Tennant entered the mortuary’s examining room with Dr. MacKay’s autopsy of Brigid’s cabbie tucked under his arm.Julia had completed the milkman’s postmortem and was working on the charred corpse.
Tennant handed her Dr. MacKay’s report. “Mister Downey Senior is here with Sergeant O’Malley.”
“His son’s body is ready for identification,” she said. “A young man in the prime of life.”
“Engaged to be married, Mister Downey told me.”
Julia sighed. “Poor girl.” She paged through the report until she found Dr. MacKay’s description of the cabbie’s stab wound. “I’d say the causes of death are consistent. A single thrust using a sharp, narrow blade, inserted at the top of the throat immediately under the chin.”
“A piece of physical evidence links the crimes, as well. A copper thought he found a pair of damaged spectacles in the grass. The metal ear hooks match the ones on the ginger beard found by our young mud larks.”
“So, this man, the arsonist …” Julia looked at the remains on the second table.
“Is likely the murderer of Brigid Dowling and the cabbie.”
At the Yard on Saturday morning, Tennant set aside the morning paper.A kitchen fire at Marlborough House. Sir Lionel was right about the story.
A constable knocked. “Parcel dropped off for you with the duty sergeant, sir. By Doctor Lewis’s coachman.”
Tennant untied the string, and two autopsy reports slid from the paper wrapper. He started with the shorter one, the burn victim’s examination, thinking,This won’t take long.
He reached the end of the first paragraph and swore. Then he grabbed his hat and overcoat and scrambled out the door.
At 11:00 a.m., staccato knocks on Julia’s door and Jackie Archer’s breathless “She’s here” announced the royal visitor. Her young orderly stood back to let the doctor pass through the office doorway.
Lady Styles and Princess Louise had only gotten as far as the waiting room’s first bench. The princess crouched to bring her eyes level with a little girl’s gaze. They opened as wide as a pair of gold sovereigns when her mother whispered, “This is Princess Louise, Sally.” When the girl tried to wipe her nose with her sleeve, her mother stopped her hand.
“I had a bad cold before Christmas, just like yours,” the princess said. “And I never had enough of these about me.” She pulled a handkerchief from her muff and handed it to the little girl. She straightened up, saying, “I hope you feel better soon, Sally,” touching her lightly under the chin.
The mother tried to return the handkerchief, but the princess shook her head. “A gift.” Louise smiled as she passed two elderly men who struggled to their feet, doffing their caps. For her part, the doctor dropped a respectable curtsey and opened her office door.
Lady Styles gave Julia a card. “The photographers, Hills and Saunders, sent Her Royal Highness a box of these.”
It was a carte de visite, a photograph the size of a calling card, a head-and-shoulders picture of the princess.PHOTOGRAPHERS TO THE QUEENand the royal crest were printed on the back. Louise had signed, starting with a bold “L,” the tail of the ending “e” in “Louise,” extending like an underline beneath her name.
“I never know what to do with them,” the princess said. “I thought perhaps your patients? A token of apology for disturbing their rest. Susan thought twenty-five was about the right number, but I could send more if they’re needed.”
“We have eleven patients occupying beds today. Twenty-five are enough for my staff.”
“Oh, that’s splendid, then.”
Julia said, “Shall we begin our tour?”
They started with the two wards, the princess chatting easily with the patients bold enough to speak to her. Lady Styles trailed behind, handing out the cartes de visite. After that, Julia explainedthe workings of the outpatient dispensary and showed the princess their well-equipped fever room.
“Empty just now, thank heaven,” Julia said. Then they returned to the doctor’s office for tea. “Oh dear. I meant to add some coal to my fire.”
“Please,” Louise said quickly. “Not on my account.”
Lady Styles smiled. “Like the queen, the princess prefers a room to feel like January, not July.”
“It’s true,” the princess said. “It’s the one thing Mama and I never quarrel about.”
Louise walked to a poster illustrating the body’s muscular structure. “Fascinating,” she murmured. Then the princess took her seat, accepting a cup and saucer from Julia.
Lady Styles said, “Princess Louise visited Elizabeth Garrett’s dispensary for women and children last year.”
“She’s accomplished wonders in Marylebone,” Julia said. “Especially during last year’s cholera outbreak.”
