by Jane, Bettie
Marble Arch Murder
A Piccadilly Ladies Club Mystery
Bettie Jane
Copyright © 2019 by Bettie Jane and Auburn Seal
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
For Amanda.
Everyone should have someone like you.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
About the Author
Also by Bettie Jane
About Auburn Seal
Also by Auburn Seal
1
Late Afternoon
February 15, 1921
Goodall Residence, Mayfair
London
“Mattie, let me see your ring again,” Edith demanded, barely containing her enthusiastic squeal.
Mattie obliged, extending her left hand so the girls could fawn over the golden serpent ring that Frankie had placed on her finger when she’d accepted his proposal. Julia could see the gleam in Mattie’s eyes. She was the embodiment of bliss.
Edith continued gushing. “That was the most romantic proposal I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing, Mattie. It’s a good thing you said yes, or I would have gladly taken Frankie off your hands.”
“It was amazing, wasn’t it?”
“The way he incorporated your love for all things Queen Victoria, I honestly don’t know how he pulled it off. The ring, the private performance by Enrico Caruso, the same flowers that appeared in the Queen’s wedding bouquet. Hang on to him, Mattie, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
“Don’t worry, I will. That really was the most romantic Valentine’s Day in the history of Valentine’s Days. My mother swooned when I told her, but my father is less impressed by the romantic gesture and more concerned with our future. He says that Frankie Sutton is from a disgraced family, and he actually tried to forbid me to marry him. Can you even imagine that? Don’t answer that. I know we can all imagine it.”
“What did you say when he said you couldn’t marry Frankie?” Julia asked.
“I very politely asked him if he had any idea what year it was. I mean, honestly Julia, it’s like he wasn’t paying attention to the suffrage movement at all. Luckily my mother calmed him down, but I suspect it’s not the last I’ve heard of it. Frankie, bless his heart, said he has something in the works that will support us and that I don’t need to worry at all. I’m not even a tiny bit worried. Frankie doesn’t know that Mother opened an account for me, using my father’s signature, and I have so much money that we could spend our entire lives gallivanting about the globe and be no worse for the wear.”
“Your mother has always been such an inspiration to me, Mattie. She simply does whatever she wants and doesn’t seem to bat an eye about bending—or completely shattering—the rules.”
Mattie smiled. “I am quite fortunate.”
“Are you going to tell Frankie about your money so he doesn’t have to worry?” Edith asked.
Julia smiled. It was just like Edith to be focused on the money rather than the bravado of Mattie’s mother.
Mattie nodded. “Of course I will. I am curious to see what Frankie is scheming, though.”
Julia thought she had an inkling of what Frankie was considering, but she decided to leave it to Frankie to address it with Mattie.
“Have you set a date for the wedding yet?” Opal asked.
“The summer, most definitely. I haven’t decided if it will be this summer or next, but it must be a summer, seaside wedding. I should think I’d like to marry Frankie sooner than later. I could wait until February next and marry on Victoria and Albert’s anniversary on February 10, 1840.” Mattie added the year, always a stickler for any details concerning her beloved queen. “But I’ve always wanted a seaside wedding. I think, if Victoria were alive, she’d be just fine with the change of venue and date.”
Mattie winked at Julia. Julia had teased Mattie about her obsession with Queen Victoria for their entire childhood. Now it was simply a part of who Mattie was.
“I’m sure you’re right, Mattie. I’m certain if she was still alive, she’d find a way to attend your wedding.”
“Ha! I quite doubt that, but you are sweet to say so. Will you help me plan, my darling girls?”
“We’re helping whether you like it or not. Speaking of romance,” Edith said, “you are holding out on me, Julia. You’ve got your very own romantic update to give. I need every detail, so don’t hold back.”
“You are basically caught up. Jacob stopped by my house to insist that I date him. He apologized for being a fool. I let him, even though in actuality I was the foolish one. I can’t exactly start our romance by letting him think he’s got the upper hand, now can I? At any rate, I’ll always remember the first night I kissed Jacob, the night of your engagement, Mattie. Frankie doesn’t know it, but he managed to make the day a special one for more than just you.”
The girls giggled, and Mattie stared adoringly at her new ring.
“Speaking of Jacob, I need to be going. We are having dinner with his uncle tonight. It was supposed to be last week, but with the Dock Murder case up in the air, it didn’t happen. He’ll be here to pick me up any minute.”
“His uncle the coroner?”
Julia nodded. “The very same.”
“We’ll continue to celebrate without you, then.” Edith play-pouted. “Perhaps we’ll even plan the whole wedding while you are making eyes at your Inspector.”
“If it’s going to be this summer, I’d definitely recommend you get to planning, Mattie. I’ll help however I can. This is going to be the wedding of the century. I simply cannot wait.”
