nineteen

By eight the next morning Frederick and the children had all gone off to work and school, and the kitchen girl was busy scrubbing pots. Mother and I took our coffee into the sitting room. She’d been busy reading to Betsy, Mark, and Matthew last night when I arrived home, so we hadn’t had a chance to talk. Today had dawned blustery and cold, in sharp contrast to yesterday, and the coal stove warmed the room nicely. Winter was once again on its way.

“How was the gathering at Zula’s?” Mother asked.

“It was pleasant, and the Election Cake delicious.”

“Thee said this Zula might be a suspect in the murder. Was it safe going to her house?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I smiled. “I was with two others, remember. Nothing at all happened. And Bertie managed to weasel a couple of bits of information out of her.”

“I like Bertie. Thee and she are good friends, it seems.”

“We are.” I nodded.

“Tell me what information she elicited from Zula.”

“We found out she was alone in her apartment the night Rowena was killed.”

Mother raised her eyebrows. “No one to vouch for her.”

“Right. Zula employs a cook, a maid, and a stable boy, and they go home from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning.”

“Interesting. Did thee learn anything else?”

“Yes, in a way. Zula had romantic feelings for Rowena that weren’t reciprocated. Bertie asked her if she was angry about Rowena’s rejection. Zula got the drift of the question and ended by saying she didn’t kill Rowena.”

“She knows thee works with the police now and then, I suppose.”

“Yes, we talked about my assisting Kevin last evening.”

“I think thee needs to be very careful, Rose.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “Whoever killed could kill again, and if he or she knows thee is asking questions around town, thee could be a target.” Her voice broke as she gazed around the room, which still bore little touches of Harriet everywhere. “I’ve lost one daughter. I can’t lose thee, too.”

I realized with a start how painful it must be for her to be staying here in Harriet’s home and be reminded of her at every turn. “You won’t lose me, Mother. Don’t worry, I am careful.” I squeezed back. “I have no intention of putting myself in harm’s way. At least no more than we did yesterday.” I smiled at her. “Did Frederick behave himself last evening?”

She sniffed and wiped away a tear. “Indeed. He was here reading to the younger children and helping Luke with his homework all evening. Just as he should be.” She nodded once in a satisfied way. “Yesterday was a heartening demonstration, wasn’t it? Complete with Elizabeth Cady Stanton herself.”

“I was so pleased to be able to meet her. For her to stand with us made the day extra special.”

Mother nodded. “She’s like that. She’s such a luminary, and yet she makes herself available to everyone.”

“I hope her ankle will heal well.” I sipped the last of my coffee.

“I’m sure it will. She said she’s returning home to Seneca Falls today, so she can have her own physician look at it.”

I watched out the window as a small cloud of leaves blew down the path. “I wonder which way the presidential election went.”

“Frederick will bring home the newspaper, won’t he?”

“Yes. But I’m going out soon. I’ll pick one up in town.”

“I’m eager to see it.” Mother drained her coffee cup and set it on the end table. “I wanted to tell thee I spoke with Ruby Bracken about thy situation during our long hours at the demonstration yesterday.”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows so high my glasses slipped down the bridge of my nose. I pushed them back up. “And?”

She shrugged. “She did not seem willing to budge in her position.”

I slumped in my chair, and Mother reached over to pat my hand. “Thee is not to despair, Rosie. We’ll figure out something.”

I wasn’t so sure we would, but I didn’t want to wallow in that particular problem right now.

“Now tell me, the couple who came to vote in their runabout yesterday,” she began. “What was their last name again?”

“They are Elbridge and Lyda Osgood. He’s a lawyer—or was until he was let go. And she’s one of my clients, due to deliver her third child within the month.”

“I thought Osgood was the name thee had mentioned. The name is familiar to me.”

“It’s a large family and they own a good deal of land here in town,” I said. “One Osgood is the proprietor of a carriage factory, but I’m not sure if he’s directly related to Elbridge.”

“No, this was at home in Lawrence. I met a Delilah Osgood who spoke of a relative with an unusual name. As I recall it was Elbridge or something like it.”

“What did she say about him?”

“Her words are what I can’t quite remember. I’ll think hard on it. Or maybe I can send a note to thy father and ask him. His memory is always better than mine and I’m sure I spoke to him on the matter.”