A Gilded Grave

by Shelley Freydont

  Really, he was sometimes as bad as her mother.

  Sergeant Hennessey returned to Deanna. Waited.

  Deanna pulled her mind back to the discovery. “Oh. Vlady found an envelope grasped in Daisy’s hand. He showed it to us. Though I suppose he should have left it as he found it.”

  Will nodded.

  “I’m not sure what happened to it.”

  “The police have it in their possession.”

  “It was too dark to see any writing on it.”

  She waited for him to tell her what it said.

  He didn’t.

  “Or if there was a letter or message inside.”

  Still, he didn’t respond.

  “Well, was there?”

  He looked up. “I’m not a liberty to say, Miss Deanna.”

  Miss Deanna? She liked it much better when the boys called her Dee or Dee Dee or even Deedle-dum. She felt the doors of the future slamming on her past and on her fun. Her staunchest ally, Bob, was dead. Joe had still called her Dee the last time they’d met. But that was before he’d jilted her and ignored her at her first Newport ball. And now, here was Will, acting like a stranger.

  “Then Elspeth came down with the other servants, and she was upset, and father sent her back to the house and told a servant to send her home in our carriage. Then I went back to the house, and that’s all.” Deanna crossed her arms.

  Will’s mouth tightened. But whether from annoyance or trying to hide a smile, she couldn’t tell. And, quite frankly, she didn’t care.

  She suddenly felt suffocated. She wanted to be outside, away from society, away from restriction, running free on the beach like when they were children and she’d spy on the boys and learn all their secrets.

  Why didn’t women get more freedom the older they got, like men did? The older she became, the more confined her life was, the stronger the rules of behavior. It was so boring and demeaning.

  Her father frowned. “Considering what has happened, perhaps it would be wiser if you traveled to Boston with your mother and Adelaide.”

  Deanna wanted to scream with frustration, but she merely shook her head. “No, Papa. It’s like you said. It will all be forgotten by tomorrow. Isn’t that correct, Sergeant Hennessey?”

  “Unfortunately, that is usually the case.”

  “Is there anything else you wish to know?” she asked, glaring at Will, mainly because she didn’t dare glare at her father.

  “Not at this time. You have been most clear-sighted and informative. Thank you for your time.”

  She wanted to shake him and tell him to stop acting like such a stuck-up twit. But she merely stood, nodded in her most arrogant manner, realized she was acting like her mother, and finished off with her mother’s dismissive smile. “Then I’ll say good day.” She nodded to her father. “I’ll have Elspeth pack my things to remove to Cassie’s. Good day.”

  And carefully avoiding chair legs and footstools, she swept from the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, she whirled around and stuck out her tongue at the men on the other side.

  Cassie and Elspeth were both waiting for her when Deanna came upstairs.

  “What did he say? What kind of questions did he ask? Is he coming to my house next?” Cassie’s questions tumbled out.

  Elspeth just looked wary.

  Deanna collapsed onto her bed. “He just wanted me to tell him what I saw. I did. And there’s an end to it.”

  “An end to it?” Cassie exclaimed. “Lord David said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was a full-blown investigation.”

  Deanna frowned at her friend. Had she been up here frightening Elspeth the whole time Deanna had been gone?

  “Is Adelaide really ailing?” she asked Cassie.

  “I think so. Elspeth and I heard her maid coming in and out of her room.” Cassie pursed her lips and widened her eyes innocently. “I was certain your mother would want to attend to her. Am I the cleverest?”

  Deanna laughed. “Yes. Thank you. I was afraid she wouldn’t leave and then we’d all be in for it. I’m sure she’ll have plenty to say as it is.”

  “Adelaide is very sickly this morning,” Elspeth confirmed. “Matilda says she’s worse than usual—can’t bear the light and can’t hold a thing in her stomach, not even water.”

  “Poor dear,” Deanna said. “I wish they would figure out what’s wrong with her. I hope I never get those headaches. A selfish thought, I know. Maybe this new doctor will find something to prevent them.”

