Chapter 2
“Istill do not understand why I am not permitted to attend, and all of you get to go.”
Augusta looked up from the etiquette book resting upon her lap and found Matilda staring at her with a wounded expression.
“I should have been invited on account of being your sister.”
“Phillipa is marrying the Duke of Ravenhill, not joining our family. My invitation does not extend to every person related to me,” Augusta replied.
“At least I shall have the baby to myself,” Matilda said, looking at their nephew. “While all of you attend the wedding.”
“That is great. Now, let's focus on your lessons,” Augusta said, opening the book again. “If a gentleman approaches you at a ball and asks you to dance, but you have already promised the dance to another, what do you say?”
Matilda’s attention remained fixed upon the cradle, and she seemed the least bit interested in continuing the lesson. Augusta tried to be patient for some time, but when no answer came, she closed the book sharply.
Matilda jumped at the noise. “What?”
“You have not heard a word I said.”
Matilda leaned back in her chair. “I cannot help it if you insist upon teaching etiquette while there is a baby in the room. Don’t you think that one of those things is infinitely more interesting than the other?”
“Please, I need you to focus,” Augusta said in a calm tone. She knew that it would be no use getting frustrated at her sister, and therefore being calm was the only way that she would possibly listen.
“Fine,” Matilda grumbled under her breath.
Augusta opened the book again, although she was beginning to suspect that very little progress would be made before they left. Charity and Duncan were still upstairs preparing for the wedding, and the carriage was expected at any moment.
“Let us try one final question,” she said. “If you are seated when a duchess enters the room, what must you do?”
“Rise and curtsey.”
“And?”
“Wait for her to acknowledge me before I sit again.”
Augusta stared at her, impressed that she had gotten the answer correct.
Matilda lifted her chin proudly. “I was listening yesterday.”
“Then there may be hope for you after all,” Augusta said, a positive note in her tone.
Augusta watched as Matilda leaned over the cradle, careful not to touch anything. The baby’s tiny face was peaceful, his mouth slightly open as he slept.
“He is very fortunate,” she said quietly. “To have all of us.”
Matilda had been young when their parents died, but not so young that she had forgotten them. She rarely spoke of their loss directly. Instead, it appeared in small moments such as this one.
It was a bit too heavy for her, and she decided to not think about the matter for the moment. She glanced at the clock upon the mantel and wondered how much longer Charity and Duncan intended to keep her waiting. They were due to leave for Phillipa’s wedding shortly.
Once again, Augusta’s thoughts returned to the engagement party and the strange incident in the garden.
Several days had passed, yet the memory remained as clear as it had been that night. She could still see the rain falling through the darkness and make out the hooded figure standing beneath the trees, one hand resting upon a cane that had a raven-like figure on top of it.
With every day that passed, Augusta had become more convinced that fear had deceived her. The thought was humiliating, but it was still far preferable to believing that someone had been harmed.
Seeking a distraction, Augusta reached for the newspaper Duncan had abandoned upon the table after breakfast.
“Does that mean the lesson is finished?” Matilda asked, looking hopefully at the paper in Augusta’s hand.
Augusta unfolded the first page and replied, “It means that you are to read the next section by yourself.”
Matilda regarded her suspiciously while Augusta gave her younger sister a warning look. “Read the next page, Matilda.”
Matilda released a long, put-upon sigh, but she opened the etiquette book once more.
Augusta turned her attention to the newspaper, but none of it held her interest. She turned to the next page and had nearly passed over a short notice near the bottom when something caught her eye.
WOMAN FOUND DEAD UPON MERRIGOLD ESTATE
A woman’s body had been discovered near the boundary of the Merrigold Estate early that morning.
Her identity remained unknown, and the article offered very little information about the circumstances surrounding her death.
It stated only that the woman appeared to have died several days earlier and that the local constable had begun making inquiries.
Several days earlier.
Augusta suddenly felt a strange sensation overcome her.
“Augusta?” Matilda’s voice sounded distant as she closed the etiquette book and leaned forward. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” Augusta replied, though the words came out too quickly.
“Are you sure about that?” Matilda studied her face. “You have gone pale suddenly. Would you like for me to get you a glass of water, or something sweet?”
