Wouldn't It Be Deadly (11 page)

Jack looked at her for a long moment. “I seem to recall that you had quite a nice singing voice as a child, Lizzie.”

“I don't know how long you've been a copper, but think back to the toughs and dodgers we grew up with. Don't you think I'd know if the Professor had it in him to go off his chump and kill a man? You're not that many years from being on the streets yourself, Jackie. Believe me. I know if a man can be trusted.”

Jack threw his napkin onto the table with obvious disgust. “I joined the Metropolitan Police when I was twenty-two, just a couple years older than you are now, Lizzie. And when I joined, I was fool enough to trust people. I took them at their word and believed in the innocence of too many friends and strangers. That wound up costing a few lives, and nearly my own.”

“But you don't know the Professor. He isn't the type to be violent. Despite his bad manners, beneath it all, he's a true gentleman.”

Her cousin shook his head. “Did you think I woke up one day and found myself a Detective Inspector at Scotland Yard? I had to learn to speak proper just like you did, only I didn't have two toffs paying for my lessons and taking me to garden parties. I learned by watching and listening to the swells and gents on the streets. And let me tell you, what some of those gentlemen said and did could chill the heart of Jack the Ripper.”

“But why are you convinced the Professor is the murderer?” Eliza crossed her arms, still angry. “It could be any of Nepommuck's pupils, or a person from his shady past.”

“I'm not saying he is the murderer, but at this moment, he is the most suspicious. Or am I the only one curious about where he's been all day, and now all evening?”

Redstone cleared his throat as an awkward silence followed. “The Detective Inspector has a point. Where is the Professor?”

Eliza and the Colonel looked at each other, both at a loss for words. Her cousin was right. Where was Henry Higgins? He had never been gone this long without sending a message or making at least one phone call.

A terrible thought occurred to Eliza. “What if whoever killed Nepommuck has also done the Professor in?”

“Dear lord, I hadn't thought of that,” Pickering said in obvious alarm.

Eliza jumped up when she heard the front door close. “He's home! And it's about blooming time.”

But the dining room door swung open to show Mrs. Pearce standing there with a worried expression. “Mr. Eynsford Hill for you, Miss Eliza.”

Freddy entered the dining room as if blown in by a windstorm. His curly hair was mussed, his tie askew, and he looked as upset as when she had last seen him at Scotland Yard.

“Freddy, is something wrong?”

He rushed to her side. Freddy knelt down and took her hand. “Eliza, I have come to ask you to marry me.”

“Are you joking?”

“This is no joke, Eliza. You must marry me, and you must marry me tonight!”

*   *   *

Eliza had to restrain herself from throwing one of the Professor's bellows at Freddy's head. The last thing she needed after such a trying day was a silly proposal of marriage by a man who seemed as hysterical as his sister. As soon as he blurted out his proposal, Eliza dragged Freddy off to the Professor's laboratory. She hoped to either calm him down or convince him to leave. Preferably the latter.

“Freddy, what in the world were you thinking bursting in on us like that?” Eliza flung herself down in Higgins's favorite wingback chair. Her head pounded, and now she was genuinely worried about Higgins's whereabouts. Good grief, what if he had been murdered?

Freddy once more knelt at her feet and looked up at her with adoration. “My darling girl, I am sorry if I've embarrassed you in front of the others. However, this is too important to our future happiness for me to stand on ceremony. I implore you, my love. I beseech you to marry me tonight. If not, I will perish here and now. I swear I will!”

Eliza rubbed her throbbing temples. “Please stop, Freddy.”

“But you don't understand. My mother wants me to break it off with you. Immediately!”

That got her attention. “Whatever for? I thought she liked me.”

“She did, until that Maestro character got murdered.”

“And she thinks I did it?”

“No, my sweet. But Mother is scandalized that you worked for a man who had the bad taste to be murdered. She has been nearly as frantic as Clara all day.”

“That's ridiculous. She's just upset that Clara and you were with me when we discovered the body.”

