A Gilded Grave by Shelley Freydont Page A

You couldn’t work side by side with a man every day without learning his mettle.
    “I thought more of you, Will.”
    “As well you should. Just because it is the most obvious scenario doesn’t mean it’s the correct one.”
    “Most wouldn’t look further than the obvious.”
    Will gave him a penetrating look. “I’m not most. But I still need to question him.” He stood, carried his cup over to the sink. “There’s more.”
    Joe waited, expecting the worst.
    “We think there was a letter.”
    “She left a note? I thought you were ruling out suicide.”
    “Actually, a witness found an envelope in her hand.”
    “Who?” He hoped Deanna hadn’t seen any of this, though he had no doubt she would have come out to see what the commotion was about.
    “A man named Vladimir Howe.”
    “Ah, Vlady. An envelope. And the letter?”
    “The envelope was empty. We searched the area and her room.” Will held out one hand. “Nothing.”
    “So what are you getting at? Someone sent her a letter to entice her outside?”
    “We’re not sure it was addressed to Daisy. There’s writing, but as yet it’s unreadable because of the ocean spray. I’ll study it under the magnifier after it’s dried and cleaned, but the first letter looks like it might be an ‘O.’”
    “That doesn’t make any sense.”
    “Not yet. I interviewed several of the servants. No one had seen her since earlier that evening. She was an upstairs maid; it’s possible that she was kept busy in the withdrawing rooms. Or that she’d already sneaked out of the house. Do you know where Orrin was last night?”
    “No.” Joe swallowed. “But I know he didn’t meet Daisy. I saw her last night.”
    Will’s jaw went slack.
    “Not in the way you’re imagining. Really, Will.”
    “Sorry. Not much surprises me these days. But that would.”
    “As I was leaving, Daisy was coming out of the servants’ gate.”
    “What time was this?”
    “Fairly early, before midnight for certain. People began arriving for the ball a little before ten. I only stayed at the ball for about an hour after that.”
    “Why so early?”
    “I only went to stand in for my father, who couldn’t get away from business in Manhattan.”
    “Hmm. So you were leaving the ball and what happened?”
    “I saw Daisy and stopped her. She seemed very agitated and said that she needed to talk to Orrin. I, of course, jumped to the natural conclusion. I told her it was too dangerous to go out alone, asked if it could wait until the morning, that I would send Orrin down to her then. I wanted to give myself time to have a little talk with Orrin about doing his duty just in case she was in the family way.”
    “You think it was a possibility?” Will said.
    “I don’t know. I suppose. I sent her back to the house. I should have just taken her to see him. If I had, this wouldn’t have happened.”
    “Or it would have happened at some other time.” Will traced the rim of his cap between two fingers. “Joe, if you had any other relationship with this maid, tell me now.”
    “I did not. I was concerned because she was the sweetheart of my apprentice. That’s all.”
    Will drank off his coffee and stood. “Fine. I have to go, but keep Orrin here until I return. It might be late. I also have to question those present on the lawn last night. Something I’m not looking forward to. I don’t expect much cooperation. Just so you know, Deanna Randolph will be one of them.”
    “Deanna? Why on earth?”
    “She was one of the party who discovered the body.”
    Joe groaned. “She would be.”
    Will smiled. “She was out on the lawn when I arrived. She looked amazing in a gold ball gown. I hardly recognized her. Seems like she changed from wearing pigtails and badgeringus to death into being a very beautiful woman overnight. You’re a fool, man, not to marry her before someone steals her away.”
    Joe laughed drily. “And have her live here with me? I’m sure her mother would have