Butterfly Palace

  Belle curled her fingers into her palm. Could they be talking about Uncle Everett? Her pulse throbbed in her throat. Why would anyone want to hurt him? He was a good man, the best. Not many men would have been so kind to an orphaned niece. She sometimes complained when he insisted on his way, but deep inside, she always knew it was because he wanted the best for her.

  She tiptoed to the door and opened it, wincing when it creaked a bit. No sound came from the next office over. The side door was ahead, just past the room that contained the man and woman. There might be a door from that room to the hall, so they may not come out this main one. Where was Uncle Everett? She should have watched to see where he headed.

  Trying to act unconcerned, she walked briskly toward the row of offices on the far side of the building. She heard no voices. Surely there were some security men around. Or other state representatives. The place couldn’t be as empty as it felt. She had to get help.

  She scurried down the hall to the first door and rapped softly. When she heard no answer, she went to the next and the next. With each room she tried, she grew more agitated. Where was her uncle?

  The doorman. She hurried back to the front door, pausing long enough to peer down the side hall. Still empty. At least no woman with a gun was lurking about. She reached the front door and pushed it open, then motioned to the doorman.

  “Miss?”

  “Do you know where my uncle was meeting? I need to speak with him. It’s most urgent.”

  “I believe he was in the room just past the side hall. On the left.”

  “I tried there.”

  “Did you go inside? Maybe he didn’t hear you.”

  “No. I’ll try that.” Should she enlist his help? But no, she didn’t know whom she could trust in here. This man, nice looking though he was, could be in cahoots with the people in that room. “Thank you.”

  She backed away and let the door shut her off from his curious expression. As she went to the office he’d suggested, she glanced again down the hall. This time a shadow moved at the back of the hall, near the door. Her throat tightened and she rushed on past.

  This time when she rapped on the door, she used more force. “Uncle Everett?” She twisted the doorknob, and it turned easily.

  Three men on the far side of the large room turned to look at her. Her uncle frowned and rose. “Belle? I told you I’d be along as soon as I could.”

  “Might I have a word with you? It’s important.” Her gaze swept the other two men. They looked vaguely familiar, both state representatives. Her uncle had served two terms as a state senator. This election would boost him to the national senate level.

  His brow furrowed, but he stepped to meet her by the door. “What is it, Belle? This meeting is important.”

  “Uncle Everett, there’s a woman with a gun in the side hallway outside. I fear you might be her target. A man was insisting she hide there to shoot someone he said should have already been dead. Doesn’t that sound like another attempt on your life?”

  His eyes widened, and his hand came down on her shoulder. “You were right to tell me.”

  She leaned closer to whisper, “Trust no one. We have no idea if one of these men is involved too. Tell them there’s a family emergency and you must go. Is there another way out instead of the front or side door?”

  He nodded. “Out the other side of this room. I’ll go that way. Thank you, my dear.” Facing the men, he cleared his throat. “I’m afraid I’ve been summoned home for an emergency.” He held up his hand when the men murmured in dismay. “I’m sure it’s fine. Let’s meet again on Monday at three. Does that suit?”

  The men muttered and nodded as they began to gather their papers on the table.

  Belle smiled and apologized for interrupting, then led her uncle across the room. “We’ll just go this way.” She unlocked the door and twisted the doorknob. The fresh scent of the pines lining the building spurred her on.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Her uncle closed the door behind him. “We’ll stop to tell the police on our way home.”

  Belle glanced over her shoulder as they hurried to the automobile. Only when they were halfway down the street did she ease back against the cushion.

  Belle sat at the piano in the music room. “Adjust my skirt before everyone gets here, Lily.”

  Lily tugged here and there on the pink skirt until it draped perfectly around the bench and onto the floor. “I think that looks lovely, Miss Belle.” The pink dress shimmered in the electric light. “You’ll be the star of the opera house tonight.”

  Belle smoothed the fabric over her stomach and turned to view herself in the large mirror on one wall. “You did a marvelous job, Lily.”

