James rose and twirled them around the hedges so quickly she nearly gasped again. His quick movements flung her dress out and back down, covering her.
"What was that?" a voice said.
"Stop changing the subject. Complaining, am I? You’re wasting precious time and you didn’t finish your job."
"I did exactly as instructed."
"No, you didn’t. She’s inside, dancing."
The voices were muffled but it was a woman arguing with a man. Calliope tried to peer through the hedge but James pulled her back against his chest. It was still warm.
"I did as instructed. You take it up with him if you’re dissatisfied."
"What about the other task, did you finish that?"
"l don’t take orders from you. But if you aren’t careful, I’ll start giving them." Calliope shuddered at the meaning in the hushed male voice.
"Just you remember. She needs to be out of the way."
"I know my position. You’d do well to remember yours."
One set of light feet beat a hasty retreat, but the heavier set didn’t move.
Calliope could feel James’s muscles tense. He was ready if the intruder turned the corner. After a moment the man headed down the same path the woman had taken, a path that led to the lake.
James waited another minute before loosening his grip. Calliope shivered and he absently ran his hands along her bare arms. "I’m going to take you back to the house."
Calliope’s insides were shaking from both thwarted desire and fear. "Who were they?"
"I don’t know, the voices were too muffled." He frowned. "I’m going to have a look around."
"James, I’m worried. Please take Roth with you."
He hesitated but nodded. "I’ll have a word with him when we return to the ballroom." James stood and set her on her feet. All of his clothing was in place, somehow. Calliope hoped she looked half as composed.
They stepped back into the pathway and exited the garden. Calliope breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped onto the terrace. They started for the ballroom doors. The festivities were still in high swing.
There was little doubt: The man and woman had been talking about her. Now they had three suspects to search for. Maybe she could convince James to let her search through Lady-
A female shriek broke through the merriment. "Oh, my God!"
The chirping of crickets and bullfrogs ceased. The ballroom stilled and then emptied as people crammed through the doors vying to see who and what caused the commotion. James and Calliope were already running toward the sound.
"The lake."
James nodded and kept running, dragging Calliope behind him. She stumbled and he slowed the pace. She could hear some of the other men catching up to them. They broke into the clearing around the lake.
James and Calliope were two of the first to arrive. Tanner, the groom, dashed in from one side of the clearing, lantern held high, and Pettigrew appeared from the other side. Neither had come from the direction of the house or stables.
Lady Willoughby was standing by the lake.
Roth was standing next to her. A body was floating face down in the water.
Pettigrew looked slightly flustered. "Tanner, wade in and retrieve the person."
Roth had made no move to retrieve the body. Calliope had thought him a fairly take-charge individual. Odd.
People started pushing against her back as they tried to move closer.
"A body!"
"Who is it?"
"Is the person alive?"
"What happened?"
"Who screamed?"
"Who did it?"
"Did what, what happened?"
Questions and comments darted around the group, which was getting larger by the second.
Tanner slipped into the water. She saw him try to hide a shudder at the temperature. He waded over to the body, fortunately close to shore, and tugged on the shirt until he was back at the water’s edge.
A stable boy assisted him in lifting the inert form and dragging it ashore. Tanner quickly exited the crowd. Probably to find a hot bath and some dry clothes.
Calliope spared the groom little thought as the moon glinted off the water and onto the body.
Dread and fear coiled in her.
The body was dressed in rich clothes. Blond hair was matted to the man’s skull.
She started praying.
Chapter 12
Pettigrew reached down and turned the body over. A letter opener protruded from the chest. "It’s Ternberry."
"Ternberry!"
"Move, I can’t see."
"Ronald Ternberry! "
"I thought he left."
"Is he alive?"
"What’s going on?"
"Gentlemen, please escort the ladies indoors." Pettigrew’s voice was tight and agitated.
Guests in the rear were pushing forward, trying to peek through the spectators in front. A few of the men started herding the bewildered crowd toward the house. It took a few minutes of commotion before the crowd began to move.
James bent and whispered in Calliope’s ear. "Stay with Lady Willoughby. We will follow in a few minutes."
Calliope nodded. Lady Willoughby had turned and was walking toward the house, a straggler behind the swarm. Calliope kept a few paces behind.
Lady Willoughby’s stride was short, her shoulders hunched forward. She tripped twice. Calliope didn’t feel very relaxed either. Ternberry’s twisted features would star in her nightmares.
They reached the house and joined the other ladies and a number of the gentlemen in the salon. Lady Pettigrew was fluttering. The servants were dashing around serving brandy and tea. One gentleman started to light a cigar. He stopped en route and surprise lit his face. He hastily tucked the unlit cigar away, finally remembering where he was. The atmosphere was tense.
Calliope continued to follow Lady Willoughby until she stopped short of a group of women. She looked unsurprised to find Calliope on her heels. Penelope Flanders was regaling the group with details.
"Grotesque. I tell you, it was as if he were the devil laughing, his mouth stuck in a twisted line. His eyes bulging. I can’t believe my smelling salts are missing." Penelope fanned herself. "I don’t know what I shall do. The parties won’t be the same without dear Ternberry."
She wiped a nonexistent tear. "I do hope Flanders makes us leave tonight. Back to town, where it’s safe." Penelope’s eyes were lit with anticipation, even as she affected a shudder. Whoever made it back to London first would have the juiciest piece of gossip this season.
Lady Pettigrew fretted at the table, unsure whether to be pleased or nervous that her party would be on everyone’s tongues.
Lady Willoughby’s eyes narrowed, but she ignored Lady Flanders, who continued trying to fuel the hysteria in the room. "Esmerelda, do you know what the men are planning to do? I saw Lord Angelford speaking with you."
"Other than contacting the constable, I don’t know. I think it would be a mistake for the party to attempt the roads at this time of night. Too many opportunities for a broken wheel."
Penelope moaned. "Oh, no, we are trapped. Perhaps that is what the murderer is after. She will kill us all."
A couple of ladies gasped and one fainted on the blue velvet settee. Lady Pettigrew looked like she was choking.
"How do you know the murderer is a female?" Calliope asked.
Penelope raised a brow. "He was killed with a lady’s letter opener. "
How did she know? Calliope had been close to the body and it had been hard to see even from her vantage point. "A man could have stolen it."
The rest of the room had become silent and intent on their conversation. A couple of the men murmured their assent.
"Stolen? How?" Penelope postured for the audience.
"I suppose the way people normally steal. Pick it up and take it, " Calliope responded..
Penelope tapped her chin. "And maybe that person is trying to make it appear like a man took it in order to cover her tracks." She looked pointedly at Calliope. Calliope forced her mouth closed. It took effort.