After a week in London, the family prepared to return to the country for Harrison’s funeral. Sketchy details about his murder had been sent to Harriett’s father. She managed to hear most of it by eavesdropping on her parent’s hushed conversations. There had been no sign of a break-in, or theft. The fine collection of paintings, Sèvres porcelain, antique gold clocks and other exquisite objects d’art owned by Elizabeth’s family for generations were left untouched, along with her jewelry that Harrison had kept. It was a mystery how the murderer had entered the house. It was securely locked for the night. Apparently, Harrison had always insisted on it. None of the servants claimed to have heard a thing. The magistrate expressed the view that the murderer was long gone.

Leonora, delighted by the success of her first ball, where she’d danced every dance, had become sulky when informed she had to return to Pendleton for the funeral. She brightened once she’d extracted a promise from Father that she could return to London in time for Almack’s and was to have a new gown.

Harriett, her mother, and Leonora poured over silks, muslins, brocades and satins in Harding, Howell & Co, in Pall Mall. Mama purchased a black crepe mourning gown for herself, but told the girls they need only dress in sober fashion. She held up a gown she considered suitable for Harriett.

“But Mama!” Harriett stared at the sober, pearl-grey cambric in dismay. “That color doesn’t suit me.” The colors her mother chose never looked good on her.

“Allow me to know best, Harriett,” her mother said. “This is a solemn occasion.”

Harriett knew she couldn’t compete with her beautiful sister whatever she wore, but she was keen to look her best. She wandered about and discovered an evening gown that made her heart beat faster.

“Look, Mama. This is lovely.” She held the Cossack green silk evening gown against her. In the mirror, she looked different, older and more elegant.

“Mm. That is nice,” Mama said. “A little mature for a girl of your years.”

“I’m sure I saw Lady Susan Quigley wearing something similar,” Harriett said, hopefully. Young unmarried ladies routinely dressed in white during the evening. She disliked being one of a crowd.

She moved on and discovered a softer green satin with a net overlay with green satin ribbons tied under the bust and puffed sleeves. “How about this?”

“Mm. Better. It’s not as though you are in your first Season.” Mama turned back to Leonora.

“And, may I please have this?” Harriett waved a pearl-handled parasol of a pretty sea green.

“My goodness, Harriett,” Her Mama raised her head from discussing a lavender muslin with Leonora, “I’ve never found you to be so interested in fashion!”

They returned home with their packages. They were to leave for Pendleton early the next morning.

Harrison’s funeral service at the church drew quite a crowd, but only twenty people came to see him laid beside his wife, Elizabeth, in the small family plot on the estate grounds.

At the graveyard, Gerard stood apart from the rest. Harriett wanted to go to him and offer some measure of comfort, but sensed he wished to be alone.

No one but Gerard seemed moved by Harrison’s death. It made Harriett sad, until she noticed the stricken faces of the tenants and staff, huddled in a small group at the back. Pleased that there were some who cared about him, she banished the ungenerous thought that they were more concerned about their futures.

Gerard had vanished by the time they walked back to the house. Her stomach churned with nerves. Was she right to trust him? Would her father ever forgive her if she were proven wrong? She could only follow her instincts. Or might it be her heart that told her Gerard wasn’t capable of murder?

“Harrison would have been pleased with such a showing,” Mama said.

They dawdled back to the house with her mother and her aunt locked in conversation.

Father greeted them at the door. “Mr. Jarvis is ready, and everyone is seated in the Red Drawing room, my love.”

A little more than a handful remained for the reading of the will. None were closely related to Harrison, for all of his immediate family rested below ground. Some members of the staff clustered toward the rear of the room, in hope of some remuneration for long service, while the solicitor, Mr. Jarvis read the legal jargon of the lengthy document in sonorous tones. Harriett found it difficult to pay attention, particularly when Gerard came in and leaned against a column. He nodded to her, looking far too dashing in black, his boots polished to a high shine. It touched her that he’d taken extra care out of respect for Cousin Harrison. She wanted to go and stand with him, but sensed he wouldn’t welcome it.

