Butterfly Palace

by Colleen Coble

  Mr. Marshall shot him a startled look, then stared at her. “Yes, you do. I’ll take it from here. Get some tea. I’m sure it’s been a shock.”

  “Thank you, sir.” She badly wanted to burrow into the sanctuary of Drew’s arms, but she turned and rushed down the hall toward the kitchen.

  Drew called her name from the parlor, and moments later he caught her by the arm. “I don’t like this, Lily. Surely you know more than you told Marshall.”

  She shook her head. “I came up at once to inform him.” She told him about Jane’s possible identification of the woman. “What was she doing here?”

  “It sounds quite ominous. Could you tell how she died?”

  She shook her head again.

  Mr. Marshall joined them. “The police will be here shortly.” His gaze lingered on Drew’s hand on Lily’s arm.

  She started to step away, but Drew tightened his grip and stared at Mr. Marshall. The doorbell rang, and two policemen rushed into the hall.

  “This way,” Mr. Marshall said.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Drew stood back and watched as the police finished examining the body. Lily stood with her arm around Jane as she identified the woman as Sarah Karr, Jane’s employer until she’d been dismissed.

  “What’s the cause of death?” Drew hadn’t been able to see with so many people crowding around. This place gave him the willies too. All those beautiful dead butterflies.

  The younger policeman was the same man who’d been investigating the attack on Lily in the churchyard, and he stared at her with a contemplative expression before turning his attention to Drew. “Her throat was slashed. With this.” He held out a bloody knife similar to the one Lily’s attacker had dropped.

  Drew’s gut tightened and he glanced at Lily, who wore a stricken expression when she saw the knife. “Did you have any luck tracing the last one?”

  “We did not.”

  Everett moved closer. “Last one? What are you talking about?”

  “Lily was attacked in the churchyard, and the man dropped a knife like this one.”

  Everett glanced at Lily. “Why was I not informed of this?”

  She still stood with her arm around Jane who was weeping. “I was unhurt, Mr. Marshall. I didn’t want to bother you with it.”

  The policeman turned his attention to the mansion’s owner. “Mr. Marshall, did you know the deceased woman?”

  “I did. What is your name, young man?”

  “Officer Pickle.” The man lifted his pimpled chin as though daring them to laugh. “Do you have any idea how she happened to be down here?”

  Everett shook his head. “Only my butterfly collection is kept here, and I keep the key unless I send a maid down to fetch a specimen. Which is how this unfortunate woman came to be discovered. The only other person with a key is the housekeeper.”

  “Perhaps her husband will be able to shed light on how she came to be here.” Pickle directed his attention to Lily. “Was this the first time you’d been down here today?”

  “It was.”

  “You’re about this woman’s height, and your hair color is the same.”

  “Blond hair is hardly unusual,” Drew said.

  The officer glared. “I must ask you to be quiet while I conduct my investigation.”

  Drew held up his hands. “Proceed.”

  “Could the killer have mistaken Mrs. Karr for you? The victim was wearing a black dress. Though it was of a finer material than yours, in the dark it might have been easy to mistake her for you.”

  Jane was blond too. Lily bit her lip. “I hardly think so. The bigger question is, why was she here?”

  Everett clenched his hands into fists. “I’ll tell you why! She came to steal my new specimen. Karr has envied my collection for years. He was furious when I was asked to show my collection at the museum instead of his.”

  “He collects butterflies too?” Pickle asked. “Is his collection as extensive?”

  Everett’s nostrils flared. “Not even close. He probably has a tenth of what I have. Though I will admit he owns a few rare specimens.”

  Pickle glanced around. “What here could he want badly enough to steal? Couldn’t he just buy what he wanted?”

  Everett’s smile could only be called joyous. “I just received the most beautiful iridescent butterfly today. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s a very special Blue Morpho from South America with unusual powers. There isn’t another one like it in the world. It’s upstairs in the parlor. I’ll show it to you. Lily, would you fetch it?”

  She nodded, hugged Jane, then started up the stairs.

