A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder

Book 4: Countess of Harleigh Mystery

by Dianne Freeman

Genres: Historical Mysteries; Private Investigators; Female Sleuths

Synopsis

In Dianne Freeman's lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, the American-born Countess of Harleigh uncovers more deadly intrigue among the uppercrust...
For Frances Wynn, widow to the late Earl of Harleigh, life has a cosmopolitan flavor of late. No sooner has she sent her mother and daughter off on a shopping trip to Paris than she and her fiancé, George Hazleton, are socializing with visiting members of the Russian royal family. Yet amid this whirlwind, scandal also comes calling when Inspector Delaney turns up outside Frances's house with a young French woman with a shocking claim: she is Mrs. George Hazelton.
As the future Mrs. George Hazelton, Frances assumes the woman is either lying or demented. Mrs. Hazelton, aka Irena, makes other outrageous statements. Among them, she insists that she is the illegitimate daughter of Russian royalty, that she has been abducted and held for ransom many times, and that someone is sending her threatening letters. When George arrives, he clarifies that he is certainly not married to Irena--though he can confirm her royal parentage. But even as he agrees to investigate whether Irena's life is in danger, her claim proves tragically true. Irena is found strangled in Frances' garden.
To uncover a killer--and clear their own names--Frances and George must determine which of Irena's outlandish stories were based in fact, and who stood to benefit from her death. And as the search reaches a shocking conclusion, they may find that villainy lurks all too close to home...

Release date: July 27, 2021

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 320

Sample

November 1899

Life has an unerring way of balancing good and bad, rather like math. For every positive, there’s a negative; for every gain, a loss; for every plus, a minus. The plus on this occasion was that my mother, who’d been living in my house since my sister’s wedding last month, was about to leave for a holiday in Paris.

Huzzah! Dare I hope peace would reign in my household once more?

During her stay, she’d disrupted our lives with a constant critique of everything from the staff, the décor of her room, and the newspapers I took, to things that were entirely out of my control, like the weather. As I shivered on the wet pavement beside her hired carriage, enveloped by the damp air of a typical November morning in London, I could hardly fault her for that one.

A ray of sunlight broke through—at least in my mind—as my eight-year-old daughter, Rose, skipped down the walk to the carriage, her dark curls bouncing against her shoulders. Nanny followed in a more sedate manner. She, too, had had just about all she could stand of Mother’s interference, particularly with Rose’s routine. Nanny set specific times for meals, lessons, recreation, and sleep. Despite my insistence she adhere to Nanny’s schedule, Mother had one of her own—whenever she was in want of company, Rose should be made available. My daughter loved it. Nanny did not.

I wasn’t exempt from my mother’s judgment, either. Still, not only had she brought me into the world, but she’d also saved my life just a few short weeks ago, so I felt I owed her some degree of latitude.

Rose kissed Aunt Hetty, then came to me for one last hug before the groom handed her up into the carriage. She settled in next to my mother, fairly humming with excitement. That was the minus in this otherwise favorable equation—Rose was leaving, too.

The groom closed the carriage door, and I leaned through the open window. “Mind your grandmother, Rose.” I turned to my mother. “And you don’t give in to her every whim.” This was a definite possibility as the only person safe from my mother’s criticism was Rose. In her mind, Rose could do no wrong, which led my imagination to run rampant about their week ahead.

“We’ll be fine, Frances.” Mother batted away my concern as a mere trifle. “If you are so worried, you should join us.”

If only I could. The three of us had planned to take this trip together to order gowns for my upcoming engagement party given by my fiancé’s sister. But then the Romanovs had arrived in London: Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich and his wife, Sophie, Countess de Torby. The elite of society had received invitations, or commands, to attend various events honoring them this week. That included me, the Countess of Harleigh, and my fiancé, the Honorable George Hazelton. Despite all my admonishments to my mother not to give in to Rose’s whims, I had done just that, allowing her and her grandmama to go to Paris without me.

With the jingle of a harness and the shuffling of hooves, the carriage pulled away from the curb. I clutched Hetty’s arm with one hand and waved with the other, while my heart sank to my toes.

Hetty brushed away a tear from her cheek. “Cheer up, dear. Little Rose has a good head on her shoulders. She’ll keep your mother out of trouble.”

Nanny let out a grunt as we trudged back to the house under the heavy gray sky. “I can still see them,” she said. “It’s not too late to call them back.”