Mr. Jarvis announced small annuities for the staff and one or two of the distant relatives. He read out her mother’s name. “To my dear cousin, Rebecca, Lady Edgerton, I bequeath the sum of two thousand pounds and my wife’s jewelry. To my cousin Georgina, Lady Dalrimple, two thousand pounds and the Rubens she likes that hangs above the staircase in the Grand Hall.”

“How nice that he thought of us,” Mama murmured, laying a black glove on her husband’s arm. The room erupted as everyone chatted. The solicitor paused and shuffled his papers.

When silence descended to the point where they could hear the inner workings of the clock on the mantle, he continued, “The bulk of my estate; the house, furniture, paintings and sculptures, lands and investments, go to my nephew and friend, Lord Gerard Everard, fifth earl of Foxworth.”

With a collective gasp, all heads swiveled to Gerard. He stood ramrod straight, looking as shocked as everyone else. Then he turned and left the room.

“Well I never.” Jacob Smithson, a hopeful, but tenuous connection of Cousin Harrison’s, bounded up and departed. Everyone else filed out after him to take tea in the salon.

Harriett searched the group who sat around drinking tea, but Gerard had not seen fit to join them. It was obvious the contents of the will were a surprise to him.

“Only fancy. Gerard,” Mama murmured to Father and Georgina. “Harrison’s better instincts allowed him to rise above the family feud.”

“I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, but must confess I haven’t found much evidence that he had better instincts,” Georgina said, holding a flowery teacup to her lips. “But I must say I’m surprised that he remembered how much I liked the Rubens.”

“Will Gerard be very rich, Mama?” Leonora asked, taking a scone from the plate.

“Yes, my dear.” Mama dabbed at her eyes with a wisp of lace. “I hate change, it’s most upsetting. Harrison would wish me to set his house in order. Gerard has so much to deal with, I’m sure he will appreciate it, especially if he plans to lease or sell it.” Her black skirts rustled purposefully as she rose to examine a cabinet of china against the wall behind them “These all need to be taken out and thoroughly cleaned.” She shook her head. “The whole house is sadly neglected.” She wheeled around. “Harriett, you must stay and assist me.”

“I?” Harriett asked, surprised, but secretly pleased.

“I’ll discuss it with Gerard and your father, first of course. I’m sure they will agree. Your sister must fulfill her social engagements, but as you …” she took a deep breath, raising her brows “… have no such commitments, you can spend a week or two here with me.”

She must find Gerard; he seemed cut adrift from them all. Not that he’d wish to deal with the disgruntled guests muttering amongst themselves. She stood. “I think I’ll take a walk.”

She found Gerard sitting on the garden wall, his bowed head in his hands. He looked up as she approached.

“I never expected it, Harry.”

“I know.” She sat beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“I imagine the drawing room is buzzing with speculation,” he said, absently patting her hand.

“You might say that. But really, who cares?”

He banged a fist against his thigh. “One thing, it’s made me all the more determined to catch his murderer.”

A shiver passed through her. “Do you have any idea who did this terrible thing?”

His blue eyes darkened with pain. “Whether I do or not doesn’t concern you, young Harry.”

She wished he saw her as a grown woman. It was perverse, he certainly had no trouble viewing Leonora that way and she was younger. If only Mama had agreed to the Cossack silk evening gown with the plunging neckline. “I want to help.”

“You can, by keeping silent about what you saw.”

“But—”

Humor flickered in his sad eyes. “Or will I have to kiss you again?”

“Gerard, really!” Harriet’s pulse picked up at the thought, if only he really meant it. “Can’t you tell me?”

He shook his head. “It could place you in danger.”

“That’s nonsense. How could it?”

“Harrison’s murderer might still be close by.”