They exchanged hugs and kisses all around, and then Julia made her way to her room to freshen up before Jacob arrived. After the scheduled dinner with his uncle, Jacob had promised them some time alone. Ever since he declared his feelings for her last night, they’d been surrounded by people and the flurry of activities surrounding Mattie and Frankie’s engagement. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him and receive more of his affections.
2
Early Evening
February 15, 1921
Lockley Residence
London
Julia and Jacob held hands on the drive from her home in Mayfair to Dr. Lockley’s residence, and she found herself completely overcome at the feel of his hand in hers. It was such a simple gesture, but one that held the promise of their newly defined relationship.
“I’ve decided that I’ll allow you to refer to me as your girlfriend, but I’ve not decided I’ll refer to you as my boyfriend. No, instead, I think I’ll simply refer to you, and think of you for that matter, as my Inspector. That sounds better to me.”
He grinned and pulled their joined hands up to his lips and kissed the back of her hand.
“I see. Good for me to know what it is that you’ll allow. Would you prefer I refer to you as my newspaper girl?”
“That’s a hideous title, Inspector Gibbs, and you know it. That sounds like I’m in charge of delivering your newspapers to you. I am Julia Barlow, your girlfriend. For now. We’ll see if you get to keep that title
.”
“Oh, will we now? You’ve decided I’m on a probation of sorts, is that it?”
She smiled, enjoying their playful banter. “I suppose you are. Don’t worry, it’s not a terribly demanding position. No need to be as over-the-top romantic as Frankie. Nobody could possibly beat last night’s gesture of love. No, all that you need to concern yourself with is pledging your devotion to me, promising never to allow me to be bored, and, when the need arises, allowing access to all your files at Scotland Yard. I suppose it’s only a matter of time before another case falls in my lap and I’m forced to go up against you.”
His face grew serious. “Why would you think you need to be against me? We should be allies in any investigations you are conducting.”
“In a perfect world, my dear Jacob, yes, we would always be allies. I get the privilege of working in a world with fewer cares of police procedure than you. You’ll always be bound by the law first, and I think it’s rather progressive of me to know that and be aware of the ways in which I’ll need to circumvent your attention to legality. Don’t you?”
“Progressive, you say?”
Silence hung in the air between them for a moment, and then he responded. “Yes, I suppose you are quite progressive. I, however, should like to make a demand of my own.”
“Of course, Inspector. I’m nothing if not fair and reasonable.”
They both let that falsehood go without comment.
“Should you find yourself in the position of avoiding legality, all I ask is that you keep me out of it. If you don’t wish me to be in position against me, it’s best you keep me in the dark on your more questionable activities.”
She nodded and squeezed his hand in a mock handshake.
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Inspector Gibbs. I only ask that you remember this conversation and not get cranky when I circumvent you. Deal?”
“A deal I should like to seal with a kiss, Miss Barlow.”
She cleared her throat. “Julia. Unless I’m mad at you, then you may call me Miss Barlow if I allow you to speak to me at all.”
He laughed out loud at her ridiculous demands. Caught somewhere between actually negotiating the logistics of their personal and professional relationship and flirting shamelessly, neither of them would likely have been able to say which of these agreements they were making were legitimate and which were utter silliness.
He pulled into the drive of Dr. Lockley’s house.
“Here we are, darling. Can I call you darling?”
She opened her car door and stood. “I quite insist on it, actually. Darling sounds simply magical rolling off your tongue. In fact, I think you should kiss me before we are bothered with the restraints of polite company.”
He walked around the car and kissed her soundly, leaving her quite breathless and momentarily incapable of speech.
Jacob took her by the hand and pulled her along with him toward the front door of his uncle’s home. She followed behind him, willing her regular breath to return. Once she was firmly back in her body, she reached out with her free hand and gently squeezed his backside. He jumped at her touch just in time for his uncle to answer the door and look at him in a most peculiar way.
“Nephew, Miss Barlow. How lovely to see you both. Jacob, are you quite all right?”
Julia extended her hand. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Dr. Lockley. Don’t mind Jacob. He’s not used to women being so assertive. Look at his blushing cheeks. I do believe I’ve embarrassed the inspector.”
“Hello, Julia.” He pulled her in for a welcoming hug. “Call me Joe. Jacob has always been easy to embarrass. Glad you’ve found your way to it. A blushing Jacob is always worth the sight.”
“Uncle.” Jacob acknowledged him, a fake growl of irritation in his voice. “You were always an instigator. Don’t worry, Julia will turn on you as well and leave you just as flummoxed as I am these days.”
“I should imagine that’s the case, young Jacob.”
He took their coats and led them into the parlor where a beautiful older woman greeted them.