Augusta glanced back at the article. Suddenly, she was the least bit bothered about lessons, or anything else that was going on. All she could think of at the moment was the news that she had just read.
Merrigold. Why did she know that name? It sounded a bit too familiar, though she couldn’t place it properly.
Matilda rose from her chair and came nearer, seeming more curious than she had all evening. “Did you read something in the paper? Is it about the wedding?”
“No,” Augusta answered abruptly.
“Then what is it about?” Matilda asked, not convinced in the slightest.
Augusta folded the newspaper hurriedly, but not before Matilda caught sight of the headline.
“A woman was found dead?” Matilda asked, her curiosity immediately sharpened. “Is that what has gotten you acting so strange?”
“Matilda, there is no need for you to concern yourself with it,” Augusta said. “These are not matters for someone your age to be worried about, let alone discuss.”
Matilda gave her a slight eye-roll. As the youngest born, she disliked immensely being reminded of it.
“Surely, you are concerned about it. So, who was she?” her sister pressed.
Augusta looked at her, giving her a slight glare now. “I think you should return to your lesson.”
As luck would have it, the door opened before Matilda could continue her line of questioning.
Thank Heavens, Augusta felt grateful for the interruption but understood that having other people present came with its own set of challenges.
Charity entered the room wearing a pale blue gown while Duncan followed behind her. They were all smiles, oblivious to what Augusta had just read in the paper.
“Are you ready?” Charity asked Augusta. “We ought to leave within the next few minutes if we are to arrive before the ceremony begins.”
“Yes, I am ready,” Augusta replied, rising from her chair. She shot Matilda a look, as if to warn her not to say a word. “Shall we go?”
Charity gave her a curious look, but Augusta was already moving toward the door. Duncan offered his arm to his wife, and the three of them made their way downstairs, where the carriage waited before the house.
Augusta climbed inside first and took the seat opposite Duncan as Charity settled beside her.
“The church should not be more than half an hour away,” Charity said. “Provided the roads are clear, we ought to arrive with enough time to speak to Phillipa before the ceremony.”
“I doubt her mother will allow anyone near her,” Duncan remarked. “Lady Hewes guarded her daughter rather closely at the engagement party.”
“She was surrounded by half of London,” Charity replied. “I imagine the poor girl scarcely had time to think.”
Augusta barely heard them.
Merrigold.
Augusta looked through the carriage window, watching the passing houses without truly seeing them.
She searched her memory for any mention of the estate.
Perhaps she had heard the name during a dinner or while Charity entertained callers.
It might have appeared in another newspaper article, though she could not recall reading one.
Still, the name felt too familiar to be meaningless.
“Merrigold,” she murmured.
Charity turned toward her. “What about Merrigold?”
Augusta blinked, only then realising that she had spoken aloud. “Do you know where it is?” she asked.
“Merrigold Estate?” Charity replied. “Yes, I believe so.”
Augusta sat straighter. “Where?”
Charity looked surprised by the urgency in her voice. “It belongs to the Hensley family, although they seldom reside there. Why do you ask?”
Duncan glanced between the sisters, his expression becoming more attentive.
“Tell me where it is.” She felt her heart beat faster.
Charity thought for a moment before answering. “It is beside Hewes Park. The two estates share a boundary, if I remember correctly.”
“Beside Hewes Park?” Augusta felt the blood drain from her face.
“Yes,” Charity said slowly. “The place we visited for Phillipa’s engagement party.”
“I…” she said, out of breath. “The paper... did you see.. There was an article.”
“What article are you talking about?” Duncan jumped into the conversation now, looking concerned.
“A woman was found dead in Merrigold. The article said she had been dead for several days,” Augusta reminded her. “The engagement party was several days ago.”
Duncan sat back, his jaw tightening. Augusta could see that he understood the connection, even if he was not yet willing to accept it.
“Do you think…” Charity shook her head, though the color had faded from her face. “Augusta, we searched the garden almost immediately. Surely, it cannot be the same incident. Otherwise, we might have found something, surely.”
“Not immediately,” Augusta shook her head.
“Remember? I had to find you, and then we had to explain what had happened. It is possible that the body might have been moved. Though it is an entirely short time frame, I think that whoever possesses enough gall to commit a murder, might also be adept at moving rather quickly.”