In a Gilded Cage - By Rhys Bowen Page 0,54

let me off,” she said, panting as if she had had to run to get here on time, “but Ned talked him into it. Oh, and Ned has run the test on Fanny’s hair. He says there was no trace of arsenic at all. I suppose that’s good news, isn’t it.”

“Yes, it is,” I said. “It would be awful to watch her being buried and always wondering if someone had gotten away with murder.”

She looked around. “A good crowd, wouldn’t you say? I don’t see any of Fanny’s other friends—oh, yes I do. There’s Alice, and that must be Minnie with her under that veil. Come on, let’s join them.’

She made her way through the crowd to where the two women were standing.

“Emily!” Alice held out her hands. “I’m so glad you could come. What a terribly sad day, isn’t it?”

Emily nodded.

“I still can’t believe it,” Minnie said, nodding politely to Emily and me. “Was it only less than two weeks ago that we were all together in Fanny’s living room, talking about ball gowns and complexions?”

Emily was still looking around. “I don’t see Bella or Dorcas,” she said.

“Bella was with us a moment ago.” Alice’s eyes scanned the gathering crowd. “But Dorcas won’t be coming. Haven’t you heard? She’s quite ill. They’re worried about her.”

Emily and I exchanged a glance.

“What’s wrong with her?” Emily asked.

“That’s just it. The doctors don’t know. Worrying, isn’t it?”

“Is she up to receiving visitors, do you think?” Emily asked.

“I really couldn’t say,” Alice answered. “And of course now they are worried that her baby will catch whatever she has.”

“Poor Dorcas,” Emily said.

“You know what I’m wondering.” Minnie leaned closer to us. “I’m wondering if Fanny wasn’t coming down with something when we were there and Dorcas caught it from her.”

“Fanny’s doctor says she died of complications of influenza,” I said, joining in this conversation for the first time, “and this strain of flu is supposed to be horribly virulent.”

“Then let’s hope the rest of us don’t follow suit,” Minnie said.

“I’m all right,” I said. “I went through it a month ago and I don’t think you can get it twice.”

As soon as she could, Emily dragged me aside. “We must visit Dorcas,” she whispered. “We must find out if Anson Poindexter came to see her.”

I frowned as I realized what was going through her head. “But even if it’s remotely possible that Anson killed his wife, what motive could he have for wanting to kill Dorcas?”

“Maybe she found out. I know she went to visit Fanny last week. What if she discovered something and came to Anson to share her suspicions?”

“I really think you’re going a little far,” I said. “We’ve heard from Ned that there was no trace of arsenic in Fanny’s hair. The doctor says he is convinced that he correctly diagnosed her illness and we know that her mother and only her mother ministered to her during her last days. What more do you want?”

Emily sighed. “I really don’t know. I guess you’re right and I’m just being silly.”

“Not silly,” I said with more enthusiasm than I felt. “But maybe overly concerned.”

I turned to look as the minister arrived and the mourners began to gather around the gravesite. I picked out Anson Poindexter, then I froze. Bella was standing beside him, her hand on his arm. As she looked up at him a momentary glance passed between them. I had seen that look before. It was a look exchanged by lovers.

Eighteen

Now I was really confused. Could I have made a mistake about Anson and Mademoiselle Fifi? Had his real mistress been right here, under my nose all the time? They moved apart instantly but I had seen enough to be sure. And Bella had been to visit her poor sick friend during the week. Perhaps she had brought something with her—some calves’ foot jelly, a special tonic? And taken the vessel back with her afterward? But then I shook my head. That was ridiculous. Why would Bella want Fanny dead? She wasn’t free to marry Anson.

The ceremony continued. I watched Fanny’s family—her mother hidden beneath her veil and yet her carriage proud and erect, her father staring out toward the Hudson, his face stoic. I felt for them—their beloved only child, with a life so full of promise ahead of her, taken from them. And all the money in the world couldn’t save her.

The final blessing was concluded, the coffin was carried into the vault, and the mourners drifted away.

Emily was