  “I’ll go with her. I don’t think it’s safe for her to wander alone.” Drew followed Lily and caught up with her in the kitchen.

  Her eyes widened when she saw him. “What are you doing? You’re going to get me discharged.”

  He took her elbow and escorted her toward the parlor. “This place isn’t safe for you, Lily. I’ll not stand by and let anything happen to you.”

  She stopped in the hall and looked up at him, her blue eyes as soft as thistledown. “I’m fine, Drew. Really. I have the gun you got me.”

  “You don’t have it on you at the moment, do you?”

  “Well, no, it’s in the carriage house. But I don’t need it when I’m working.”

  “I’m sure Mrs. Karr thought the same.”

  She winced. “We don’t know yet what that’s all about. She may have been stealing Mr. Marshall’s butterfly.”

  “Maybe. I would like to believe that, but I’m not convinced.” He cupped his hand around her cheek. “I couldn’t live if anything happened to you, Lily.”

  A pretty blush climbed her cheeks, but she held his gaze, looking deeply into his eyes as if trying to read his inner thoughts and feelings. He turned away. What did he have to offer her? “Let’s go find that butterfly and get it to Everett before he comes up here himself.” He led her by the hand into the parlor. “Where did he put it?”

  “On the piano, I think.” She moved toward the polished surface of the grand piano in the back corner. “It’s not here. Maybe I’m wrong or someone moved it.”

  Drew helped her search, but minutes later they had to admit the truth. “The butterfly case is missing.”

  Lily knew Jane hadn’t slept much last night because she’d lain awake most of the night herself and had heard her moving around restlessly in the bedroom. They both bolted down the last of their porridge. Hannah played on the floor at their feet.

  Lily took her last sip of tea. “We’d better get to work.” Her yawn matched Jane’s. “Are you doing okay?”

  Jane nodded. “Poor Mrs. Karr. I hope the police get to the bottom of this.” She looked toward the door. “I don’t know where Nathan is. I shall be late if he doesn’t arrive soon.”

  “I’ll let Mrs. O’Reilly know. He should be along any moment.”

  Lily opened the door and nearly barreled into the policeman with his arm raised to knock. “Officer Pickle.”

  His narrow-set eyes looked her over. He smelled of tobacco. “I would like to speak to Miss White.”

  Jane stepped forward with Hannah in her arms. “I’m right here.”

  “You’re to come along to the station for questioning. Now.”

  “What’s this all about?” Jane’s eyes held a hint of fear.

  “We have some questions.”

  Lily’s gut tightened at his somber expression. “I’d like to come with her.”

  “Very well. We’ll likely have some questions for you too. Come along.”

  Jane’s eyes widened. “B-But what about my baby?”

  For the first time the officer looked uncertain. “Surely someone here can watch her.”

  “There’s no one I can ask,” Jane said.

  “Then you’ll need to bring her, I suppose.” Officer Pickle didn’t meet her gaze.

  “I need to let the big house know where we’re going.” Lily walked ahead of them along the rough path.

>   Belle came around the corner of the house. She was wearing a riding dress and boots and carried a riding crop. She glanced from Lily to Jane and the policeman. “What’s going on?”

  “The officer is taking Jane in for questioning.” Lily sent her mistress a pleading look. There probably was nothing Belle could do, but Lily wanted to spare Jane if she could.

  Belle blocked the path. “I think that’s hardly necessary. Feel free to use the parlor, Officer.”

  Officer Pickle looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Miss Castle, but I must take her in.”

  Belle frowned. “You’re arresting her?”

  The officer shuffled. “It depends on her answers.”

  Lily’s mouth went dry. The police obviously thought Jane was guilty. “W-We aren’t sure what to do about Hannah.”

  Belle glanced at the baby, then stared hard at Jane. “I’ll take her.” She held out her arms. “I’m sure I can coax Mrs. O’Reilly and Emily to help.”

  Jane burst into tears. “You’re a good woman, Miss Belle.” She passed her daughter over into Belle’s arms.

  Belle held the child awkwardly. “We’ll take good care of her, Jane.” She gave the officer a stern look. “Don’t keep her too long.”