“Jacob, how wonderful to see you. And you must be Julia. Welcome to our home.”
“Auntie, so good to see you. I hope my uncle Joe hasn’t been too frustrating to live with lately.”
“Oh, yes, he’s always frustrating, but he makes up for it in other ways.”
Dr. Lockley and his wife had a good life, sharing a smile and a wink.
Jacob’s aunt ignored Julia’s outstretched hand and instead pulled her into a hug.
“Thank you for the kind welcome, Mrs. Lockley. It’s wonderful to meet some of Jacob’s family.”
“Oh, do call me Penelope. It’s beyond lovely to meet a woman friend of Jacob’s. It’s not a common event around here. I dare say he must have taken quite a liking to you if he’s brought you around to meet the likes of us. May I offer you a refreshment before dinner?”
“Tea would be lovely, thank you.”
Penelope served the four of them tea, and they chatted about local events while they waited for dinner to be served.
“Penelope,” the doctor explained, “has been active in fundraising for the Tyburn Convent in preparation for the memorial next week.”
“Oh, how interesting,” Julia replied. “I haven’t heard about a memorial. What is the convent commemorating?”
“For the Catholics who were martyred at Tyburn Tree. They are raising money for some of the other Tyburn houses, to keep up on the maintenance of the exterior.”
“I didn’t realize they had other houses. Are they here, in London?”
“No,” Penelope answered. “There is the one here in London with others in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and even some in South America.”
“I suppose I’ve passed by their convent many times, but I’ve never even seen a nun. In reality, I thought it was abandoned.”
Penelope shook her head. “No, the nuns there live in the fully enclosed order. They don’t teach or serve as other orders do. Instead, they pray constantly for the Catholics that were executed over the years at Tyburn Tree. They do have Sunday services, but they are cloistered there at the three-building facility, leaving only very rarely for doctor’s appointments and the like.”
“What a fascinating life,” Julia said. “When is your memorial event? Perhaps I can write a story about it for you and help you with the publicity? I think I can get my editor to go along with it.”
“Well, that would be wonderful, Julia. Thank you for the kind offer. I have to go over in the morning for some business. Would you like a tour?”
“Yes, certainly. Thank you.”
“Dinner is ready. Shall we move to the dining room?”
Jacob stood and led Julia through the modest home and into the dining room where he pulled out a chair for her.
She sat and then he walked around the table to take a seat across from her. Penelope and Joe each took a spot at the ends of the table. A lively meal accompanied by wine and intriguing conversation occupied the next ninety minutes. Eventually, Jacob sighed and stood.
“Uncle, Auntie. If you’ll excuse us. I have an early start tomorrow.”
“Of course, thank you for coming and bringing Julia so we could meet her properly. Julia, you are welcome any time,” Penelope said.
“Yes, any time,” Mr. Lockley repeated. “Jacob, you hold on to this one. I can see that she’s good for you.”
Julia blushed but was silently pleased with the pronouncement. She quite agreed with Jacob’s aunt and uncle.
Her thoughts traveled to what was next. She knew he did have to work early, but she also knew that he’d promised her alone time together and that more kisses were on the menu. She wondered how far she could press his virtue tonight and could scarcely concentrate on his extended family any longer.
“Julia, I’ll see you in the morning at the convent then, yes. Ten o’clock?”
“Yes. I’m very much looking forward to it, Penelope.”
J
acob hustled them out of the house and back to his car, her arm looped through his.
“Well, Julia, I promised you time alone, and I’m a man of my word. Would you accompany me to my flat? I’ll pour you a drink, and we can discuss all the scandalous ways you plan on corrupting me.”
“That sounds quite lovely, Jacob. Except for the bit about talking. Any talking you have to do, make sure you get it out of your system before we arrive at your house. You’ll be entirely too busy kissing me to be able to have time for talking.”
He blushed again, and it sent a thrill through her, reinforcing her forward ways. She wondered to herself if she had the necessary bravery to actually be as forward as she alluded to being. She barely recognized this version of herself but found it to be completely liberating. At least in principle.
Her thoughts on the way to his house were filled with equal parts desire for Jacob and shock at herself for having such bold ideas.
Which version of Julia would come out on top, she certainly had no idea, but she was looking forward to finding out.
Once they arrived at Jacob’s flat, he started a fire for them and poured them each a drink.
“I have something for you,” he told her. “I wanted to give it to you yesterday, on the actual holiday, but everything happened so quickly with you and I sorting things out and then all the excitement around Frankie and Mattie’s engagement, there didn’t seem to be a good time to—well, here.”
He handed her a small jewelry box.
“What is it?” she asked, eagerly turning the velvet box over in her hands but not opening it.
“Open it.”
She noticed her hands were trembling a bit and tried to force a sense of calm.