Butterfly Palace (29 page)

“Tea is coming, as I said.”

“I think I need something stronger than tea.” He turned with the glass in his hand. “Let us get something straight right now, Belle. I expect my wife to consult me before she makes any major decisions.”

“Helping care for a baby is hardly major.” She attempted a laugh, but it came off hollow. Even though she knew she wouldn’t marry him, his hostility took her aback. “And the picture will be good for Uncle Everett’s election.”

He waved his hand. “That hardly matters when I’m discussing what I expect from a wife.”

She had to bite her tongue to keep from spitting out a tart reply. The maid came in with tea and cookies. “Put the tray on the table.” She took a couple of deep breaths to regain her composure and think about how to answer.

Emily’s gaze darted from her to Stuart and back again as if she felt the tension in the air. “Anything else, miss?”

“Bring the baby to me when she awakens.”

“Of course.” Emily scurried away.

Belle sent a coaxing smile Stuart’s direction. “Once you see the baby, you’ll understand why I did this.”

“I have no desire to see the squalling brat.” He gulped down his drink in one big swallow.

“I find your attitude most peculiar. It gives me pause about our engagement. I want to have children, of course. I thought you would like children and would make a loving father.”

His stern expression softened. “Our own children will be quite different, of course.”

“Will they? And how will I know that? The poor little mite has been left all alone, and yet you would deny her love and support for the few days Jane will be in jail. I thought better of you, Stuart.”

“The child is not the point. Doing this without asking me is the base of my objection.”

She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. “I am a modern woman with a mind of my own. I find no need to ask permission for every decision. And furthermore, I refuse to do it. If that’s going to be a source of conflict, then you can take your ring back right now.” She wrenched it from her finger and held it out.

He backed away and held his hands up. “No, no, Belle. I love your independence. But can’t you see how any couple needs to discuss decisions of great import? I wouldn’t make a major decision myself without talking to you. I would not have taken on the care and support of a child without making sure you had no objections.”

She let the silence hover between them a moment before she nodded. “I see your point. Perhaps I should have let you know what I was thinking, but there was no time. The child was hungry, wet, and in need. It was the Christian thing to do.”

“Of course, of course. I was speaking without thinking. I see now I was wrong.”

She let him take her hand and lead her to the sofa. “I accept your apology.”

He swallowed hard. “Let’s put it behind us, my dear. It was a very minor spat.”

Lily stepped into the parlor with little Hannah in her arms. “She’s awake, Miss Belle. I swear, she was looking around as though she missed you. I changed her and brought her down.”

Indeed, the little mite appeared to brighten when she spied Belle. She reached pudgy fingers toward her, and Belle stood to
catch her as she lunged. The baby smelled deliciously of talcum and soap. “I assume she’ll be hungry soon?”

“I fed her when she awakened.”

Belle had been looking forward to cuddling the little one while she took her bottle. “Next time I’d like to feed her myself.”

“Of course.” Lily’s gaze locked on Stuart.

Belle glanced at her fiancé and found him staring at the baby. His expression was most peculiar—part repulsion and part fascination. “Are you all right, Stuart?”

He blinked before his gaze moved to her. “Of course. Sh-She looks like her mother.”

Belle’s pulse jumped in her throat. “You know Jane?”

“I’ve seen her, of course. The blond woman. In fact, she and Lily look quite a bit alike.”

Belle turned to stare at Lily. “You’re right. I’d never really noticed.” She glanced back at Stuart and frowned. He was staring at Lily with an almost murderous expression.

It was all most peculiar.

THIRTY

L
ily had waited in the wings while Belle posed with Hannah for the picture with her uncle. Stuart had stared at her nearly the entire time. He’d then sat with Belle for the engagement photograph. His glower cast a pall over the day until the door finally shut behind him.

Belle had changed into her gray silk for dinner and sat in a chair in the conservatory. She looked lovely with her hair up except for one long curl hanging over one shoulder. Lily hated being in here. Too many butterflies stared at her from their frames on the walls. Some were even suspended from the ceiling.