  He looked away without answering. Jane wept as the policeman led them to the buggy. The ride to the police station was silent, broken only by Jane’s occasional cough.

  Pickle led them inside to a small room filled with the stench of tobacco. “Please be seated.” He sat at the desk and took out a pencil and paper. “I’ve spoken to several servants in the Karr household, and it appears Mrs. Karr went there to steal the butterfly, just as Mr. Marshall suspected. How long did you work for the Karrs, Miss White?”

  Jane folded her hands in her lap. “Three years.”

  “You worked in the kitchen?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You knew the deceased, Mrs. Karr, well?”

  Jane nodded. “As well as a servant can know her employer.”

  “So you admired her?”

  Jane bit her lip. “I wouldn’t exactly say that, sir.”

  Pickle lifted a brow and put his pencil down. “You were enemies?”

  “Sh-She did me wrong once.”

  Lily glanced at her sharply but said nothing. From the look of satisfaction on Pickle’s face, it was clear he knew of the animosity.

  “I heard you despised Mrs. Karr and hated her enough to kill her.”

  “I would never harm another person,” Jane said, her voice barely audible. “She wasn’t a good person though.”

  “Where were you last night in the hour before Mrs. Karr’s body was discovered?”

  “Working in the kitchen.”

  “Alone?”

  Jane twisted her hands in her lap. “It was Cook’s night off.”

  “Answer the question,” he barked.

  “Yes, sir. Alone.”

  “Did you speak with Mrs. Karr? To get to the butterfly room, she would have had to come into the kitchen.”

  Lily leaned forward. “She didn’t see her, Officer Pickle! None of us know how she got down there. And her body was cold. I touched her ankle.”

  Pickle quelled her with a cold look. “Please be quiet, or you’ll have to leave.”

  She sank against the hard chair back. Lord, keep Jane calm. Let this man see she had nothing to do with this.

  Pickle turned his attention back to Jane. “Did you speak to her? Remember, if we find you’ve lied to the police, any trouble you’re in just got worse.”

  “I—I . . .” Jane gulped. “Yes, sir. I spoke to her.” Her shoulders slumped and she shuddered.

  Lily couldn’t hold back a gasp. She stared at her friend. What was going on? Then she remembered Jane had pointed out the body first. She didn’t want to believe Jane could have had anything to do with this. She was a kind, gentle soul.

  “What was the conversation about?”

  “She told me if I didn’t let her go to the butterfly room, she would tell my employer a lie about me.”

  “What lie?” Pickle’s voice was hard.

  Tears hung on Jane’s lashes. “That I’d been a prostitute and that’s why I had a baby.”

  “Was it true?”

  Jane shook her head violently. “She knew it wasn’t true because it was her fault I became pregnant. She and her husband sent a-a man to my room. I’m a good girl, Officer Pickle. I had never even held hands with a man.” She swallowed hard. “She and her husband ruined my life.”

  Pickle’s expression was stony. “So you killed her. I understand. She deserved it, didn’t she?”

  Jane hung her head. “I didn’t kill her.”

  “So what happened then?” His icy gray eyes bored into her.

  “Mrs. O’Reilly gave me her keys to get some wine. I still had them when Mrs. Karr came to the door. I—I let her go to the butterfly room.”

  Lily gasped and stared at Jane. “Oh, Jane.”

  Jane twisted her handkerchief in her hand. “It was wrong—I know that! But I couldn’t let her destroy the new life I was trying to make. She said she just wanted to take a look at it and make sure the new butterfly was really all Mr. Marshall claimed it to be. She went down there smiling like she’d won.” Jane’s voice held distaste.

  “And then what happened?” Pickle demanded.

  “Nothing. I did my work and kept wondering where she was, but I didn’t have time to look for her. Not when I was doing the cooking by myself. Then Lily came and said she had to go get that butterfly for Mr. Marshall. I suddenly realized just how long she had to have been down there, so I went along.”