“My aunt is right, Nanny.” I lifted my chin. “We are worried about nothing. Between the servants, the hotel staff, and my mother, Lady Rose will be fine. After all, my mother raised me, and I turned out well enough.”

Her lips compressed as she eyed me, clearly unimpressed.

“At least I came to no harm.” I picked up our pace. “You must be eager to be off on your holiday. Visiting your sister, are you not?”

Nanny grumbled something unintelligible, bobbed a curtsy, then stomped down the stairs to the service entrance.

Hetty and I exchanged a glance as we stepped through the open front door to the entry hall. “Honestly, you’d think Rose was her daughter,” Hetty said.

“She may not be Nanny’s daughter, but she is her little girl. Still, I thought she’d be happy for a short break.”

Hetty and I wandered into the drawing room off the hall and settled ourselves on the sofa, part of a cozy conversation area around the tea table. It was not an expansive room, just an ordinary rectangle, with a card table near the front windows, this grouping near the fireplace, and a cabinet against the wall between them that held a few sentimental treasures and a cache of spirits and wine. To me, it was a warm and welcoming place.

“I suspect the real problem is the changes we’re making to the household,” Hetty said.

“We’re only asking her to move next door, but I suppose I know what you mean.”

George and I had yet to set a date for our wedding, but we had been making plans. I’d move into his home next door with Rose, Nanny, and my maid Bridget. Hetty would purchase the lease to this house and retain the rest of the staff. It was a sensible plan. My gaze traveled the length of the cozy room. But this was the first home that belonged solely to me, and though I’d lived here only six months, I’d miss it.

This was where I first met George. No, that wasn’t true. I first met him years ago, when I made my London debut. That was before I married Reggie and became Countess of Harleigh—before I spent nine years married to the philandering cad, followed by a year mourning his death. Then I moved to this darling little house in Belgravia and learned George Hazelton was my neighbor. It was as if fate had played a role.

“It’s a little soon to be looking so nostalgic, Frances.” Hetty’s voice drew my attention back to the present. She smiled. “You haven’t even left yet, and when you have, you’re welcome to visit anytime you like.”

“You may depend upon that. The gate George installed between our gardens was not just for our convenience. It’s so Rose and I can visit easily when this becomes your home. How will you like living alone here?” I paused as a thought struck me. “Will this be the first home you’ve owned?” Hetty lost her husband to influenza back when I was just a child. She moved in with our family and became something of a second mother to me and later to my sister, Lily, after I left New York for London.

A smile crept across her face and crinkled her eyes. “This will be my first home—at the age of fifty, can you believe it? I suppose I was comfortable living with your parents and never thought of a home of my own. Now that I have, I find it very exciting.”

“Well, if I must give it up, I’m glad you’ll be taking it over. I couldn’t wish for a better neighbor.” I had a difficult time thinking of Aunt Hetty as fifty. Unlike my mother, who spent hours on her beauty regime, Hetty had an energetic nature that made her seem younger. I hoped I would age as well as she had. We were both tall, though her figure was fuller than mine. Her brown eyes were framed by a few lines at the corners, but her square jaw would likely never sag, and so far, her dark hair hadn’t so much as a strand of gray.

As I studied her, something behind me caught her attention. I glanced over my shoulder at the window. “Are you already contemplating a change to the draperies?”

“Perhaps, but right now, I’m trying to determine whose carriage is out front.”

I slipped over to the window and peeked out as a slight, redheaded woman emerged from the carriage. “It’s Alicia Stoke-Whitney. What could she want?”

“Do you wish me to stay with you?” Hetty asked.

I strode to the mirror over the drinks cabinet and adjusted the dark curls on my forehead. I’d always liked my blue eyes, but now they were tinged with red from crying over Rose’s departure. So was the tip of my nose, and my cheeks were pale. As I pinched them, I caught Hetty’s eye in the mirror, and her question sank in.

“What? No, no. I’m sure I’m up to any business Alicia might have to discuss.” I winced as the doorbell rang.

Hetty pulled me around by the arm. “Which is why you’re suddenly so concerned over your appearance?”

Any meeting with my late husband’s lover had the effect of making me question my appearance. It didn’t help that Alicia, somewhere in her mid-thirties, seemed to grow more beautiful with each passing year.

“I’m just straightening myself after having been out in the wind,” I said. “I appreciate your concern, and you’re welcome to stay if you like. But it truly isn’t necessary.”