  Lily’s cheeks heated at the praise. It wasn’t always easy to please her employer. She tucked a few strands of flowers into Belle’s hair.

  “I’m quite exhausted after explaining what I heard to the police.”

  Lily froze, then resumed the hair arrangement. “Police? What happened?”

  “I suspect I overheard a plot to murder my uncle. I managed to warn him, and we left the back way.”

  Lily gasped. “How brave of you.”

  Belle tipped her head to one side and examined her reflection again. “I was in no danger, but I was certainly fearful for Uncle Everett.”

  “Do you have any idea why someone would want to harm your uncle? He seems such a kind man.”

  Belle shrugged. “I assume it’s political. I’ve suggested he hire a bodyguard for now.”

  “Will he?”

  “I hope so.” Belle’s gaze met Lily’s in the mirror. “Mrs. O’Reilly told me you had a mishap at the church yesterday yourself. What happened?”

  Lily tried not to be hurt that Belle didn’t so much as ask if she was all right. “A man attacked me in the churchyard.” She launched into an explanation of the incident.

  Belle shuddered delicately. “He had a knife? How terrifying! Did he cut you deep?”

  Lily shook her head. “It left a mark though.” She tipped her chin up to display the thin line of the cut.

  “The city is getting to be a frightening place. I’ve half a mind to accept Stuart Vesters and escape to New York.”

  “Is securing a husband your primary goal in life?”

  Belle lifted her chin. “Of course. I want to be like Mrs. Astor. I would even like to travel to New York and meet her in person someday.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know who that is.”

  Belle’s glance held pity. “She’s just the most famous woman in all of New York society. Her husband is one of the richest men in the world. Women who marry power can do so much. I want to see the world, experience everything. The right man can give me that.”

  “And is Mr. Hawkes that right man? He doesn’t seem to have enough power or money for that.” Lily held her breath to see how Belle would respond.

  Belle stared at her. “Why do you care?”

  Lily adjusted a glittering diamond pin in Belle’s hair. “I don’t care at all. It’s just he has no power that I can tell.”

  “He’s a handsome devil though.” Belle’s fingers rippled across the keys. “But you’re right. I’ve been realizing he’s not husband material. But I don’t think Stuart Vesters is either. I am going to look around for a man with Hawkes’s good looks and Vesters’s wealth.”

  “What about love?”

  A smile lifted Belle’s lips. “I’ll be happy to love the man who can give me everything I want out of life.”

  “You don’t believe in a love that transcends things like money and power? What if you fell in love with a servant?”

  Belle’s laugh tinkled out. “You’re too funny, Lily. How utterly ridiculous. I would never allow myself to get close to someone in that position. Even our relationship knows its boundaries, though I tell you just about everything. But we’re not friends. You’re my maid, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

  Belle’s dismissive words stung more than they should have. ??
?Of course, Miss Belle.” Lily pressed her lips together. “Do you want your wrap?”

  Belle nodded. “What about you, Lily? Do you believe in all that happily ever after?” She chuckled as if the thought was nonsense.

  Did she? Lily wasn’t sure anymore. “I did once. Life gets in the way sometimes though. And then it’s hard to know what another person really feels or thinks.” She adjusted the wrap around Belle’s bare shoulders.

  “Men will say anything to get what they want. Our job is not to let them have it until we get the rings on our fingers.”

  The other woman’s brazen statement took Lily’s breath. Was that all love was—a dance around the bedroom? Maybe Andy’s desertion was her own fault. She hadn’t resisted his appeal, and though God had forgiven her, she hadn’t forgiven herself. “I think there are good men out there. My father was a wonderful man who treated Mama and me like queens.”

  “They are few and far between. I just want a man who is rich enough to allow me to travel and who isn’t overly domineering. I will vet that well.” She pinched her cheeks.

  “Who is escorting you to the opera tonight?”

  “Stuart. But he has a rich young friend who is meeting us there, and I plan to check him out.” Her silvery laugh tinkled out. “Don’t look so disapproving, Lily. You’re in the city now. We do things differently here. When you and I are traveling in Paris, you’ll thank me for keeping my head about me.”