  “I can’t believe your mama is willing to take Adelaide away even for a few days.”

  “Cassie, Adelaide obviously can’t go through the season like this. I just hope I don’t have to go with them.”

  “Go with them?” Elspeth blurted out, and immediately apologized.

  “Oh, I’m sorry Elspeth. She wants to take both of us with them to Boston for Adelaide to see the doctor. We’ve asked her to let me stay with Cassie’s family instead of going. That way you can stay here in town to be with Orrin.”

  “Oh, thank you, miss. I do appreciate it.”

  “We’re not out of the woods yet. Now father is saying that it might be better if I went with them.”

  “Oh no,” Cassie whined.

  “I refused to go.”

  Elspeth and Cassie stared at her.

  “Well, I sort of refused. We’ll just have to trust in my father to persuade my mother. Now, I’m afraid you must dress me for tennis. Elspeth?”

  “Yes, miss. The blue jaconet?”

  “Yes, but Elspeth, please don’t think I want to show disrespect to the dead.”

  “No, miss, I know you don’t. It’s what life is.”

  She went away to find Deanna’s blue serge tennis frock.

  Deanna sank into a chair. “I feel bad.”

  “It’s not our fault Daisy died. Now get dressed and come to the Casino. Elspeth understands. She said so.”

  Deanna gave Cassie a half smile. Elspeth was right. It was the way things were. Not that it was right.

  Elspeth returned with her blue tennis dress and helped her into it.

  “You know, Dee, that dress just isn’t . . . modern.”

  “Mama says it’s appropriate to the game.”

  “Your mama would.”

  Deanna sucked in her breath as Elspeth cinched the belt at her waist. “Ugh. You’ve made it too tight. It’s bad enough having to drag around heavy skirts and long sleeves in the heat just to get a little exercise.” She wiggled until Elspeth sighed and released the belt by two notches. “Actually, I saw a tennis dress in Harper’s over at Gran Gwen’s house that looked ever so much better. This one was designed for annoyance.”

  “I saw it, too, but you’ll never manage to get that dress past your mother. Besides, we’re not really going to play tennis. We’re going to be admired.” Cassie pursed her lips until her dimples appeared. “Oh, I do hope your mama lets you stay. Lord David and Maddie are going to be here all week, until Papa’s feeling better. Then he’ll have to take Lord David to see the business. Such a bore. I don’t want Papa to feel poorly, but I don’t see why we can’t just have fun instead of having to do business. It’s the beginning of the season.”

  “Men never leave business behind,” Deanna said.

  “I know. Isn’t it dull? At least Vlady’s independently wealthy, and Herbert, too. So there will be some fellows around during the week to have fun. And Mama’s planning all sorts of activities to keep us entertained. And there’s there’s to be a picnic al fresco at Bailey’s Beach. Lord David has promised that he’ll have Swan perform his magic tricks at the bonfire afterward.”

  “Swan?”

  “He’s Lord David’s manservant. From Barbados. Huge and black as the night.” Her eyes widened.

  Deanna rolled her eyes toward Elspeth. “Oh, yes. Elspet
h told me about him.”

  “He knows all sorts of magic.” Cassie lowered her voice. “They say he can speak to the dead. He knows voodoo.”

  A brush clattered to the floor.

  “Elspeth?”

  Elspeth bent quickly to retrieve it, but when she stood, Deanna saw that her face had drained of color.

  Oblivious, Cassie continued. “Madeline says her brother found him in an aboriginal village and was so impressed, he brought him back to the plantation and had him trained as a valet. He’s frightfully exotic.”

  “He sounds ridiculous.” Deanna gave Cassie the evil eye, hoping she would get the hint and stop talking about death and magic. “He’s just a magician like you see on the stage. He doesn’t really know voodoo.”

  “Well . . . something like voodoo. Honest. Madeline called it something else I can’t remember, but it’s like voodoo.”