Hetty pursed her lips. “I’ll forgo the pleasure if you don’t mind.”

I followed her to the hall and watched her slip up the stairs as Mrs. Thompson arrived to answer the door. “That will be Mrs. Stoke-Whitney,” I told her. “Will you show her into the drawing room, then arrange for tea?”

I stepped back into the room and took a bracing breath. Alicia and I weren’t friends, but my husband’s death had forced us to share a secret. We could hardly let the world know Reggie had died in her bed, so with the assistance of the ever-chivalrous George Hazelton, we had relocated dear Reggie. The subterfuge had created something of a bond between us. It had been aided by the need to behave cordially toward one another in public to quell the rumor that she and my husband had been lovers. I suppose if one pretends to like someone, one may actually come to do so—to some degree, anyway.

The door opened. “Mrs. Stoke-Whitney, my lady.” Mrs. Thompson moved aside to allow Alicia to enter, which she did with the grace of a swan. If she’d been born into another class, she might have been a dancer; she was so slender and graceful. With her red hair and green eyes, she would likely have been a star. Instead, she was the third daughter in a family with great prestige and little money. She had no choice but to marry well. I had never considered it before, but she was the female version of my late husband.

Alicia removed her coat, revealing a cunning walking dress of gray and pink, which matched her hat beautifully. “Frances,” she said, heaving a theatrical sigh. “I’m simply devastated and in need of your help.”

“Do come in, Alicia.” I gestured to the seating area.

Mrs. Thompson took Alicia’s coat and left to see to the tea. Alicia and I perched on either end of the sofa.

“Arthur is being such a beast,” she said, tugging her kid gloves from her fingers.

“Is he indeed?” Arthur Stoke-Whitney was her husband and her escape from genteel poverty. He was a good twenty-five years older than her, and there had never been any pretense that their marriage was anything more than an alliance. He already had an heir and a spare from his first marriage. After a few years as a widower, he had decided to look for a beautiful woman with a good pedigree to grace his table and aid in his political career. He was wealthy enough not to require a dowry. Alicia had fit the bill perfectly.

“He’s banishing me to the country,” she said. “I’m to be stuck there until he allows me to return to town.”

I raised my brows, and I must confess it was difficult not to smirk. “An indiscretion, Alicia?”

At that moment, Mrs. Thompson entered with the tea tray, forcing us both to be discreet until she left and quietly closed the door behind her.

Alicia threw me a glare. “I was discreet. The gentleman in question was not.”

I handed her a cup of tea and drew back as she stirred in a spoonful of sugar with enough vigor to whip an egg. When I stilled her hand, she collected herself.

“I shall never choose such a young man again. They simply must boast.” She shook her head when I offered her a delicate plate with a selection of sweets. “Of course, word got back to Arthur, and he was absolutely furious.”

“No doubt,” I said. Stoke-Whitney didn’t care what Alicia did, or how many affairs she conducted, so long as nary a hint of her improprieties became public. He was a member of the House of Commons and had elections to think of. His wife didn’t have to be above reproach, but she must give the appearance of it. He was a stickler for appearances.

I suppose I understood their marriage a little better when I reminded myself that he was a politician and something of a courtier. The queen could not abide a whiff of scandal among the aristocracy or her members of Parliament. I took a sip of tea. Her Majesty was frequently disappointed, but never by Arthur Stoke-Whitney, at least not yet.

Alicia patted an errant curl back into place. “Yes, yes. It’s understandable but terribly inconvenient.”

“Have you considered ending your dalliances altogether? You place yourself, your husband, and your family in an awkward position and risk all your reputations for what is nothing but a momentary thrill.” I dipped a bit of scone into the clotted cream on my plate and popped it into my mouth, waiting for her to defend her actions.

Instead, she gave me a pathetic look. “I do believe it’s time to consider that possibility, but don’t lecture me, Frances. I’ve come to you for help.”

That was intriguing. “How can I help?”

“Well, as I said, Arthur is furious, and I expect my stay in the country to be longer than usual. He won’t get over this in a month or two. He’s already told me I should not bother with a new wardrobe for the season.”

“I find that hard to believe. With all the entertaining he does, he’ll need you.”

Alicia lifted her chin. “He said if he needed a hostess, he’d call on his sister.”

