Murder at Midnight, page 1
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
A LILY ADLER MYSTERY
Katharine Schellman
For the Paljugs. I am so lucky to have you in my life.
And for Brian. You’re pretty great too.
CHAPTER 1
Hertfordshire, 1816
The snow began to fall just as the guests were arriving.
It was nothing more than a light dusting. But after a year with such uncommon weather, everyone glanced at the sky as they emerged from their carriages in their winter finery, swathed in yards of wool and fur to ward off the chill of the evening. The torches lining the drive of the country house, whipped into a frenzy by the bitter wind, illuminated the tumbling snowflakes briefly before they disappeared into the flames.
But after an uneasy glance upward, the guests turned their faces toward the glowing doors and windows ahead of them, lit from within by dozens of candles and hung with the cheerful splendor of holiday greenery. Laughter filled the air, and strains of music could be heard every time the front door opened to admit another guest.
Lily Adler, normally the sort of woman to take in every inch of her surroundings with a critical eye, barely noticed. Instead, even as she accepted her brother-in-law’s hand and let him help her down from the carriage, her attention was fixed on the vehicle arriving just behind theirs and the two people emerging from it.
The first, a plump, stylish woman whose age was north of fifty but otherwise undisclosed, was laughing heartily as she alighted from her carriage. The second was the man making her laugh, tall and handsome, with one sleeve of his stylish driving coat pinned up over the spot where his arm was missing below the elbow.
“I ought to have told you Mother was inviting him for the week.”
The comment made Lily start and drew her attention back to the man at her elbow. “I am amazed you kept the secret, John,” she replied, giving her late husband’s brother a wry look. Sir John Adler looked a great deal as his younger brother had, and it always gave Lily a wistful pang of memory to meet his eyes. But the resemblance between them was almost entirely physical. Freddy had been of a more cheerful nature than Lily, but his personality had been equally determined and driven. Sir John, on the other hand, was easygoing, a little absent-minded, and always eager to please the person with whom he was currently in conversation.
“It was not so much kept as forgot,” he admitted, looking embarrassed as they waited for his mother, the dowager Lady Adler, and her guest to join them. “I kept meaning to write you, but …”
“There are many demands on your time, I am sure,” Lily replied, her voice low.
“She means …” John hesitated. “That is, she wishes …”
“Your mother is hoping Mr. Spencer and I will make a match,” Lily said, saving him the awkwardness of having to be the one who said it out loud. The sideways look she gave him was not entirely without humor.
“How did you know that?”
Lily patted John’s hand. “She is not subtle in her designs. And she thinks I am far too young to stay a widow.”
“Well, you are only …” He cleared his throat. “That is to say, we all wish—”
“And your wishes are well meant, I am sure, but they have no bearing on mine. Or Mr. Spencer’s, for that matter.” Lily’s rebuke was delivered kindly, but there was a firmness to her voice, almost a sharpness, that her brother-in-law did not miss. It was hard to tell in the dim light of the torches, but Lily thought he blushed.
“Well, what are your—”
“Lady Adler,” Lily interrupted him, fixing a smile on her face as the other two joined them, having navigated the slippery, frozen ground of the drive. She liked Sir John very much, but there were some questions of his she had no intention of answering. Particularly not when she wasn’t sure what the answer was, or what she wished it to be. “Mr. Spencer. Shall we make our way inside to greet our hostess for the evening?”
“Indeed yes.” Lady Adler smiled kindly.
She was always kind, always interested in what she thought was best for those that she considered her responsibility. Lily, whose own mother had died when she was an infant, could forgive Lady Adler a great deal because of that kindness. Lady Adler would have felt it her duty to help a daughter of her own, widowed at such a young age, to find a second happy marriage. And so she took it as understood that she would do the same for Lily. It did not seem to occur to her to ask whether Lily wanted such assistance.
“John, dearest, give me your arm, if you please. My eyes are not what they were in my younger years. My, did you see Mrs. Hammersmith entering with her daughters? Five of them, would you believe! And such pretty, accomplished girls. But I am sure I do not know any prettier or more accomplished other than our own dear Lily.” Lady Adler cast a smile back over her shoulder. “Mr. Spencer, do give her your arm and step lively. Dear me, the snow is picking up …”
Matthew Spencer, the gentleman from Lady Adler’s carriage, did as he was ordered. There was a dusting of snow on the shoulders of his driving coat, and in the torchlight, the brim of his hat cast shadows that were almost mysterious across his face. But even in that dim light, his smile was a force to be reckoned with, a mix of pure charm and genuine attention set in a distractingly handsome face. Lily had once teased him that he could probably get away with murder with the help of his smile.
Now, as he offered her his arm, there was a wry edge to that expression. He, too, was under no illusions as to why he had been invited to join the Adler family for the Christmas season. But they had not discussed it, for which Lily was grateful. They enjoyed each other’s company. And she had spent far too long, after her husband’s death, wondering whether she would ever enjoy anything again. For her, for now, it was enough.
“It has been some years since I have been to a Christmas ball,” Matthew murmured as they climbed the steps behind Lady Adler and her son. “Our vicar does not approve, nor did his predecessor, of too much celebrating around the Christmas season.” He pulled a face. “Too Catholic—and too pagan—for him.”
