“Not that, again. For heaven’s sake—”
“Hear me out. There is something odd about an Irish country girl working for the Queen of England and acting as a lady’s maid for Princess Louise.”
“Well, I suppose that may be true.”
“There’s no ‘suppose’ about it, as any woman who hires servants will tell you. The details of Lizzie’s employment may have nothing to do with her tragedy. But the question of how she came to serve Her Majesty needed to be asked. So, I did.”
“Good God.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Please don’t tell me you wrote a letter to the queen’s private secretary.”
“Of course not. I wrote to Lady Styles, who asked Princess Louise, who sent a cable to Princess Alice in Germany, who sent one back.”
Tennant rolled his eyes. “All in the house that Jack built.”
“Or, in this case, Jill.”
“Amusing.”
“Richard, you have a murdered girl whose hiring was unusual, and—”
“Two facts must have a causal link to be relevant. I wake up in the morning, and the sun rises. It has nothing to do with me.”
“But when the sun rises, you wake up. Perhaps because a chink of light came through your window curtains. You must admit that the connection between two singular events warrants investigation.”
Tennant sighed. “I’m running out of rabbit holes, so I might as well explore yours.”
“If it proves to be a treasure hole, I’ll expect some gratitude.”
“Fair enough.” He smiled.
Julia picked up her sherry and sipped it, regarding him over the rim. “You should do it more often, you know.”
“What should the inspector do more often?” Her grandfather closed the library door behind him.
“Smile. It’s good for the insides.”
“As a doctor, I agree. Good evening, Richard.” Dr. Lewis shook Tennant’s hand. “Happy you’re able to join us.”
“Aside from the pleasures of your company and kitchen, Julia promises revelations in the case. In a cable from Germany, no less.”
“Indeed?” Dr. Lewis said. “The investigation has gone far afield.”
“Not exactly, Grandfather. And whether revelations follow … well, we shall see.”
Julia’s maid entered with a cable. “Mrs. Ogilvie said you’re wanting this from your bag.”
“Thank you.” Julia held up the telegram. “Kate is my expert witness. We agree that Lizzie’s employment was unusual.”
Dr. Lewis said, “You were right about her death, Kate.”
“A stopped clock is right twice, but that was murder at any hour,” she said, closing the door behind her.
“Kate is O’Malley’s match at a turn of phrase,” Tennant said. “I’m happy to concedeherexpertise, but what does an English princess living in Germany know that we don’t know?”
“Lizzie arrived at a difficult time,” Julia said. “Prince Albert had just died, and the royal family was in disarray. Princess Alice was the eldest daughter living at home, so she took charge of the household for her mother.”
Tennant asked, “Would she remember the hiring of a young maid? Seems unlikely.”
“Princess Louise offered to write to Princess Alice to find out. Then, impatient for a reply, Louise sent a cable to her sister. She sent this in return.” Julia passed it to Tennant.