  “Sounds like a bunch of nonsense,” Deanna said. Honestly, sometimes Cassie could be so dense.

  “Anyway, we’ll be sitting out on blankets on the sand . . . with champagne. The chaperones will be all the way up on the veranda. It will be so romantic.”

  Relieved that the subject had changed to the beach, Deanna let Cassie prattle on. Still, she kept an eye on Elspeth. She was worried about her. She just hoped they weren’t already gossiping in the servants’ hall.

  “Well, I’d better run home before Mama accuses me of neglecting our guests. Do try to get your mama to let you stay. We’ll have such fun.”

  When she was gone, Deanna turned to Elspeth, who was standing stock-still.

  “Elspeth, what’s wrong? You’re not frightened by all Cassie’s talk about voodoo, are you?”

  Elspeth slowly shook her head.

  “What is it, then?”

  “Nothing, miss.”

  “Elspeth?”

  “Well, do you remember that book we read last month about the witch doctor? Do you think that could really happen?”

  “You mean can somebody put a curse on you and you die?”

  Elspeth nodded. “There was talk last night.”

  “Of what?”

  “That Lord David’s servant put a spell on Daisy and made her jump off the cliff.”

  Deanna suddenly felt cold. “Nonsense.” She lifted her chin for Elspeth to straighten her collar. “That only happens in books. It was a terrible accident.”

  Deanna fervently hoped that she was right.

  Chapter

  6

  Orrin O’Laren came into the workshop at noon. One look at the boy, and Joe knew that someone had already told him about Daisy’s death. No one who saw his face could possibly think that he’d had anything to do with the tragedy.

  No. Some other reason, accident or otherwise, had led to Daisy’s death.

  “Best get to work,” Orrin mumbled, head bowed, his cap in his hand, his denim work clothes clean from a recent washing.

  As he walked past, Joe said, “I’m so sorry, Orrin.” Inadequate, but the best he could do. And he meant it. “If you want to take some time off . . .”

  Orrin shook his head, took a step. Suddenly he spun around. “Why, sir? Why did she do it?”

  Joe stood there like a lump. He didn’t dare raise the specter of foul play. “Just a terrible accident.”

  “Weren’t no accident. The police came. Officer Crum said they found her on the cliffs. Wanted to know where I was last night, he did. I didn’t even know she was dead. How could I? I was home helping Ma all last night. I just don’t understand.” His face crumpled, and he turned and walked back to the workshop.

  Joe just stood there. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Orrin was feeling. It was hard enough losing a family member or a friend, but losing the girl you’d meant to spend your life with? Joe remembered his moment of cold dread when Will had told him they’d found the body of a woman at the Woodruffs’ ball. And was ashamed of the relief he’d felt when he learned it was Daisy and not Deanna.

  But for Orrin, the pain would only grow deeper.

  Joe heard the centrifuge start up. He didn’t think Orrin should be working around equipment in the state he was in, but it was probably better for him to keep busy and not have to think or feel.

  He should warn Orrin that Will would be back to question him, explain to him that it was just a formality, that no one blamed him. But they would both know that was a lie. If it did prove to be murder, the police would look for a killer in the Fifth Ward first. No one, including the new mayor, wanted to accuse one of the powerful families on Bellevue Avenue.

  Joe lifted his leather work apron off the hook by the door and went to the back, where Orrin was tinkering away on the heating gauge. The noise and the steam and the concentration needed for calibrating the right amount of pressure wasn’t conducive to a heart-to-heart talk.

  Relieved, Joe reached for a wrench and settled down to work.

  The Woodruffs’ carriage let Deanna, Cassie, and Madeline off at the paneled entrance to the Casino. They were accompanied by Mrs. Woodruff’s sister, Tillie. Unlike her sister, Tillie had not married well. Rumor had it she’d run off with a prospector who’d turned out to be a gambler, and her father had disinherited her. When her husband died, she’d come to stay with the Woodruffs. They’d set her up in a nice-size house in town, and as far as anyone knew, they had been supporting her ever since.

