A Gilded Grave (17 page)

“We . . .”

“I asked Mr. Woodruff to escort me back to the veranda.” Madeline’s voice was perfectly modulated, but Deanna thought she was prevaricating. “We heard a scream and, being close to where the sound came from, we naturally came to help if someone was in distress.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, we were too late.” Madeline flicked a glance at Joe, so quickly that
Deanna might have missed it if she hadn’t been so intent on the fiction Madeline was telling.

The walk to the veranda from the beach came nowhere close to the rocks beyond Rejects Beach. Charles had definitely been with Madeline, but if they’d been innocently strolling back to the veranda, Deanna would eat her new straw boater. Surely Will could figure that out.

It was pretty obvious what they’d been out here doing, what most people did on the rocks in the dark. Charles looked disheveled and his waistcoat was misbuttoned.

Madeline, however, looked like she’d just walked away from her maid. She’d finally moved out of the circle of Charles’s arm, and the two stood a respectable distance from each other.

But Deanna wasn’t fooled, and she suspected it was too late for Adelaide to salvage her future with Charles.

Though that may be for the best after all
, Deanna thought. She couldn’t see Adelaide being happy with a man who’d started a flirtation before she’d even left for Boston. None of them had missed the attention Charles had paid to Madeline the night of the ball. And it had just gotten worse since then. It was better to find out now, before her sister was tied to him for life.

At that moment, Deanna swore that she wouldn’t let her sister’s happiness be sacrificed on the altar of business mergers. Surely Adelaide deserved more than that.

Deanna waited for Charles to say something, but when he spoke, he merely corroborated what Madeline had told Will. Protecting her honor? Deanna didn’t think either of them was behaving very honorably. She wasn’t mistaken about what the two of them had been doing. She just wasn’t sure how far they had gone nor how much she should tell Will.

She looked up to find Madeline watching her. Deanna looked away. Between what she’d witnessed last night and tonight, she didn’t like her new friend very much at the moment.

After another few minutes, Will released all of them with the request to contact him if they remembered anything else.

Vlady and Cassie started back with Vlady supporting her and helping her down the rocks she’d climbed up so nimbly and without thought just a short while before. Cassie was taking full opportunity to get closer to him, and once when he lifted her down from a boulder she’d been jumping from for years, she stayed in his arms. She was pressed so close to him that Deanna blushed for her. And then felt a little envious.

No one came to help Deanna over the rocks. She didn’t need help, but it would have been nice if someone had thought about her. She squelched the thought. It was heartless to think of love when yet another poor girl had just been murdered.

Madeline and Charles followed them. Cokey stumbled along, due more to his lack of physical talent than to the amount of champagne he’d drunk that night. She glanced back over her shoulder. Joe was standing with Will right where she’d left them.

Her foot did falter then. Were they discussing the murder, or was Will going to arrest Joe on Cokey Featheringham’s accusations?

Not if she could stop him. She turned back and clambered over the rocks and down into the crevice of sand.

“Deanna, you were supposed to go back with the others,” Will said.

“You’re not going to arrest Joe, are you?”

“No.” He exchanged a look with Joe.

“No secrets. That’s not fair.”

“Dee—” Joe started, but Will interrupted him.

“Dee, this is not a game. You can’t tag along. Two women have been murdered. This is a police investigation, not something you can be a part of.”

She scowled at him, then at Joe, but neither of them succumbed to her expression this time. She sighed. “Fine. Then I won’t bother to tell you what
I
know.” Not that they would believe her now. They’d probably laugh at her for thinking Daisy had tried to leave Orrin a message by tearing off the cover of her book.

She started to pick up her skirts, realized they were still tucked into her waistband, and felt hot with humiliation. She looked ridiculous. How could she expect anyone to ever take her seriously?

She stomped off across the rocks, heedless of how she was going and managed to skid to the bottom without major mishap. That would have been the ultimate humiliation.

“D
o you think she really knows something?” Joe asked.

“I wouldn’t put it past her. And that could be very dangerous, very dangerous indeed.”

“You mean whoever is killing these women may graduate from household maids to the female occupants?”

“Exactly what I mean,” Will said.

“Christ. Well, at least we know for certain that Orrin wasn’t the murderer. He’s locked safely away in jail.”

Will winced. “Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. He was released just this afternoon.”

“W
hat? You released him? Why didn’t someone tell me?” Joe passed his hand over his face. “Where the hell is he?”

Will smiled ruefully. “It was your grandmother’s doing. At least, I assume it was. He was gone when I came in from my rounds this afternoon. Crum was not amused. He really doesn’t like it when the rich call in favors.”

“Nor do you,” Joe reminded him.

“Nor do I, but in this case . . . well, until half an hour ago I was glad. I don’t think that boy killed the first maid.” He pulled his cap down. “I just hope he has an airtight alibi for tonight. Or heads will roll. Starting with mine.”

“Do you think the fact that both maids worked for the Woodruffs and were killed within a week of each other makes this the work of one man?”

“Don’t you?”

“It seems that way, but I bow to your expertise.”

“I think it does. I plan to question every one of their servants strenuously. And then I’ll question the household.”

