Page 23 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
“It’s not the least you can do.If you really have any sympathy for my daughter, there is something you are uniquely positioned to do that will help her.Something that I cannot do.”
Lily dropped her hand, shaking her head.“Madame, Evelina has a perfectly presentable chaperone and sponsor in Lady Perry—”
“I’m not asking that of you.Lady Bradden, I’m asking you to help discover who did murder Lord Dunstable, and their motive so that I can mitigate any potential damage to Evelina’s reputation.”
Lily narrowed her eyes.“Do you really not have your own suspicions, Madame?”she asked, but Madame Chambon shook her head.
“Well, that is the role of the police,” Lily responded with a sigh.“How can I possibly discover who murdered Lord Dunstable when I wasn’t here, and I didn’t even know the man?”
With surprising speed and grace, Madame crossed the carpet towards her.“Your husband is in the newspaper business, Lady Bradden.His photographer is as comfortable above stairs as he is below, as well as in a place like this.You rub shoulders with aristocrats but can don a disguise and roam the alleyways where people speak honestly to you.You know what it is to struggle to survive, and you have a natural instinct for chasing the truth rather than allow yourself to be misled by false leads.The police won’t know where to start looking.And the chief inspector isn’t motivated to learn the truth about a murder that happened under his nose when he was literally yards away, on top of …one of my girls.He’ll find some scapegoat.No, it won’t be me, but it also won’t be the real murderer.Lady Bradden, I appeal to your honesty and integrity.Find the truth!Find out who murdered Lord Dunstable.And, more importantly … why?”
Chapter11
Five minutes after dutifully greeting her with a kiss upon her violet-scented cheek, a dull-eyed Evelina dabbed at her eyes as she sat on the sofa in Lady Perry’s drawing room and agreed that she would neither curtail her social engagements nor seek out Lord Dunstable’s family.
“My dear, he has not yet introduced you to the world as his future bride,” her mother was saying, “and there has been no official announcement of an engagement between you.It means you are free to go forth as an unattached debutante looking for a match.”
Evelina could barely believe her mother’s flinty attitude.Was she really telling Evelina how fortunate it was that Lord Dunstable’s death had occurred before he’d announced their engagement in the newspapers?
“Of course, you are overwrought and grief-stricken, but you must not show this in public,” her mother went on.
Well, this was where Evelina began to feel flint-hearted.
She didn’t feel grief stricken.She’d hardly known Lord Dunstable and the more time passed—although it was only a few hours—the more she felt relieved that she did not have a lifetime to look forward to being his wife.He’d been pleasant enough, but he’d not caused her heart to flutter like …
Well, like William’s presence had.
“I shall try, mama,” Evelina said.She wondered if she should mention that she’d spent the afternoon with several people who had known of her betrothal.Or rather, her likely impending betrothal.
Her mother held her teacup poised above her purple-clad lap but did not drink.She appeared to be thinking.“No, my dear, there is every reason to consider this terrible event in a more favorable light.There had been … whispers...that Lord Dunstable was not the heroic gentleman you might have thought him.”She put down her cup.
Evelina hadn’t considered Lord Dunstable heroic, but she nodded.
“In fact, he was known to frequent certain establishments that….”
Evelina waited.The pursed mouth was ominous.Her Mama was not given to smiling at the best of times.Finally, Mrs.Tarot said, “Certain establishments that gentlemen visit when their wives do not give them the satisfaction they are looking for.”
“When they are bored,” said Evelina.“Yes, Lord Dunstable appeared to have a short attention span.Do you mean his club?”
“Well, a club of sorts.Not strictly a gentleman’s club.A club, in fact, where there were a lot of women.”
Evelina raised her eyebrows.“He did?”
“Yes, and rumors may come to your ears that he, in fact, died in one, since I understand that you have not been furnished with the particulars as to where, in fact, he did …
“Get murdered.”
Her mother looked surprised.“Yes, indeed, my dear.If you wish to speak plainly.”
“I prefer to speak plainly.”
“Well.Good.Then we shall.”
“Mama, I should tell you I spent yesterday afternoon at the zoological gardens with his cousins and … another gentleman … and talk of our impending marriage was discussed.”
Her mother looked dismayed.“Oh, I did not know.That is unfortunate.”
“What should I do?”
