“Nothing from ear to ear. Now you, Lady Styles. With you, I have the opposite fear. All that gray matter behind eyes that put me on my mettle.”
When the waltz ended, Sir Lionel said, “I see the lovely Alix has attracted half the Marlborough House set.”
“Marlborough House set? You read the illustrated weeklies, Sir Lionel?”
“Avidly. One must beau courantin everything. Shall we join the entourage?”
Susan wasn’t surprised to find the ever-faithful Oliver Montgomery among Alix’s courtiers. Captain Frederick Locock, the doctor’s son, was there as well. Both men wore the blue uniforms of the Royal Horse Guards. Major FitzGerald blazed in the scarlet tunic and gold shamrock lace of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. His wife, Harriet, was there, too, chattingwith the seated princess.But looking over Alix’s head at Princess Louise,Susan thought, amused.
Harriet FitzGerald and Princess Louise shared the same abundant fair hair. Lately, Peter’s wife wore it long and loose in imitation of the princess. That night, she seemed to be eyeing Louise’s dress.Harriet will visit her dressmaker on Monday.
“Lady Styles.” Susan turned and took Peter’s offered hand.
“Major FitzGerald, you know Sir Lionel Dermott, I believe.”
“Oh, FitzGerald and I are old friends and adversaries,” Lionel said. “We pitted our yachts in sail-to-sail combat last summer at Cowes.”
The major smiled. “I believe you had the better of me that day.”
“A lucky shift in the wind.” Lionel turned and clapped Oliver Montgomery on the shoulder. “Ollie, old man, how are you? And Trev.” He extended his hand to George Trevor. “How was the shooting?”
Peter drew Susan aside. “I haven’t seen you since … Any news from the Isle of Wight about that business over the girl?”
“Nothing from the Cowes Constabulary,” Susan said. “But the officials at Dublin Castle—”
Lionel turned around. “Dublin Castle? That lot makes my sleepy corner of the Home Office look sprightly. What do you want with them?”
“Information about a murdered girl’s family,” Susan said. For once, she blessed Alix’s hearing difficulties as Captain Montgomery lowered his voice and explained the tragedy to Lionel.
“You’d be better off applying directly to the efficient Dublin police,” Dermott said. “Although their plate is full just now.”
“Dublin Castle’s officials were helpful, as it happens,” Susan said. “They provided the address once I knew the town’s name and the family that employed the girl,” Susan said.
“How did you discover that?” FitzGerald asked.
“Princess Louise and I sat with a map of Ireland, and it spur red her recollection. Then I exchanged notes with Brigid Dowling. A last letter from her sister had arrived in the post, and she—”
“After all this time?” FitzGerald said.
“Miss Dowling had been in Dublin. When the family returned to their country house, she found a note from her dead sister and my letter.” Susan frowned. “She wrote, asking to come to London to speak to me.”
“Seems odd,” Captain Montgomery said.
Susan frowned. “Something is bothering her.”
FitzGerald asked, “Did she explain her concern?”
“I’ll find out on Tuesday. She’s coming to see me after luncheon.”
Lionel asked, “Coming from where?”
“County Cork. I suggested lodgings at the Chapter House near St. Paul’s.”
“A modest, respectable hostelry,” Lionel said. “Your concern does you credit, Lady Styles. Now, if you’ll excuse me?” He bowed and walked away.
Susan watched Lionel cross the room. He took the elbow of a balding man with the sagging face of a Labrador and steered him to one side. Mister Gathorne-Hardy listened, smoothing his wispy side whiskers. Then he nodded and returned to his wife.
Next, Lionel threaded his way through the knot of men around the Prince of Wales. Each year, the ever-stouter Bertie was easier to find in a crowd, and Lionel and the prince made an amusing contrast.The pencil and the powder keg, Susan thought. Lionel had Bertie’s ear, holding his attention while he spoke. Bertie nodded when he finished, and Lionel bowed and slipped away.