Joe choked back an involuntary laugh. “I don’t envy you.”

“I’m not looking forward to it. I might learn something from the servants, but I don’t expect any cooperation from the family. Charles and I never liked each other by half.”

Will started to climb back up the rocks to the road. Joe put a hand on his arm, stopping his progress. “You don’t think Charles might have anything to do with these murders? My God, he was with the vixen sister from Barbados. They didn’t admit it, but Charles Woodruff and Madeline Manchester were here first. I think it was she who screamed, not the maid.”

“You saw them?”

Joe thought back. “Not at first. I was on my way home. I had just come out the front entrance and was walking toward the road when I heard a scream. It was coming from this direction, so I ran to see if I could help.”

“And you saw them down on the rocks.”

“I saw movement. I called out, and when I didn’t get a response, I climbed down. That’s when I saw the maid lying on the sand. I ran to her and felt for a pulse, but it was too late. There was nothing, and her skin was cool.” Joe stopped, searched Will’s face. “She wasn’t killed just now.”

Will shook his head. “No. Rigor mortis has set in. I’ll have to consult the coroner, but I’d say she’s been dead for several hours at least, possibly as long ago as last night or early this morning.”

Joe stared at him. “How can you know that?”

“It’s my job.”

“I wondered what she would be doing out here in her uniform. It doesn’t make sense. Is there a chance that this would clear Orrin? If he was still in jail when she was actually killed?”

“Possibly, but convincing the authorities of that a second time around might not be so easy.”

T
he bonfire had lost its allure, and Swan’s magic act had been forgotten. Most of the guests had retreated to the veranda, and those who hadn’t hurriedly left the party were standing in clusters, except for several women who lay on chaises with their vinaigrettes.

Deanna found Cassie and Vlady.

“What took you so long?” Cassie asked, grabbing Deanna’s hand and pulling her away from the others. One quick look around, and Vlady joined them.

“What was she doing out there? She’s one of our maids.” Cassie’s voice trembled. “Why is he picking on us? Two girls from our household. Who will be next?”

“Stop it, Cassie,” Deanna said urgently. “Don’t you dare get hysterical. That’s all we need.”

Vlady had his arm around Cassie’s waist again. This time it seemed to be more protective than seductive. “Dee’s right, Cassie. You don’t want all these people speculating about something that probably has nothing to do with us. Isn’t that so, Dee?”

Deanna was pretty sure Vlady was seeking reassurance for Cassie’s sake, but she didn’t have much to give. The murders might have been committed because of some servant feud or some madman who preyed on young working women—she’d heard of that happening. And she and Elspeth had read many tales, though none quite this disturbing.

But Deanna seriously doubted that either of those possibilities was the correct one. She shuddered to think that Claire was killed because of Daisy, and Daisy was killed because
of—what? Something the maid had seen? It sounded just like the title of one the stories they read.
What the Maid Saw.

Deanna knew she had an active imagination. She’d been accused of that often enough by her mother and her governess. But she wasn’t imagining this. Daisy had wanted Claire to write something for her. She’d been frightened away before she could tell Claire what it was. And then—

“Isn’t that right, Dee?”

“What? Oh, I’m sure Will Hennessey will find the culprit. We just need to stay calm.”

She hoped that answered whatever Vlady had asked her, because she’d become totally absorbed in her own musings. She smiled at him and went back to them.

Daisy had held an envelope with Orrin’s name written on it but with nothing inside. Because she’d been taking it to Claire and had been stopped on her way? Or—

“Girls, girls, come along. We’re all going home.” Mrs. Woodruff waved to Deanna and Cassie. And Deanna became aware that people were leaving in droves. Didn’t Will want to speak to any of the others? Ask if anyone had seen anything?

“I can’t believe this is happening again. Mr. Woodruff has gone to summon our carriage. Charles and Lord David and Madeline have already gone in the first carriage. What did we ever do to deserve this?”

It was a good question, Deanna thought. Now, if they could just figure out the answer before it happened again.

“I’ll see you out,” Vlady said, and took Mrs. Woodruff’s arm.

Deanna caught sight of Herbert standing off to the side, looking as far from the gregarious clown as he ever had.

Deanna was tempted to go over and see if he needed anything, but Vlady hustled them all off the veranda.

The one person she didn’t see was Cokey, but the next time she did, she would give him a piece of advice not to make a fool of himself, and then she would give him a piece of her mind.

Vlady saw them into the carriage and shut the door. “I’ll call on you tomorrow, if I may, to see how you’re doing after this terrible tragedy.”

Cassie reached for his hand as it was resting on the door, but at that moment the carriage pulled away.

“Well,” Mrs. Woodruff said, pulling off her gloves, “I don’t know what’s happening to this town. Or to my staff. Why would someone pick on my girls?” She stopped, her hands arrested in the process of pulling off her second glove. “Unless they’re not the only ones. Some madman might be killing housemaids all over Newport! No one will be safe.”

Mr. Woodruff patted her knee. “I’m sure this is just an isolated villainy.”

“Two, Francis. Two isolated villainies. And I take exception to being singled out. It’s almost as if someone was doing it to spite us.”