I gasped and nearly choked on another bite of scone. A sip of tea set me to rights. “Surely you don’t mean Constance?” A foolish question, as she was his only sister—a woman whose only social skill was hunting. Her lack of manners and even the most rudimentary grasp of precedence was one of the reasons Stoke-Whitney had married for a second time. She was an abysmal hostess.

“Of course I mean Constance, and I see you grasp the magnitude of my problem.”

“Indeed, but I still don’t understand how I can be of help.”

“That’s right,” she said. “I missed an important point. Our daughter will turn eighteen in January. Harriet should be presented to the queen and make her debut this spring. When I reminded Arthur of our responsibility to her, he said Constance could handle that little matter.”

My heart went out to Harriet. A presentation to the queen was an inspiring but formidable undertaking for a young woman, even under the best of circumstances. With someone like Constance guiding one through the complexity of a presentation, well, disaster became inevitable.

“Surely he wouldn’t do such a thing to his own daughter?”

Alicia twisted her cup until I thought it would crack. She set it down. “His sons are everything to him, but Arthur barely recalls that he has a daughter, so I cannot take this threat lightly. The only way to avoid complete humiliation for Harriet is if you agree to act as her sponsor.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” She lifted her brows. “That’s what you do, isn’t it? You sponsored your sister and that other American girl, and they both had successful seasons. You wouldn’t turn up your nose at my daughter because she’s not American, would you?”

“Of course not.”

She clapped her hands in delight. “Then, you’ll do it?”

“I’m still not convinced I’ll be needed. And will Mr. Stoke-Whitney approve?”

“Approve that Frances, Countess of Harleigh, is willing to sponsor his daughter? Arthur will be beside himself with glee. He may even see Harriet in a new light. And I promise I will call on you for this favor only if I’m still in exile come March.”

“Then, yes, I shall help Harriet. Though I don’t believe you’ll be in exile, as you call it, for that long. He will need you sooner rather than later.”

“I do hope you’re right. And you’ve given me another idea. I’m to remain in town until after our reception for the Romanovs this week. Perhaps, if I’m on my very best behavior and help him with that miserable speech he’s presenting in the meantime, I can convince him to change his mind and not send me away.”

“Is he speaking in the House?”

“No. This is a speech for some ladies’ society hard at work for the preservation of morality in politics. I don’t know what they call themselves—something, something, public corruption.” She waved a hand. “They supported Arthur in the last election.”

I could only imagine what sort of help Alicia might provide for this speech. “Perhaps you could just remind him how awkward Constance would be around the Russians and the Prince and Princess of Wales.”

Her eyes locked on mine. “Very good. I’ll remember that.” She picked up her gloves from the table and came to her feet. “I must thank you, my dear. You’ve given me a reason to hope again.”

I rang for Mrs. Thompson and walked Alicia out to the entry hall, where we waited for my housekeeper to bring her coat.

“I neglected to compliment you on your beautiful engagement ring.” Alicia eyed my ring while she pulled on her gloves. “Hazelton has splendid taste in jewelry.” She lifted her gaze to meet mine. “I haven’t seen him out in society lately. How is he faring?”

“He couldn’t be better or happier, so don’t get any ideas.” I opened the door and signaled to her carriage driver.

Alicia smirked. “As if I would. Anyone can see you two are a love match.” She tossed her head, then peered through the doorway and pointed out to the street. “Haven’t I seen that man before?”

“Probably just our neighbor’s butler. We call him the gossip of Chester Street. He spends far too much time watching the comings and goings of each of us.”

“This man’s no butler.” She tipped her head. “Isn’t he the policeman who helped me with my stolen bracelet last spring?”

I stepped around the door and peered out just as Mrs. Thompson arrived with Alicia’s coat. Inspector Delaney was indeed outside, and he had a young woman with him. He had just walked from George’s door to the pavement and appeared to be at a loss, looking up and down the street.

As Alicia had donned her outerwear, I stepped outside with her. Delaney must have been looking for George, who was currently at his club.

We strolled toward the pavement while Alicia’s driver pulled the carriage around the corner and up to the house, drawing Delaney’s attention. When he caught sight of me, his face took on a horrified expression. He took a step backward, but the young woman approached us eagerly. Delaney reluctantly followed.

“Good afternoon, Inspector,” I said. “Are you here to call on Mr. Hazelton?”

He pulled off his hat, revealing the gray and brown bramble that was his hair. “We were, indeed, Lady Harleigh. Sadly, he’s not available.”

