* * *
Lily hoped the small parlor where she and Serena had sat after dinner was enough removed from the ballroom that they wouldn’t be interrupted there. But though she and Jack managed to make their way through the ballroom without attracting attention, they were brought up short before they were halfway down the hall to the parlor.
“Mrs. Adler! Are you unwell?”
The woman’s voice was quiet and concerned, and they turned to find Isobel Harper frowning at them.
“What are you doing here?” Lily asked without thinking.
Miss Harper’s brows rose. “Looking for my uncle, the general. Do you need assistance?” She glanced askance at Captain Hartley.
Lily leaned more heavily on Jack’s arm. “Thank you, Miss Harper, but please do not trouble yourself. I clumsily twisted my ankle out on the terrace, and the captain is helping me to my carriage.”
“I should never describe someone with your grace as clumsy, Mrs. Adler.” Miss Harper’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Lily bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from saying anything unwise. Miss Harper had never been known as a gossip, but even she would be suspicious of a lady and gentleman sneaking away from a ballroom. The last thing Lily needed was rumors following her. “The heat, you know. I stepped outside for a breath of air on the terrace, and—” She waved her hand vaguely, wondering how pained she should try to look. “It is nothing serious. May I make Captain Hartley known to you, Miss Harper? He was a childhood friend of my dear Freddy’s and gallantly came to my rescue. Captain, Miss Harper.”
“Charmed, madam.” Jack somehow managed to bow smoothly from the chest up while keeping a supporting hand under Lily’s arm. “I must apologize for my abruptness, but Mrs. Adler really should not be straining her ankle any further. But we should be most grateful for your assistance. Would you be so good as to seek out Lady Walter and send her to Mrs. Adler in the blue parlor?”
Somehow, whether it was his charming smile, his air of military command, or simply the practical nature of his request, Jack made quicker work of Miss Harper’s watchful concern than Lily could have ever managed on her own. After Miss Harper left to fulfill her errand, he escorted Lily to the blue parlor, hesitating briefly over leaving her alone before promising to return with Lord Walter as quickly as possible.
Lily waited anxiously for them to return, pacing the room until she heard low voices arguing in the corridor. On edge and unwilling to sit around feeling vulnerable, she flung open the door, then stared in surprise.
Miss Oswald stood directly across from her, her back pressed against the wall as a man leaned toward her, his outstretched hand resting next to her head and blocking her escape. “… saw you sneak away …” he was murmuring.
“I was not sneaking anywhere,” the girl protested, trying to edge away. She sounded scared. “Move aside, sir, or someone—” She caught sight of Lily and gasped, her eyes widening in sudden panic at being caught in such a position.
“What the devil—” The man turned, and his eyes narrowed. “You.”
For the second time that night, Lily found herself staring down Reggie Harper, and this time she was furious. After all that had happened, to be confronted with such a man was the last straw. “I believe I suggested that you depart for the evening.”
“I do not take orders from—”
“I suggested you depart,” she repeated, not raising her voice, but her chilly tone made him fall silent. “It is no longer a suggestion, Mr. Harper. You will leave, at once, or you will regret it very deeply.”
Mr. Harper glanced between the two women, clearly trying to decide whether to risk making a scene. But another look at Lily’s furious expression made him hesitate, and at last he muttered, “Frigid shrew,” under his breath and strode away.
Miss Oswald let out a breath and sagged against the wall.
“Did he hurt you?” Lily asked.
“No.” The girl swallowed, still looking afraid. Lily did not blame her; if word got out that the young heiress had been alone with a man like Mr. Harper, her reputation would be ruined, even if she was only trying to fend off his advances. “I swear, Mrs. Adler, I was not—”
“I know.” Lily cut her off. “He approached me in a similar manner earlier tonight.” The girl’s mouth quivered, and Lily would have moved to comfort her, but at that moment she heard voices coming down the hall and recalled why she was there in the first place. “Go splash some cool water on your face before you return. I will make sure no one hears any gossip.”
“Thank you.” The girl glanced in the direction of the voices, then scampered off down the hall, disappearing around the corner just as Jack and Lord Walter came into view.
Jack grimaced in apology as he saw Lily’s tight expression. “My apologies. His lordship was not in the card room,” he explained as they returned to the parlor and closed the door.
“Mrs. Adler, are you well?” Lord Walter’s friendly face was wreathed in worry.
“Yes, I am. But …” Lily glanced around. “Is Serena coming? I sent for her as well.”
“If you sent for her, I am sure she will arrive at any moment.”
Lily frowned, but before she could say anything, Serena entered the room with a loud cry of, “Lily!” She seized her friend’s hand, quivering with worry. “Isobel Harper said you injured yourself—”
“What has happened, Mrs. Adler?” Lord Walter’s practical interruption didn’t seem to upset his wife.
Lily was grateful; she didn’t think she could deal with Serena’s dramatics at the moment. She met his eyes and said, matching his calm tone as well as she could, “I am afraid there is a dead body in your garden.”
There was a moment of stunned silence; then Serena and her husband began talking at once. It took several moments to quiet them down so Lily could explain what had happened.
“But, Lily, darling,” Serena said, focusing on the one detail Lily had hoped her audience would overlook. “Why were you in the garden at all?” She glanced at her husband, and they both very deliberately did not look at Jack.
Lily had no desire to explain about Mr. Harper’s advances. She would tell Serena in private, but not in front of the gentlemen. “Getting some air, of course.”
“I sent one of your footman to make sure no one else wanders into the garden, but we should not leave him alone any longer than necessary,” Jack said. He tugged at his cravat, looking as uncomfortable as Lily had yet seen him, and exchanged a glance with Lord Walter.
Whether she was saved further inquiry because they believed her, because of his lordship’s discretion, or simply by the fact that she was a widow and entitled to do as she wished, Lily could not decide. Whatever the reason, Lord Walter merely nodded. “I will have another one of the lads join him, and someone will fetch one of the Bow Street fellows immediately.”
“We cannot interrupt the party,” Serena protested, bristling when Jack made a noise of protest. “I am not so flighty as that, thank you. I meant we cannot let anyone know what has happened. We should have half our guests rushing for the door and the other half rushing for the gardens to get a look. It would be a dreadful mess.”