  The doorbell rang, and Lily hurried to escape before Mr. Vesters arrived for appetizers before the event.

  Maybe Belle was right. Love hadn’t worked out well for Lily herself. Maybe it would be worth absorbing Belle’s very different ideas. After all, she was in the city now. Things weren’t as black and white as they seemed in Larson.

  Her thoughts drifted to Mr. Lambreth’s blue eyes, but she shoved that inappropriate thought away. If Drew was forbidden, Mr. Lambreth was doubly so.

  FIFTEEN

  The opera rippled with movement—women in silk gowns of every color and men dressed nattily in suits mingled in the aisles before they found their balcony seats for the performance. Drew tugged on his tie and glanced around for Vesters. He’d hoped to discover the man’s partner tonight.

  Drew jammed his hands into the pockets of his jacket and clenched his teeth. He had to figure out where Ballard was. The man had to be behind the attack on Lily. The ominous words the attacker had said reverberated in Drew’s head. “So beautiful.” As if he’d been watching her and knew her.

  Camille Marshall waved at him from across the room. She made her way through the throng to grasp his forearm. “I didn’t expect to see you, Drew. If you’re looking for Belle, she’s with Mr. Vesters.” She smiled slyly and inclined her head. “In our seats.”

  He shifted and looked away, unsure how to deal with the family expectations. Maybe he would have considered an arranged match before Lily disrupted his world again. He’d tried hard to forget her, but now here she was again and smack-dab back in the middle of a dangerous situation.

  He smiled at Mrs. Marshall. “I’ll just go say hello then.” Vesters was the real reason for the meeting. Taking his leave, he made his way to the Marshall seats.

  Belle looked beautiful tonight, as she always did, but his gaze went to Vesters. The vest buttons were strained across the man’s chest, and he mopped his face with a hanky. Pity stirred in Drew. Belle would have the upper hand in that relationship, and Vesters would be dancing to her whims.

  Drew stepped into the row and bowed. “Your aunt directed me here to say hello.”

  Belle glanced at Vesters, then smiled prettily as she took his hand. “Sit with us, Mr. Hawkes. There’s plenty of room.”

  Vesters nodded and pointed to the chair on his other side. “Sit here and we can talk a bit.”

  Belle bit her lip, then recovered her smile. “Of course.”

  The opera was about to start, so Drew moved to his seat. He allowed his gaze to wander the balconies. He would know Ballard’s shape and the set of his ears anywhere. What would he do if Ballard had moved on from Austin?

  His gaze swept the room again. Then he saw a man lean forward to whisper in a woman’s ear. The slant of the chin, the hooked nose. Ballard. He was here. He fisted his hands and wished he could leap over the balcony and bring the man down. There was no proof though. But at least he knew Ballard was still here working on whatever plan he had in mind.

  The man turned his head and their gazes collided. Ballard’s eyes widened, and he looked away quickly. Drew exhaled. His enemy knew he was here, so he needed to be on his guard.

  Was Ian right? This obsession could get him killed. But he was close, so close. And what if he brought Ballard to justice? Pursuing the man had given Drew his purpose in life. With Ballard behind bars, what then? More tracking of counterfeiters and murderers? Now that he’d seen Lily again, he realized how lonely he’d been. His life had been a series of empty hotel rooms and lousy food.

  He could offer her nothing though.

  Lily’s breath came fast as she descended the cellar steps on Friday night. The butterfly room keys hung from her fingers. She’d tried to talk Emily into making this trip for her, but none of the maids liked to come down here. The thought of what she might see here made her pause outside the door.

  All the staff talked about this room, but she hadn’t seen it yet. She would have liked to have kept it that way, but Mr. Marshall was waiting on her. She inhaled and forced herself to insert the key. It twisted in the lock, and she opened the door, then turned on the lights. The glass cases sprang into sight. Her gaze went from one case to the other. All those beautiful creatures pinned into glass coffins made her shudder. Mr. Marshall had instructed her to go to the small room at the back. He had requested she bring the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing specimen up to show the guests.