“Let us hope that your children do not betray your secret once you return home,” Lily teased. “Shall you have to bribe them?”
Matthew laughed. “There is no bribe can ensure a child will hold their tongue in such a case. They are guaranteed to speak as soon as it would be most embarrassing for their parent. Has Mrs. Grantham always hosted a Christmas ball for the neighborhood?”
“Since I have known the Adlers, yes,” Lily replied. “It began as a small affair, the sort of party you often see this time of year, with dinner and music for friends. But apparently one year there was dancing, and then the next year there was more dancing, and now …”
Lily glanced around as they entered the house, reaching up to unclasp the neck of her cloak and letting it fall into the hands of the waiting footman. There were candles everywhere, blazing with light that was reflected from sconces and mirrors. Boughs of holly hung above the doors and windows, and ivy spilled out of pitchers on every surface. Everything sparkled, polished to gleaming, and the servants were all clad in new livery for the occasion. Down the expanse of carpeted hall, the doors to the ballroom stood open, and the strains of a pretty Highland tune drifted out.
“I think the pleasure of the evening will be worth the risk of my vicar’s disapproval,” Matthew murmured, once they had greeted their hostess and were following Lady Adler toward the ballroom. He looked down at Lily and smiled. “And of course, Mrs. Adler, I am always glad to be by your side.”
Lily smiled, feeling no need to pretend that she was not pleased by the compliment. But she did not know if Lady Adler was close enough to hear their conversation, so she changed the subject. “You were not too uncomfortable, I hope, having to leave your children the very first night you arrived?”
Matthew shook his head. “When I visited the nursery, they were already becoming fast friends with Sir John and the young Lady Adler’s own children. I heard Eloisa declaring as I left that she would be the leader of their expedition to South America, as she is the oldest and best at reading maps. They practically pushed me out the door so they could return to their preparations.”
“As far as South America? My goodness.”
“They are most adventurous.” His pleasure in his children was evident in his voice, but the sideways glance he sent her direction caught Lily off guard. “I promise, though, that I will not speak of my children all evening. I’ve no wish to try your patience.”
“You need not worry on that score. I’ve grown quite fond of your children,” Lily said, giving his arm a pat. Though she had no children of her own—and since Freddy’s death, had come to think she likely never would—Matthew’s care for his son and daughter was something she admired. Her own father had been a distant and disapproving parent, almost Matthew’s exact opposite, and the comparison was always striking to her. It was one of the first parts of Matthew’s character that she had truly appreciated.
As she had come to know him better, she had appreciated more about him, of course. His kindness carried into every aspect of his life, including his work with members of Parliament. They had grown easy in each other’s company, and had even, the year before, begun a sporadic affair, spending nights and an occasional afternoon together when they found themselves in the same place. Lady Adler’s obvious motives in inviting him and his family to Hertfordshire had made their reunion after so many months a trifle awkward. But Lily hoped Matthew would know her well enough to believe she had taken no part in such design s.
He gave her another glance that was almost relieved. “I am glad to hear it. They have enjoyed your company as well, I hope you know.” He took a deep breath. “In fact, there is something I wished—”
He was interrupted that moment as the music broke off, the gentle background tune falling into a momentary jangle, then silence, before swelling into the strains of the evening’s first dance. A murmur of delight went through the room as gentlemen found the partners they had solicited earlier in the evening and young ladies who had arrived more recently looked about hopefully for someone to request the pleasure of their company. With so many families in the country for the Christmas season and the Adlers not the only ones who had brought guests, the room was a busy, cheerful bustle as the dance began.
“You were saying?” Lily asked politely.
But Matthew merely shook his head. “What I ought to have been saying was that we must find you a partner. You mustn’t sit out the first dance of the night on my account.”
Matthew, who had lost one arm below the elbow to a wartime injury some years before, could manage many dances with no more trouble than a few adjustments. But the Scottish reel just beginning required the use of both hands, and he would not be able to complete the figures.
Lily was still curious to know what he had been about to say. “I am happy not to dance.”
“Nonsense.” Matthew smiled, giving a little shrug. “You’re a lovely dancer, Mrs. Adler, and just because I cannot join in is no reason you should miss out on the pleasure. Besides.” His gaze fixed on something over her shoulder. “I believe a partner has just arrived for you. And I can guess who is accompanying him, though I hope you will make the introduction.”
Lily turned to see where he was looking. She was not a woman who put her emotions on display for all to see, especially not in a place so public as a ballroom. But she could not stop herself from smiling in welcome at the two people who were approaching, and to those who knew her, the delight in her expression was clear.
“Mrs. Hartley.” Lily took the older woman’s hand, dipping into a quick bow of greeting. “What a pleasure to see you.”
“Lily.” Mrs. Hartley’s voice was low and musical, suited to the statuesque way that she moved and held herself. Her thick hair was piled on top of her head like a crown, jewels sparkling in the black locks, and everything about her dress was the height of fashion.
