The Sign of Death (Victorian Book Club Mystery 2)

William’s annoyance quickly turned to anger. “Detective, must I remind you again that attempts at jokes are inappropriate when discussing someone’s demise?”

The prior year when William and Amy had investigated the murder of her ex-fiancé, the detectives had seemed a bit too casual with death for his liking.

“Settle down, your lordship.” Marsh took a seat and opened his always-handy notebook. Detective Carson stood behind his partner, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Tell me how it is you are connected to the deceased”—Marsh flipped back a few pages—“Mr. James Harding.”

“He was my man of business.”

Marsh wrote furiously while Carson addressed William. “What did the man do for you?”

William was certain that Carson continued to stand so he could intimidate him and Amy. Tired of straining his neck to look up at the detective, William stood. “He handled my finances. He negotiated contracts, he collected rents for my various properties, paid bills, and kept track of my various holdings.”

Carson nodded. “Why don’t you sit down, your lordship?”

“As soon as you do, Detective.”

Carson glared at him but took a seat. He looked over at Amy. “I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here with Wethington, but it seems to me that viewing a dead body is not something a young lady would want to do. Was this Harding chap your man of business as well?”

“No. I do not employ a man of business. My brother handles all the financial matters for my family.”

“Detective, might I ask how Mr. Harding came to be floating in the River Avon?” William inquired.

“All unwitnessed drownings are considered homicides and require an investigation. All we know so far is that Mr. Harding was apparently drunk and took a walk along the river and fell in. It’s happened before.”

William did a good job of hiding his surprise, since he knew James to be a teetotaler. “And why did you determine he was drunk and fell into the river?”

“He had an empty flask in his pocket that smelled of spirits. Aside from the normal bumps and bruises that a body would suffer floating in a river, there were no other injuries to suggest it was anything but an accident.”

“Yet you are investigating it?”

“It is required.” Carson looked over at Amy. “Just so we’re clear. There is no need for either one of you to do any prying. You were lucky you weren’t killed last year, sticking your nose in police business.”

“Yet we handed the murderer over to you,” Amy snapped.

Marsh looked up from his pad and glowered at her. “Just as we identified the killer ourselves.” He waved his finger at her. “If we learn that you are nosing around again, I will notify your father to come and escort you to London.”

Amy bristled, and William quelled the urge to plant a facer on the detective. “If you are finished with your questioning, Lady Amy and I would like to leave.”

Carson nodded. “Just be sure to remain available for any further questions.”

William took Amy’s arm and held her elbow as they left the office and exited the building. The weather had turned cooler, and Amy shivered alongside him. He waved for his driver to pull up, and they climbed into the carriage.

“You appeared unconvinced when the detectives said they believed it was an accident.” Amy took the blanket he handed her from underneath the seat and wrapped it around herself. He was certain her chill was not just from the cold air but rather from her experience in the morgue.

William leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees. “James Harding was a teetotaler. He never imbibed. He once told me his father was a wastrel who spent a good portion of his income on strong spirits. I have never, in all the time I’ve known James, seen him take as much as a sip of wine.”

“How very interesting,” Amy said. She remained silent for a minute or so and then said, “Then it was no accident?”

William shook his head. “Not unless the man did a complete turnaround from the way he had previously lived his entire life.”

“Do you have any idea who would want him dead?”

He hesitated. “No.”

“Aha! I heard a tiny niggling of doubt in that word.” She shifted in her seat and pulled the blanket up farther on her chin.

William stared out the window at the shops and shoppers as the carriage moved slowly through the traffic, carefully considering his words. “As I mentioned briefly before, of late I had a few concerns about James.”