Rubbing at the shivery feeling on her arms, Harriett jumped up. “To be safe I need to know more, surely, especially now I’m to stay here with Mother while she restores order to the house.”

“You’re staying on?” He frowned. “Your father offered to assist where he could. But you…here…” He shook his head. “I’m not sure I like it.”

“Please tell me what you know, Gerard. Father….”

“Hallo, you two!” Leonora tripped across the lawns in her ivory muslin trimmed with lavender, shading her face from the sun with a lacy lavender parasol.

Gerard turned to Harriett. “It might be safer if you do know. Seeing as you’re so impetuous, and will no doubt go poking about on your own, meet me tonight at eleven. I’ll be at the stables. If you can’t come, I’ll understand. And if you see anyone about, go back to your bedroom and stay there. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Leonora stood poised at the top of the marble steps flanked by huge stone urns. She pouted. “I’m so excessively bored. What talk proves so interesting?”

“Pretty girls should never be bored.” Gerard leapt up to take her hand and assist her down the steps. “Are you to stay here next week also?”

Leonora raised her gown high enough to reveal her lavender half boot. “I’m leaving with my aunt tomorrow. I have social engagements in London.”

“How dull Pendleton will become without one of its finest ornaments,” he said.

Leonora laughed. “So prettily said, Gerard. Your talent is wasted in this backwater.” She sat between them on the bench, and toyed with the locket at her throat. “I have yet to gain your promise to come and visit us.”

Gerard bowed his head with a smile. “I will, just as soon as I can. But there is much to do here.” He rose. “Now you must both excuse me.”

He made his way back to the house.

Leonora pursed her lips. “I’m not sure I want him to come to London.”

“Why ever not?”

“He’ll be on every mama’s list of eligible bachelors.”

“Yes he will.” Harriett watched his broad shoulders disappearing through the front door.

Leonora stood and brushed down her dress. “I may come back after my dance at Almack’s.”

“May?”

Leonora raised her brows. “If I haven’t received an excellent offer,” she said, as if speaking to a simpleton.

“You’re not in love with Gerard, then?” Harriett asked.

Leonora gave her tinkling laugh. “Heavens no. What of that? Better a man be madly in love with you, then you can get whatever you want from him.”

“That sounds awfully mercenary, Leonora. You might change your mind when you’re older.”

Leonora shrugged. “We shall see.”

♥♥♥

After he saw the guests off in their carriages, Gerard went to join Lord Edgerton in the library.    

Edgerton took a sip of brandy. “You have a lot on your plate, Gerard. Lady Edgerton has offered to restore order to the house. If there’s anything I can do, you have only to ask.”

Gerard rose and went to the drinks tray. He topped up their drinks from the decanter. “It’s extremely generous. I appreciate the offer very much, sir. However, I don’t wish to disrupt your lives, especially as Leonora has embarked on her first Season. Should you feel it prudent to return to Town, I will certainly understand. It might take me longer to right things here, but I shall manage.”

“My wife has made up her mind, Gerard.” Edgerton smiled and shrugged. “We fellows must obey.”

Gerard could hardly argue the point without appearing ungrateful. He was in two minds about them remaining, there were distinct advantages in having the house occupied. An empty house allowed the staff and any interested parties to run rampant. If the murderer was still around, he could proceed to carry out his plans unhindered. And, as it was only for a week or two, he could be here every night to keep a watch on the house.

Gerard frowned. “The constable plans to return before the inquest, he’ll want my assistance in interviewing the rest of the staff, before I can turn my mind to other matters.”

“Quite so. Perhaps I can help with that.” Edgerton smiled. “I would prefer to be out of doors, before my wife finds employment for me in the house.”

Gerard ginned. He wished he could be honest with Edgerton, he disliked lying and was not as good at this business as Harrison had been.

He would have to tell Harriett enough to keep her onside, or he’d be worrying too much about her safety. He couldn’t invent a story, either, she was sharp and he doubted she’d let him get away with anything less than the truth.