“Nonsense, dear. You’re just upset. And you have every right to be.”

Deanna was awed by how calm he was. His business was being questioned, members of his staff were being killed, his son was angry at him, and Deanna’s father had argued with him, yet since his return from Barbados, Mr. Woodruff seemed to alternate between lethargy and agitation, joviality and depression. Tonight, he sounded dismissive of the two deaths, and that was very unlike him.

Something was going on that Deanna didn’t understand. Whether it had anything to do with the murders of the two Woodruff maids was beyond her understanding. A mare’s nest.

She looked around the carriage. The Woodruffs were the friendliest, most welcoming family she knew. They knew how to have fun, and if the higher social beings didn’t always approve, their money kept them from being ostracized.

Monday they would go to tea at Gran Gwen’s, and Deanna would tell her about her fears. She was sure that Gran Gwen would know what to do.

When they arrived back at Seacrest, Deanna went straight to her room and rang for Elspeth. It was close to midnight, and she had no intention of spending any more time with the people downstairs. She wouldn’t be able to look Charles and Madeline in the eye. Or Lord David.

Elspeth came flying out of the dressing room. “Sorry, miss,” she said between whoops of breath. “They’ve let Orrin out of jail. I ran down home to see Ma and the little ones and he was there.” She sucked in a breath and let it go. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. But when I was walking back, I saw the carriage coming up Ocean Avenue so I ran the whole way.”

“Orrin is at home? They released him from jail?”

“Yes. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Oh no! Oh Lord, no. When did they let him go?”

Elspeth’s mouth dropped open. “This afternoon.” Her voice was quiet now. No longer excited, but wary. “What is it, Miss Deanna?”

Deanna pulled a chair close to the dressing table. “Sit down, Elspeth.”

Elspeth stared at the chair like it was the pit of hell instead of a pink-slippered boudoir confection. But after a stern look from Deanna, she sat, hands clasped in her lap.

It tore at Deanna’s heart. Elspeth looked like so many of the
maids she’d watched her mother chastise. Of course, none of them had ever been asked to sit. But they’d all worn that same expression of bewilderment and unease that Elspeth showed now.

Deanna dropped down on her knees beside her.

“What is it, miss?”

“When did you go to see Orrin?”

“Orrin? Why, I didn’t leave here until all of you left for the bonfire.”

“And was he at home or at the workshop?”

“At home. Miss Deanna, you’re scaring me. What’s the matter?”

Deanna tried to swallow. Her mouth felt dry. She ran her tongue over her lips. Best just to say it and be done. “There’s been another murder.”

For several heartbeats, the two women just looked at each other. Then Elspeth’s hand flew to her mouth and she started shaking her head.

“Elspeth, get ahold of yourself. I need to know when you saw Orrin.”

“Who is it? Where?”

“The maid Claire. The one that came to us about Daisy wanting her to write a letter.”

“Her? But no one said a thing downstairs.”

“I doubt they know yet. We only just now found her body on the rocks near the Beach Club.”

“What would she be doing there? The housekeeper here is very strict about girls stepping out any time of the day, but especially now after Daisy. . . . Besides, our folk don’t go to Bailey’s Beach. We’re not allowed there. We go to Easton’s. And Orrin wouldn’t go either place. He can’t swim. No. It weren’t Orrin who did it. It can’t be Orrin. I saw him. Why would he?”

Deanna let her run on until she had to take a breath. “I’m sure he didn’t, but it’s best to know what to expect. So, when did you see him?”

“I went as soon as you left. And I meant to come back earlier, but Orrin was there. Does that mean they won’t arrest him?”

“I don’t know. How long had he been home?”

“Ma said he came in while she was putting her take-in laundry through the wringer. Musta been about three or four.”

“And he was there the whole time?”

Elspeth bit her lip. “I guess so. I mean, he wanted to go tell Mr. Joseph he was out, but Ma wouldn’t let him out of her sight. They were squabbling about it when I got there. But he was going there now.” Elspeth looked at the mantel for the clock. “I left him not twenty minutes ago.”

Deanna let out her breath. “Well, we found her at least an hour and a half ago. So if he was home all afternoon . . .”

“Sergeant Hennessey won’t let them take him again, will he? It’ll kill my ma if they take him away again.”

“I don’t think so. I’m sure he’s safe for now. Tomorrow we’ll go make sure.”

Elspeth nodded and slumped down in her seat. “Poor girl. Poor Daisy, poor Claire. What’s happening in this house, Miss Deanna? Something’s not right.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Did you see her? Claire?”

Deanna nodded. “Lord David’s manservant had just finished his magic act—”

“The voodoo man,” Elspeth whispered.

“He’s just a big black man who knows magic tricks,” Deanna said, trying to convince herself as well as Elspeth. But
the timing of the scream just as the lights went out . . . It sent a shiver down her spine.

“We heard a scream, and Vlady said, ‘Over there.’ And we all ran to the rocks over past the common beach. And Vlady found her and we all went to see, and—” Deanna stopped. “Just like he found Daisy. Wait a minute. He found both girls. And Herbert. Herbert was with him both times.”