  “You doing all right?” Mrs. O’Reilly’s voice spoke from behind her.

  Lily sagged with relief as she turned. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s quite creepy.”

  “I felt bad I’d sent you down here on your own for the first time.” The housekeeper glanced around the space. “You’ll get used to it. Mr. Marshall is so proud of these insects. And you must admit they’re beautifully colored.”

  “I hadn’t dared to look at them.” Lily shuddered but walked to join Mrs. O’Reilly at a glass case. She much preferred the insects fluttering around. The card on the display read Bhutanitis lidderdalei. She couldn’t even pronounce it.

  “See how they have tiger-like spots? It’s to frighten predators. They live in Bhutan. That’s in South Asia.” Mrs. O’Reilly moved to the next display. “And this one is the Ornithoptera chimaera.”

  “They’re so green. They almost look like orchids.”

  Mrs. O’Reilly smiled. “See, they aren’t so terrifying. Over here is what Mr. Marshall sent you after.” She walked purposefully to the door at the back of the cavernous room and opened it.

  When Mrs. O’Reilly flipped on the light, Lily took a step back. “They’re gigantic!”

  The bluish-green butterfly was stretched out to display the full size of its wings. A black vein contrasted the color. Its wingspread was close to ten inches. Seeing the creature flying about would be rather daunting and scary. What if it became caught in a woman’s hair?

  “Why does he collect these?”

  Mrs. O’Reilly’s smile lingered lovingly on the huge specimen. “He says all beautiful things should be displayed. You must admit the butterflies are quite spectacular.”

  “They’re dead.”

  The housekeeper’s smile faded. “Well, yes. But their beauty remains.” She picked up the display case and thrust it into Lily’s arms. “Take this to the parlor and be quick about it. He’s likely growing impatient already.”

  Carrying the butterfly carefully, Lily rushed up the stairs and down the hall to the parlor. She was breathless when she stepped into the large room filled with people. Women sat in a group chatting and the men stood by the firepla
ce as they most likely discussed politics and the economy. The hum of voices stopped when she entered with the case.

  Mr. Marshall held out his hand. “Ah, there you are. I’m eager to show off my prize specimen.”

  Lily was only too glad to hand it over. Her gaze briefly collided with Drew’s before she quickly looked away. Belle narrowed her eyes meaningfully and jerked her head toward the door. Lily started that direction.

  “Stay put, Lily,” Mr. Marshall said. “I don’t want this out of the vault for long.”

  Lily retreated to a space by the wall. Her gaze darted to Belle, and when she realized her mistress had moved to see the butterfly, she glanced at Drew. He was staring at the case, and Lily allowed herself to drink in the strong planes and lines of his face. A lock of black hair had fallen over his forehead, and his cheeks were flushed by the warmth of the room. She curled her fingers into her palms. If only she had the right to brush that soft hair off his face, to trace the roughened line of his jaw.

  He glanced her way and transfixed her in place. The emotion blazing in his eyes was clear for anyone who looked that way. She wanted to flee, to forget the pain there. Could his tale possibly be true? She couldn’t imagine anything that would have made her desert him, so it seemed unlikely.

  She finally managed to look away. No one seemed to have noticed the intense interlude between them. Belle was laughing with her head thrown back, revealing the fine line of her throat and chin. At least she hadn’t seen. Lily exhaled and edged farther out of the throng.

  She felt like a calf cut from its mama. Alone, bewildered, afraid. If she could mount the next train for Larson, she would. Back home she knew what was expected of her. Every day was like the next without the dizzying highs and lows of life here.

  The group had finally quit admiring the giant butterfly, and Lily took it without looking at the poor dead thing. The sooner it was tucked away, the happier she would be. She hurried back to the basement stairs, but it was scarier this time. Darker somehow with the shadows leaping and moving like gargoyles. She raced to the vault at the back of the room and thrust the case back in among the other valuable specimens.