There were many who found her an intimidating woman, always so elegant that the reserve with which she surveyed the world could occasionally come across as disapproval. But Lily, who had met Mrs. Hartley shortly before her own marriage, had at once recognized in her a kindred spirit, a woman who had learned early on in life that it was not wise or safe to put her whole self on display. For Lily, that lesson had come at the knee of her father. Mrs. Hartley had learned it when she came to England more than three decades before, a young Indian bride forced to brave the sly glances and cutting whispers of her new peers to build a life with the British officer she had married.
But the Hartleys had been a fixture in the country village so long now that the glances and whispers were mostly memory. And having known Freddy Adler his whole life, Mrs. Hartley had welcomed Lily into her circle of intimates with no hesitation, for which Lily had always been grateful.
They shook hands warmly, Mrs. Hartley asking briefly after Lily’s father and about her travels for the winter. “And will you introduce your friend?” she asked, turning a curious glance toward Matthew. Lily suspected by the lift of her eyebrows that Lady Adler had already informed her neighbor of exactly what manner of guest she was inviting.
Lily made the introduction while Matthew bowed, then turned to the man whose arm Mrs. Hartley was holding. “Captain.” Her smile grew; though her friend was a faithful correspondent, they had not met in person for nearly half the year. “It is good to see you again.”
Jack Hartley returned her smile. “And you, Mrs. Adler.” The sincerity in his voice warmed her, in spite of the chill in the air. There were not many people Lily considered true friends. But Jack, who had been the boyhood companion of her husband and had become her own trusted confidant, was one of them.
A bit of a scoundrel by nature, he had his mother’s good looks but little of her reserve. And he never lost an opportunity to tease Lily or make her laugh. So she was surprised when he offered no other comment or greeting, merely turning to Matthew and asking, “And how do you do, Mr. Spencer?”
“Well, thank you, Captain.” Matthew glanced at Lily, a small frown gathering between his eyes, as though he could sense something was amiss between them. “How are you enjoying your return to Hertfordshire for the Christmas season?”
“It is good to be with my family again.” Jack looked at his mother and around the ballroom for a quick moment before turning back to them.
“And we are as glad to have him with us,” Mrs. Hartley agreed. “I, in particular, am delighted by his decision, as I am sure you can imagine, Mrs. Adler.”
Jack had written nothing out of the ordinary in his last letter to Lily, but his mother was smiling as though confident that whatever her son’s news might be, his friend would surely have heard it. Lily didn’t bother to hide her curiosity. “I am sure I will be delighted as well, should he see fit to share this decision with us. Or is it a secret?” she asked, turning to Jack.
Whatever she might have expected him to say, Lily was unprepared for what came next. Looking far more serious than she was accustomed to him being, Jack replied, “I am resigning my commission in His Majesty’s navy, just after the new year.”
Had he announced that he was moving to the Arctic, Lily would not have been more stunned. He had mentioned once or twice over the last year that he had thought of giving up his commission, but he had never seemed serious about the idea, and Lily had never expected anything to come of it. Jack had been a navy man since he was a mere boy; to picture him permanently on land was almost impossible. She stared at him, unable to think of anything to say, equally stunned by the news as by the fact that she was only just now learning it.
“I do not know if congratulations are precisely in order,” Matthew said, covering the surprised silence with admirable quickness. “But I can say welcome to that particular fraternity, Hartley, of those who have left His Majesty’s service and must now scramble for ways to occupy our time.”
Jack laughed. “You seem to have busied yourself admirably, Spencer. I, however, lack political skill, and I’ve no children to demand my attention.”
“Perhaps you might think about remedying that, dear one,” his mother put in with a sly smile. “I’d be ever so pleased with more grandchildren. Shall I find you a dance partner once you’ve taken a turn with Mrs. Adler?”
“Oh, are we to dance, Captain?” Lily said, a little more archly than she intended.
Jack gave her a crooked grin. “I was coming to ask you, but if you and Mr. Spencer—”
“No need to worry about usurping my place for this one,” Matthew said easily. He smiled down at Lily. “Though I hope you will rejoin me not too much later in the evening?”
“Were you not about to tell me something?” Lily asked, a frown gathering between her eyes.
He shook his head. “It can wait.”
He looked as though he wanted to say more, and Lily wanted to ask what he was keeping from her, but she was too conscious of the other eyes on them. In the end, she gave a polite nod and turned to Jack. “Very well. I shall accept your kind invitation, Captain, even though you have not precisely issued one.”
“How good it feels to be put in my place once again,” Jack said cheerfully, making his mother laugh. But he looked more serious as he glanced at Mrs. Hartley. “Will you be with my sister when I return?”
Some of her mirth faded; she gave him a quick, tight smile and a nod. “Indeed. Enjoy yourself, my dear. No need to worry about me.”
Matthew gave Lily’s hand, which was still tucked into the crook of his elbow, a squeeze with his arm. “Enjoy your dance, Mrs. Adler,” he said as he released her, and she took the hand Jack held out toward her.
“And I, meanwhile, shall have the pleasure of enjoying a very handsome man’s company,” Mrs. Hartley said, holding out her hand to Matthew with a regal air, though she smiled as she did so. “You may tell me about yourself, and in return I shall make sure you know all the best local gossip …”