“Oh no, she doesn't care about that. In fact, she was most interested in the details of how we found him. But she declared that for me to continue to associate myself with an employee of a murdered man is completely unacceptable.” Freddy once more grabbed her hands, pulling her toward him. “She'll find a way to keep us apart unless we move quickly. That's why we must get married tonight. She'd never allow a divorce to disgrace the family. Once we're married, she will have to accept you as her daughter-in-law.”

“Blimey, you're a grown man, not a schoolboy. She can't stop us tonight or in two weeks or a year from now. Not if you don't let her.”

Freddy looked positively tearful. “I'm weak, Eliza. It shames me to admit it, but it's true. I've always done what Mother asked, even when it made no sense. You're strong, stronger than my mother. Once we marry, I'll do whatever you say, not her. And we'll be safe.”

Eliza sighed. “That's not a flattering reason to marry someone.”

“But I love you. I need to be with you even if Mother cuts me out of the trust fund, although I do hope she changes her mind about that. Anyway, that shouldn't matter. Colonel Pickering has promised that he would set you up in your own flower shop. Think how perfect that would be. You and I would work together at the shop all day, and then be together all night. It would be heaven. Please say yes, my darling girl. Please!”

“Freddy, I do care for you. Right now, though, I'm fighting the urge to box you about the ears.”

The phone rang out in the hallway and Freddy jumped to his feet. “Damnation, I'm sure that's Mother calling. I told her I was coming to see you. Tell Mrs. Pearce to say I'm not here.”

Eliza pushed herself out of the chair. “Remember that not only did I find my employer murdered today, but I was virtually kept prisoner at Scotland Yard for hours. Now I learn that Professor Higgins has gone missing. Freddy, do you realize that he may have been murdered, too?”

Freddy looked stricken. “That cannot be!”

“Do you understand why this is not a good time to be proposing marriage?”

She walked to the door but Freddy threw himself in front of her. “Eliza, if the Professor is dead, my mother will be even more adamant that we cannot marry. She'll think you far too careless for knowing two men murdered in the space of one day!”

“If you say one more thing like that, there will be a third murder today, I swear it.”

The door to the laboratory swung open. Jack peeked his head in. “Is everything fine in here, Lizzie?”

“It will be as soon as Freddy leaves.”

“And who are you, sir?” Freddy turned to face the older man.

“Detective Inspector Shaw of Scotland Yard,” Jack said, fighting back a grin. “We met earlier at the Yard when I released you and your sister.”

“Oh, yes, I remember now. Being questioned at Scotland Yard was quite an alarming experience.”

“You don't know the half of it,” Eliza murmured.

“I just received a call from one of my detectives,” Jack said to Eliza. “I thought you'd like to know that Professor Higgins was seen this evening at the Victoria Embankment. A witness spoke with him and clearly identified him.”

“Thank heaven he's alive.” Eliza felt dizzy with relief.

“Mother will be so pleased,” Freddy added.

“Go home, Freddy.”

He grabbed her by the shoulders. “But my love, I have no home but with you. Please run away with me tonight before—”

From the hallway, a familiar voice cried out, “By Jupiter, who left their umbrella right in front of the door?”

“The Professor!” Eliza pushed Freddy aside and raced into the hallway. Jack followed close behind.

Henry Higgins stood in the foyer, shrugging off his overcoat. He looked as exasperated and arrogant as ever. Eliza didn't know whether she wanted to smack him on the nose or embrace him. Instead she crossed her arms and glared at him.

“Where in bloody hell have you been?” she asked.

Higgins gave a hoot of laughter. “So much for the celebrated duchess of the Embassy Ball. You sound just like the rude little turnip I found at Covent Garden.”

“You won't get around me with insults tonight. Where were you, Henry?”

He seemed taken aback by her calling him by his Christian name. She'd done so only once before. Higgins straightened his suit jacket before answering. “I was walking about in the city.”

“All day and most of the evening?” she asked. “What in the world were you doing?”

“Yes, what were you doing, Professor Higgins?” Jack came to stand beside her.

Higgins narrowed his eyes at the Inspector. “At the risk of appearing as ill-mannered as you and Miss Doolittle, I must decline to answer. I would also like both of you to leave my house. But before you depart, sir, tell me who in the hell you are?”