Lily straightened the cushions. “Will Mr. Vesters be back for dinner?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Belle gave a heavy sigh. “It’s an important dinner for my uncle’s campaign. The election’s in a week. Uncle Everett is trying to rally all last-minute support to seal his certain victory.”

“Things seemed a bit tense when I came in with Hannah. Did you discover anything?”

“Only that he seemed to have an inflated view of his importance in my decision making.” Belle picked a thread from her skirt. “The very idea that I should have to ask his permission for something like that.”

“I noticed he stared at Hannah quite a lot.” Lily made sure to keep her voice neutral.

“I saw that. I think maybe he hasn’t been around babies very much.”

“Perhaps.”

Belle stared at her. “Do you know something? Your tone is very strange.”

“I’m just tired.” Lily wished she could tell Belle the truth, but it wasn’t her story to share. The truth would come out sooner or later. “Did your uncle hear anything when he went to the police station?”

“He’s very angry. Jane can’t come back here, of course.”

Lily’s eyes burned. “Can you not prevail upon your uncle for mercy? Jane was put in a very bad position. She didn’t know Mrs. Karr wanted to steal it. She was threatened. All she was doing was trying to save her job by what seemed a harmless peek at the butterflies.”

“I can try, but surely you can see the position Uncle Everett is in. How can he trust her? He has very valuable things in this house. And the butterfly
is
missing.”

“Jane didn’t steal it. I know she didn’t.”

Belle’s gaze softened. “You’re a good friend, Lily.” She rose from the damask seat and wandered to study an orchid petal. She picked a bloom and handed it to Lily. “Put this in my hair, please.”

Lily secured the fragrant white flower. “You look beautiful. Who are you trying to impress tonight?”

“Stuart, of course. If I bewitch him, maybe he will let something slip.”

“You did well to find the note about next Thursday. Just five days away. Perhaps Drew will uncover everything.”

“I’m not hopeful. The conspirators seem to be very good. Their plan isn’t easily discovered. I’ll have to tell Uncle Everett.”

Lily knew Drew wouldn’t want her to encourage Belle to do that, but she nodded. “I agree. Drew thinks it will do no good to try to dissuade your uncle, but we can’t let him walk into a trap with no warning.”

“What if I came right out with the question to Stuart? I could tell him I’d heard a rumor there was a plot to kill Uncle Everett. I won’t say he was under suspicion. He might leave here and go straight to see his associates. It might tell us something.”

Lily frowned and tried to examine the idea from all angles. On the surface, it appeared to have value. “Drew won’t like it.”

Belle turned and smiled. “Drew doesn’t have to know.”

“We’ll need someone to follow Mr. Vesters.”

“We can do it.”

“Your uncle wouldn’t want you out that late. I’ll do it. I can dress like a man and follow from a distance.”

“Only if I go too. There is safety in numbers. We’ll take the buggy. It’s quieter than the automobile. He’ll never notice us behind him.”

Emily stepped into the doorway. “Our dinner guests are arriving. Mr. Vesters has asked for you, Miss Belle.”

Belle groaned. “Coming.” She put her fingers to her lips. “Stay close, Lily. And be ready.”

The sun was beginning to set as Lily packed the last of her things in a crate to take to the big house, then handed it to Drew, who stacked it by the door. She couldn’t stay here with Jane in custody, so she would be moving back to the third floor with Emily, at least until Jane was released. Nathan was living here, and it wouldn’t be proper for just the two of them to be here alone.

She tipped her head and listened. “Are those footsteps?” She went to the door and flung it open. Nathan stood on the doorstep, his green eyes desolate. He swept a cap off of his brown hair.

She stepped aside to allow him to enter. “Any news? I’d hoped to see Jane with you.”

