfly Palace. She was quite late. Kitchen maids scurried to and fro with bags of flour and sugar. Several stood at the stove stirring pots of something that steamed out delicious smells. Several apple pies stood cooling on the large wooden table, and another woman carved the turkey.
“Love, where have you been?” Emily tossed an apron at Lily. “Mrs. O’Reilly is on a rampage looking for you. The guests for the di
nner party are arriving any minute, and the table still isn’t set.”
“I’ll do that now.” Lily took off her hat, then tied on the apron.
What would she do if she lost her job? She couldn’t go back to Larson with her tail tucked between her legs. She had to do better, focus on doing her best for this job. Being around Drew distracted her.
Mrs. O’Reilly dusted the flour from her hands onto her already soiled apron. “Lily, there you are. You seem to be making a habit of tardiness.”
Lily eyed the housekeeper, uncertain of the woman’s deceptively mild tone. “Yes, ma’am. Sorry I’m late. I’m about to set the table.”
“We’ll talk later. There’s no time now.” Mrs. O’Reilly pointed to the kitchen door. “Go.”
Lily went. The stack of china in her hands was heavy and cumbersome. Emily was in the large dining room smoothing the linen tablecloth on the massive table. Lily lowered her burden to the sideboard, then began to set the table.
She turned to see Mr. Lambreth leaning on the doorjamb as he watched her. “You needed something, sir?”
He shook his head, but his pale blue eyes looked her over. “I thought we might go for a walk after you get off work tonight.”
She caught her breath. “I’m just the maid, Mr. Lambreth. I hardly think your father would approve.”
“He’s not my father, and I really don’t care. Don’t you ever feel smothered by social expectations? I’ve been watching you, and I like you. You’ve got spirit.”
When he took a step closer, Lily backed up. “I’d better get back to work.” His soft chuckle followed her into the hall. Could he seriously be attracted to her? He was very handsome, but if Miss Belle objected to her talking to Drew, she’d be doubly angry about Mr. Lambreth.
As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, Mrs. O’Reilly pointed at her. “Miss Belle wants you in her bedroom. At once.”
Lily gulped and ran for the back stairs. Her pulse was galloping when she stepped to her mistress’s door and turned the knob. “Miss Belle, you needed me?”
Still in her corset and underthings, Belle was seated in front of the dressing table. The curling iron and pins were laid out on top also. Her pout clearly showed in the mirror. “I’ve told my uncle I’m taking you for my lady’s maid. You should have been here waiting on me! I’m going to be late, and it’s your fault.” She poked at her hair. “My hair is a mess. Do something with it.”
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