  Deanna always wondered if Tillie had started out life as a bubbling, happy person like her sister. The sisters were nothing alike. Tillie was stern but also nearsighted and slightly deaf, which made her a perfect chaperone as far as Cassie and Deanna were concerned.

  They moved like snails down the arcade to the piazza, where Mrs. Woodruff had already arrived in order to arrange luncheon. Some people thought the Casino allowed too many of the common people into the dances and concerts arranged each week, but Deanna loved coming here. She was always diverted by the many things to do, all under one roof. There was a theater, a ballroom, stores, restaurants. You could wander along its cool loggias, or sit in one of the numerous piazzas and niches that were perfect for chatting or just being quiet.

  And, of course, there was tennis.

  They finally reached the loggia that looked over the lawn tennis courts. Charles, Lord David, Vlady, and Herbert, dressed for sport, were standing at the ready by the nearest court, though Herbert and Vlady did seem subdued as they waved a greeting.

  Lord David strode over to where the young women were standing. “Miss Deanna.” He bowed slightly after showering her with a dazzling smile. If her mother could see that smile, she would be begging Mrs. Woodruff to keep Deanna in Newport. “Do you play?”

  “Tennis?”

  That smile again. “That is what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

  Flustered, Deanna sputtered out the truth. “You, perhaps, but the women mainly sit in the shade of the promenade and watch, or if we’re lucky, we are allowed to stand on the court doing nothing but holding our rackets until someone decides the sun is wrecking our complexion and calls an end to the game.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that. Yes, I do play on occasion.”

  He cocked his head at her. He had a charming dimple in one cheek. “I think you must be more intrepid than most ladies,” he said. “I’ll challenge you to a match, then.”

  “With pleasure,” Deanna said, excited that she might actually get to play a worthy opponent before she recollected herself.

  “Don’t do it, Deanna,” Maddie said, and laughed. “He loves to win.”

  “Doubles, perhaps,” Deanna added, reproving herself for being unladylike. She had disappointed him. She could see it, though he recovered quickly.

  “Doubles today. Who knows tomorrow?”

  Vlady called to him.

  “Our court is available. I shall return.” And he bowed himself away.

  Dean
na watched him go.

  “What would your mama say?” whispered Cassie so unexpectedly that it made Deanna jump. “Such flirtation.” She trilled a laugh.

  “Is your mama very strict?” Maddie asked.

  “Rather,” Deanna said. “Yours isn’t?”

  Madeline shook her head. “My mother died when I was a little girl. That’s why I live in Barbados with David. Papa doesn’t have much time to see to a daughter. Sometimes I wish . . . but never mind. Where do we sit?”

  “Over here,” called Olivia Merrick, one of the girls who had come out last year with Cassie. Olivia wasn’t very pretty, but her mother was indefatigable about seeing her marry well.

  They joined Olivia and some other young women who sat underneath the roof of the loggia, away from the sun and stray tennis balls, where they could sip lemonade and occasionally applaud the sportsmen when they weren’t too busy gossiping to notice the game.

  The four men took their places on the court. Vlady and Lord David against Herbert and Charles.

  It didn’t look to be much of a match. While the ladies’ fans stirred the air beneath the roof, out on the courts the sun beat down mercilessly on the men in their white flannels. Soon they were all looking a little limp, except for Vlady and Lord David, who were completely taken up in the outcome of the game.

  Deanna itched to be down there playing, too. She would do so much better than poor Herbert. But it quickly became obvious that today wasn’t about the game, it was about courting: the men making flamboyant plays more intent on trying to impress than actually enjoying the game. It made her miss games with Bob and Joe more than ever.

  The ladies soon lost interest in the sport, and conversation turned to fashion and what they were going to wear to the Vanderbilts’ first ball at their new cottage, The Breakers.

  “It has seventy rooms,” Cassie exclaimed.

  Olivia leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I heard there were twenty bathrooms. And doesn’t that just outshine Marble House.”