  Even Lily could see Jane’s argument was weak. So she wasn’t surprised when Pickle stood and said, “Miss White, you’re under arrest for the murder of Mrs. Karr.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  Lily couldn’t remember when she’d been so angry as she paced the kitchen with Hannah in her arms. Nathan had gone down to the police station to see what he could do, but the baby would be crying soon for milk.

  “The police actually locked her up?” Emily flipped the mound of dough over and began to roll it out.

  “She was crying when they dragged her off to the cell. It was horrible.” Lily brushed her lips across the baby’s soft hair. “What am I going to do about Hannah?”

  “Our neighbor has a goat,” Mrs. O’Reilly said. “I’ll ask for some milk. Emily, you run to the general store and buy a couple of bottles. It will have to do.”

  Emily dusted the flour from her hands onto her apron. “What about preparations for lunch?”

  “We have ham and cheese in the larder. I can whip up sandwiches when I get back.”

  “Won’t we get in trouble?” In spite of her protest, Emily’s eyes were gleaming as she took off her apron.

  “I’ll explain to the missus. No woman could stand back and let a baby go hungry.”

  Hannah swiped a tiny hand at a wisp of Lily’s hair. Lily kissed the small fingers. What would happen to the little mite if Jane went to prison? Not that she could possibly be guilty, but the police didn’t seem to care about the truth. They thought they had their murderer all sewed up and wouldn’t be looking around for the real culprit.

  The women had barely gotten out the back door when Belle stepped into the kitchen. “Where is Jane?”

  “It’s been a trying morning.” Lily told her what had happened at the police station.

  Belle’s face softened as she listened. “You can’t take care of the baby, Lily. Surely you see that. Jane worked part-time in the kitchen so she could pop back and forth to the little house when she needed to. That won’t work long-term.” Hannah stared up at Belle, then smiled a toothy grin. Belle smiled back. “She’s the sweetest thing.” She held out her arms and took Hannah.

  Hannah grabbed her necklace and yanked.

  “Careful, she might break it.”

  Belle extracted her necklace from the baby’s chubby fingers. “How will you feed her?”

  At
least Belle wasn’t ordering her to give the baby to the orphanage, which was what she’d expected in spite of Belle’s earlier agreeability. “Emily went to get a bottle, and Mrs. O’Reilly stepped next door to ask for goat milk.”

  “Does the child have any other clothing?” Belle wrinkled her nose.

  “She smelled quite sour earlier so I bathed her, but the gown has been mended a dozen times. I think she needs to be bathed again. She has one other gown. It’s clean. I can run get it and give her another bath.”

  “I’ll start her bath. You go get the gown. We’ll go shopping for more clothing this afternoon.” Belle carried the baby to the sink.

  “Let me help you.” Lily grabbed the hot water from the stove and poured it into the sink, then pumped cold water until it was a comfortable temperature. “I’ll go get the clean gown.”

  She raced to the empty shack and grabbed the gown and a clean diaper. By the time she got back, Belle had Hannah in the water. The baby was cooing and splashing. Maybe the other house had running water, but Lily had only seen Jane sponge the baby clean.

  Belle’s face shone. “She’s very pretty, isn’t she?”

  Lily smiled. “She looks like her mama. Her big blue eyes are very appealing.”

  Her smile faded when she remembered how Jane came to have the baby. What a terrible thing, to be betrayed by someone you knew well.

  “I need a towel,” Belle said.

  Lily grabbed a clean dish towel. “This will do. She’s small.”

  Belle lifted the wriggling, dripping baby from the water, and Hannah wailed with protest. Lily dried her off while Belle held her still, then together they managed to get her into a clean diaper and gown.

  “What is all the caterwauling?” Mrs. Marshall stood in the doorway to the kitchen with her hands on her hips. She wore an elaborate pink gown with a matching hat. She had her gloves on too, so either she’d just come in or she was preparing to go out.

  “Aunt Camille, the most terrible thing has happened!” Belle told her aunt about the morning and Jane’s predicament.

  “I should have known better than to hire a woman like that. I trusted her.” Mrs. Marshall stared at Lily. “And you. You recommended her.”