“Nothing that I particularly noticed.” Jack glanced at Lily out of the corner of his eye. “There was no sign of whoever shot the poor fellow by the time we got there.”
Mr. Page sighed. “That’s usually the case with things like this. Fellow that no one knows, wandering around a place where he clearly doesn’t belong. We’ll do our best to figure out who he is, though even that may be unlikely.” Mr. Page looked thoughtful as he closed his notebook. “Nasty business for Lord and Lady Walter.”
“And I am sure you hope they will pay you handsomely to deal with it as quickly as possible.” Jack didn’t bother disguising the sarcasm in his voice, and Lily winced as Mr. Page’s head shot up.
“I beg your pardon, Captain Hartley?” The constable’s tone was icy.
Lily ground her teeth. The accusation was not unreasonable; while the fledgling police force at Bow Street was paid a salary to keep the officers from accepting bribes, many still did. But the fault was not entirely one-sided: most members of Lily’s class were more than willing to use their money to turn an investigation in their favor or keep the law away from their families.
Regardless of its truth, Jack’s comment had not helped the current situation. He and the Bow Street officer stared at each other with contempt, jaws clenched and nostrils flared. Trying to smooth things over, Lily spoke up before either man could say anything else inflammatory. “To return to the matter at hand, Mr. Page, I overheard the two gentlemen arguing. I could not say for certain what they were arguing about, but I heard—”
“Mrs. Adler.” The constable stood so abruptly that she broke off. He was still scowling at Jack, and Lily had the feeling that his dismissive tone was directed at both of them—possibly at every scornful member of London’s upper class. “I understand you’ve had quite a shock, and I sympathize. I can also see you want to help, and I appreciate that. But those of us who work with the law have a particular way of handling these matters. We like to stick to the facts.”
“But—”
“I’m sure you’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.” He smiled coldly. “Try to forget about the whole business. It really isn’t anything a lady of quality need concern herself with.”
Stunned at the abrupt dismissal, Lily was at a loss for a reply, and Mr. Page seemed to take her silence for agreement. “Lord Walter has given me your direction, Captain, so I don’t think I’ll need to trouble you any further this evening. But if you think of anything else, you can find me tomorrow at the Marlborough Street Magistrates Court.” He nodded to them both before heading toward the door. “Ma’am. Captain. I’ll wish you a good evening.”
“What a damned idiot!” Jack practically slammed the door after the constable, then grimaced as he remembered Lily’s presence. “My apologies. But I think the situation warrants a bit of strong language.”
“Why on earth did you say that to him?” Lily asked. Jack’s anger made it easier for her to be calmer, though she couldn’t keep the exasperation from her voice. “Now there is no chance that he will listen to us.”
“Why—!” Jack stared at her. “How can you say such a thing after the way he spoke to you? He deserved a far worse insult. The bounder thought you were too much of a pea brain to have anything to contribute, when he should have been questioning you first and most!”
“It was infuriating.” Lily pursed her lips. “Luckily, I have had practice dealing with that sort of attitude. After all, Captain, you said nearly the same thing when I first tried to tell you what had happened.” Jack, who had been about to launch into another tirade in her defense, was left with his mouth hanging open. “Mr. Page, at least, has the excuse of not knowing better,” Lily said. “We may not be deeply acquainted, but I would have expected you to have a more flattering opinion of me.”
He had the decency to look embarrassed at that. “I did not think … That is, I did not mean …”
“I know.” Lily stood. “But you still did. And now, if you will excuse me, Captain, the constable was right about one thing at least. I am very much in need of a good night’s sleep.”
“Mrs. Adler—” He broke off, clearly not sure how to reply.
Lily shook her head. “If you figure out what you wish to say, you may come by tomorrow to say it. I imagine I shall still be here. But for now, I really am exhausted.” She gave him a slight bow, which he automatically returned. “Good night, Captain.”
She was just closing the door behind her when she heard him say, quietly but distinctly, “Oh hell.”
CHAPTER 5
“Well, it is all over London.” Serena’s voice was full of satisfaction.
She, Lord Walter, and Lily were seated in the breakfast room, and the butler, Reston, had just brought in the morning papers, freshly ironed. Serena was holding one of the London gossip sheets, a piece of toast forgotten in the other hand. “‘The body of a murdered man, apparently of the working classes, found in the gardens of Lord and Lady W— during an evening soiree … No identification of the body has been made … No word yet from Lord and Lady W— on the matter, and This Author does not expect them to comment … One hopes the whole shocking affair will be tidily resolved …’” Serena threw down the paper with a gusty sigh. “As if another ‘Lord and Lady W’ hosted a ball in London last night!”
“You can hardly have expected it to stay out of the gossip columns, my love.” Lord Walter’s voice was mild, though there was a frown between his eyes as he read his own paper. “The Times has it as well; it seems murder trumps even this week’s upset at the Newmarket races. Perhaps we should take a trip to the country until it blows over.”
“In the middle of the season?” Serena looked horrified. “My love, have you lost your wits? We feature in one of the on-dits of the year! We will be invited simply everywhere. How can you think of missing such an opportunity?”
“Serena, you just said …”
Lily ignored them as they settled into a comfortable argument, if it could be called an argument when it was punctuated by Lord Walter’s amiable comments of, “Whatever you wish, my love.” It was a foregone conclusion that they would stay in London, but Serena would never relent until she could say she had convinced her husband. Lord Walter was still holding the Times, so Lily claimed the gossip sheet Serena had so dramatically cast aside. There wasn’t much more to the article than Serena had read aloud, but Lily was surprised to find that it was accompanied by a sketch of the murdered man—“an entirely unknown person,” as the piece described him.
“I will have to make a showing in the park this afternoon,” Serena said, buttering another piece of toast. “Simply everyone will want to speak with me, and you should come too, Lily, as it was you who found him, though none of the papers have discovered that fact—”
“And we should keep it that way to save Mrs. Adler any embarrassment,” Lord Walter put in gently.
“Oh, if you insist,” Serena relented. “But I’ll not be dissuaded from appearing entirely …”