Delaney’s companion stood with a fist on her hip, eyeing me with an insolent gaze. “Do you know Hazelton?” Her French accent came as a surprise.

“Of course. I am his neighbor.”

“And his fiancée,” Alicia added.

The woman narrowed her eyes. “Are you indeed? Imagine that.” She turned to Delaney. “Did you know this?”

Delaney pressed two fingers to his temple.

Such impertinence. “And may one ask who you are, miss?”

“Mrs.” Her lips tipped up to one side. “I am Mrs. George Hazelton.”

I blinked. What had she just said?

Behind me, Alicia drew in a breath. “My, my,” she said, leaning close to my ear. “And I thought I had problems.”

Somehow, with Delaney directing our small procession, we made it into my house. Tantalized by the scent of scandal, Alicia tried to linger, but he set her firmly in her carriage and waved the driver on his way. When the carriage moved, I spotted Jackson, the nosy butler from across the street, taking in all the activity with raised brows and a pinched expression. Lovely. Now we were presenting a spectacle for my neighbors. I took the little baggage by the arm and preceded Delaney into the house.

The next thing I knew, I was handing a note to Mrs. Thompson, to be delivered next door, urging George to call on me immediately upon his arrival at home, to settle a delicate matter.

Mrs. Thompson took the note from my shaking hand and, with a cautious glance at the others, retreated from the drawing room. By this time, the shock had worn off, leaving me a bit disoriented and positively enraged. How dare she claim to be married to George? My George! What manner of game was she playing?

I took a calming breath before turning to my “delicate matter,” who had made herself far too comfortable in one of my chintz-covered chairs. She presented a sensual and exotic sight. Her few hairpins did little to contain the masses of dark waves that tumbled past her shoulders. They framed a pale oval face with dark eyes and brows that slashed upward. She’d removed her coat to reveal a gauzy tea gown, the likes of which should never have left the privacy of her own drawing room. Yet she and her gown were draped over a chair in mine. I disliked her from pure instinct.

“Where is my husband?” Again, I was taken aback by the French accent in her husky voice. I glanced at Delaney who had taken the matching chair beside her. His head tipped down, he made a show of reviewing his notes, giving me a view of only his wiry salt-and-pepper hair and his rumpled brown suit.

I turned back to the woman. “If you’re referring to Mr. Hazelton, I’ve sent him a message. He’ll come here as soon as he arrives home. In the meantime, perhaps you’d care to tell me what your business is with him? I don’t for a moment believe you’re his wife.”

“Perhaps you don’t know the man as well as you think.”

“I beg to differ. I know him better than anyone. We are betrothed.”

She gave me a Gallic shrug. “That may present a problem. I don’t think British law allows for more than one spouse at a time.”

As we spoke, I’d moved closer, until I was fairly towering over her. Delaney must have thought I posed a threat, for he took to his feet and directed me to the chair on the opposite side of the table before resuming his own seat

“Who is she, Delaney? And wherever did you find her?”

“Why don’t I begin with telling you what I know and why I brought the lady here?” he said.

I gave him a grudging nod, and the woman waved a hand, as if she really didn’t care what either of us did.

“I was at my precinct when a constable brought her in.” Delaney glanced at the little notebook he always carried. “She’d been apprehended outside of Marlborough House. It appeared she’d attempted to attack Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich.”

I don’t know what I’d expected to hear, but it certainly wasn’t this. “You attacked the grand duke?”

“Whoever said that has made far too much of the matter. I merely wished to speak with him.” She tossed her head. “He would not listen. He could not be bothered.”

“Is there some reason he should bother himself to speak with you?” I asked.

“He is my cousin.”

I huffed. “I see. Hazelton is your husband, and the grand duke is your cousin.” Egad, the woman was delusional. “I suppose you’re related to the queen, as well?”

Her expression grew thoughtful. “Why, yes, though it’s a distant connection. I’m pleased I can credit you with more intelligence than the policeman who arrested me. At least you understand a simple statement.”

I gaped at Delaney, who looked as flustered as I. “There’s nothing about your relationship to the grand duke in the report,” he said.

“I suspect the constable didn’t believe me.”

“That’s understandable. Your identity papers are French. They state your name as Irena Teskey, aged twenty-four.” He glanced up from his notes to the young woman and raised a brow. “Don’t know much about Russia and th. . .