Freddy piped up from the doorway of the laboratory. “He's a detective inspector from Scotland Yard.”

Eliza could see Higgins did not expect that. “And why is an inspector from the Yard skulking about my house?” he asked. “Without invitation, I might add.”

“I invited him.”

“You invited him into my house? You insolent baggage.”

“Oh, shut up. Don't you have any idea what has happened today?”

Before she could continue, Freddy came up beside her and put his arm about her waist. “Professor, I am afraid that I have bad news,” Freddy said solemnly. “Eliza's employer was found murdered.”

“Yes, I heard.” Higgins grew serious. “The newsboys have been shouting it from every street corner.”

“What did you think when you heard the news, Professor?” Jack asked.

He narrowed his eyes. “I thought the world was well rid of one more scoundrel.”

Eliza shook her head, trying to warn him to keep quiet.

“It appears there was no love lost between you and Emil Nepommuck,” Jack said.

“If you are even moderately capable in your job as detective, then you already know that I was the one who provided the information exposing Nepommuck to the newspapers. Or did you expect me to pretend I had the slightest regard for that worthless blighter?” Higgins brushed past all three of them.

“Professor, I must ask you a few questions,” Jack said.

Higgins ignored him. “Mrs. Pearce! Where the devil is that woman? I swear, a caravan of gypsies could be traipsing through the front door and she'd be none the wiser. And seeing as how she has allowed the three of you into my house, I must say the gypsies would be preferable.”

“We should let him eat something before you question him about the murder,” she said to her cousin in a stage whisper. “He's rather upset.”

Higgins spun around. “Of course I am upset, you treacherous guttersnipe! First you run away without a ‘by your leave' after all Pick and I have done for you. Then you take up with this fool here.” He gestured at Freddy. “And you top it off by going to work for a charlatan who ended up stabbing me in the back!”

Eliza winced. Even Henry looked as if he wished he could take back that last sentence.

“Interesting choice of words, Professor.” Jack scribbled in his notebook.

“Damn you all to hell, you know what I meant.”

“Sir, you're home.” Mrs. Pearce hurried into the hallway, slightly out of breath.

“Yes, and I would like to have my dinner if you don't mind. But first see that this sorry trio is sent on their way.”

“Henry, my old chap. We thought we heard your voice.” Pickering emerged from the dining room, followed by Redstone. “Extremely glad to have you home again.”

Higgins turned around to face Eliza. “Is my mother here as well? Perhaps your father is upstairs in the bath and will be joining us, too. It will seem a fitting end to this circus of a day.”

“Believe me, I haven't enjoyed it any more than you have,” she said with a sigh.

“I rather think you have eaten dinner,” he shot back, “which is more than I can say.”

“I am not concerned about whether or not you have your dinner,” Jack said. “A man has been murdered, and it is my job to track down whoever did it. That means I must ask you a number of questions. You must answer them.” He paused. “If you refuse, your next meal will be served in prison.”

Both Pickering and Mrs. Pearce gasped, while Higgins grew a shade paler.

“You've no reason to haul him off to prison,” Eliza protested. “We all know he didn't like Nepommuck, but he wasn't the only one. I didn't even like the Maestro myself.”

Jack sighed. “When I received that phone call from one of my detectives a short while ago, he didn't simply inform me that Henry Higgins had been spotted at the Victoria Embankment. The person who identified him was Corporal Theodore Trent, a veteran of the Boer War. And he swears he prevented the Professor from throwing himself into the river.”

“What?” Eliza and Pickering said together.

Higgins did not respond as Eliza expected. Instead he threw back his head and laughed. “Bloody idiots. You're all bloody idiots.” He laughed so hard, tears began to roll down his face.

“Idiots, are we?” Jack said sternly. “This wounded veteran claims that when he stopped you from throwing yourself into the Thames, you went on and on about how guilty you were feeling today.”

Still laughing, Higgins waved Jack toward the door. “If you leave while I am in such a good mood, Inspector, I won't be forced to embarrass you in front of everyone.”