A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder

I’ve grown up enough to think for myself.”

Life couldn’t possibly get any better.

I’ve always tried to do my best for you children and I don’t know why you all find that so endlessly humorous. I’m just trying to be a good mother.”
“I’m not sure managing your adult children’s lives is part and parcel of motherhood.”
She tossed her head, causing another lock of hair to fall from her coiffure. “Well, then, I don’t know what is.”
I turned to her with a weary smile and placed my hand on her leg, palm up. She slipped hers on top, and I closed my fingers around it. “You came after me when I was in danger. You saved me from a charging horse and a madman at the same time.” I squeezed her fingers. “You shared your hidden cache of lemon drops. You are not a good mother,” I croaked. “You are the best.”

You turned away a man who was interested in me, who liked me, or at least was attracted to me, in favor of Reggie, whose only interest was in my dowry?”
Fiona and Hetty, who had the good sense to back away a few steps, watched us warily. Mother cast them a furtive glance. I didn’t think Hetty could bring herself to side with Mother, and she’d burned the bridge to Fiona’s sympathy just a few moments ago.
She took a step back and plopped onto the sofa. “Frances, dear, you make that sound like a bad thing. That was our plan, after all, to get you a title. And we succeeded. You became Countess of Harleigh. Why on earth are you turning on me now?”
I faltered. She was right that had been our plan. Well, it had been hers, but I’d jumped on board. I’d been so young and such an outsider in New York that my mother had been almost my only companion. I’d have fallen in with any plan she suggested.
“You must admit Hazelton has proven his unworthiness this week. The man can’t even manage a house party. People are getting shot with arrows and with guns. Now we must call off the wedding and run away from a murderer. What kind of life would you have had with such a man? You would never have been happy.”
“May I remind you Hazelton is my brother and your host?” Fiona’s face was so red, I feared an explosion from her.
I turned to my mother. “He is also your future son-in-law.”
She huffed and slapped her hand against the arm of the sofa in frustration. “Frances, no! I could see the two of you had become friendly, but while I’ve given up on your sister, I’d have expected you to be more sensible. What could such a union bring you? You could do so much better.”
Better? Gad, was she plotting again? “Don’t even think about finding me another match. I’m not the young girl you married off ten years ago. I’ve grown up and have different ideas of marriage now. George is the man I love, and I believe he suits me perfectly.”
“You’re being emotional.”
“Suitably so. It turns out Lily is the more sensible of your daughters. She followed her heart, and now I’ll do the same. I’ve grown in the last years. I can think for myself and I know my worth—and I know Mr. Hazelton’s worth. You are mistaken when you undervalue him. He is not the model of perfection I’ve often tried to imagine him, but he is the best of men, and I want nothing more than to share a life with him.”
“Bravo!” Fiona brought her hands together as if she’d like to applaud.
Mother turned to Hetty. “Surely you agree with me.”
“Not at all, Daisy. You have chosen the wrong audience. The three of us have a high regard for Hazelton, and when you rail against him, you offend us all.”
“And you wrong him,” I said. “He is intelligent and inventive, a kind man and master. Even his own brother’s servants look up to him.”

with his life in danger, I was not about to run away to safety.

It’s because we’re women,” Lily said, folding her arms in front of her, “that our logic is falling on deaf ears. If Hazelton told Leo the plan was ill-conceived, Leo would change his mind immediately, and vice versa.”

Mother didn’t chide me for my questions. She might be losing interest in Bradmore. Heir to a title or not, if he had no estate at which to settle down, and he spent his life wandering about the world, he would simply not do in her opinion. It did seem he had no plans to marry and start a family anytime soon. Men were inequitably lucky in that way. Unless they had to work for a living or run an estate, they were free to do as they wished.

While out loud she questioned Lily’s manners, what she really meant was, hadn’t she taught her daughter more artful interrogation techniques?

Lily gasped. “Do you honestly think he would harm himself?”
I could not recall a more awkward conversation. If we pushed further ahead on the subject of Treadwell, his marked attention to Lily was bound to come out, and we might just put an end to the wedding. I was beginning to think warning Leo was a terrible idea. He still didn’t take the threat seriously, and only one of these men was guilty—maybe—but we might be damaging his relationship with both his brother-in-law and his best friend. Not to mention Lily. Perhaps we should just drop this subject.
“Are you aware of his feelings for Miss Price?”
Unfortunately, George had failed to read my mind.
Leo came to his feet so quickly, he toppled the chair. “That blackguard!”
He stomped out of the room, leaving Lily in tears. Lifting her skirts, she scurried to the door. “You’ve ruined everything!” She sent me a deadly glare before rushing after him.
George leaned back in his chair. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“Definitely no.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What do you think he’s going to do to Treadwell?”
“Give him the thrashing he deserves.”
I nodded. “Then I suppose he and Lily will need to have a talk. I hope we haven’t ruined everything, as she said.”
“They’ll work it out, Frances. Talking is the best thing they can do.”

As she accepted his offer, I was hit with another wave of panic. Was I placing my brother in the company of a killer? Heavens, I must stop suspecting everyone.