He shook his head. “The police seem sure she killed Mrs. Karr. I know my sister, and it’s impossible.” He flung himself onto the broken-down sofa, then put his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do. There’s only me and Jane left. I can’t let her go to prison.”

Drew took her hand and squeezed it. “What evidence do they have, Nathan? Did they tell you?”

“The servants have told the police lies. I don’t know how to counteract them.”

Lies?
Was there more Lily hadn’t heard? “What did the servants say?”

Nathan’s head was still down so the words came out as a mumble. “Mrs. Karr told the servants Jane had stolen before.”

“Jane is no thief!”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” Drew said. “Mrs. Karr came to the house for a reason. I suspect she came to steal the butterfly. So she’s the thief, not Jane.”

Nathan raised his head. “I told the police the same thing. Officer Pickle agreed with me, but he said Mr. Karr said Jane had given stolen goods to sell to a middleman. It’s his word against hers, and who do you think they’ll believe?”

Lily clutched Drew’s hand to keep her outrage in control. “It’s so unfair!”

“And it’s not true. My sister was a good girl. It’s not her fault she’s in this situation—it’s all the Karrs’ fault.” Nathan’s voice vibrated with rage. “Because of them, Jane is rotting in that jail without Hannah.”

“Did you get to see her?” Drew asked.

Nathan sat up. “No, but I’m sure she’s never stopped crying for Hannah. Where is my niece?”

“At the big house. Miss Belle has taken a shine to her.” Lily told him how Belle had bathed the baby and bought her clothing. “She plans to care for her until Jane is set free.”

Nathan rubbed his forehead. “I don’t feel right taking her charity. Hannah should be here with me.”

“And how will you take care of her without Jane? You have to work and so do I. Jane was the only one with the flexibility to come and go a bit.”

Nathan dropped his head into his hands again. “I have to fix this, but I don’t know how. Jane will go mad in jail. She is afraid of tight places. Besides, she’s never been apart from Hannah, not even for one night. Has the baby cried for her?”

“Luckily, she’s familiar with me. She refused the bottle for a little while, but once she was hungry enough, she took it. She seems content.” When Nathan hunched into himself even more, Lily rushed to reassure him. “Of course she’ll be missing Jane more tomorrow, but she’s a resilient little one. She’s used to being cared for by several of us. By the time she’s too fractious, Jane will be home. I’m sure of it.” She put more certainty into her voice than she felt because she wasn’t at all sure the police would investigate to find the real killer.

“I hope so.” Nathan jumped to his feet. “I’m going back to the police station. I have to make them listen.”

Drew let go of Lily’s hand and blocked Nathan’s path. “Let me go with you tomorrow. In your state, you’re more likely to do more harm than good.”

“Why do you care? You don’t even know Jane all that well.”

“Jane is important to Lily, and Lily is important to me. And
even a casual acquaintance can tell what kind of person Jane is. Let me help.”

Nathan stared at him, then nodded. “Maybe you can get them to let me see her.”

“You’ll have to go to work soon,” Lily said. “I’d like to come too. Then if you have to leave, I can report to you how she’s doing.”

“Thank you for being so good to her. You’ve been a good friend.”

Lily blinked back the moisture in her eyes. “I wish I could do more. Do you have any idea what happened to the butterfly? If we could find who took it, we might get the police to listen.”

Nathan hesitated. “There’s a man who sells valuable insects to collectors. He might know if the Karrs were looking for this specific butterfly.”

“Do you know how we could contact him?” Drew asked.

Nathan looked down at the floor. “I’ll do it in the morning.” He headed for the bedroom door.

Drew moved closer, and Lily wanted to sink against his warmth and comfort. “How could this happen, Drew? I know she’s innocent.”

He draped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I love how you care about injustice in the world. Life seems unfair, but you never stop trying.”

“For all the good I manage to do.” She stayed in the circle of his arms until he touched her chin and tipped her mouth up to meet his. While his kiss didn’t make the injustice go away, it gave her strength to deal with it. “I want to come with you tomorrow.”