The Schoolgirl Affair (A Sherlock Holmes and Serena Norton Story #3)

Chapter Four

The other girls started screaming, and shouts came from the men. Ignoring them, I took a step closer, untangling myself from Abby's grip. The body was face down, long brown hair loose on the shoulders. It was a young woman, and the dark blue cloak had a striking similarity to the one I'd seen worn by the figure who had entered the school.

Perhaps it was the same person? Or was it simply a coincidence?

My view was blocked by the other churchgoers. Then, a constable was on the scene. "If you could move back," he said, stepping between me and the body. "This isn't the sort of thing young ladies like yourself should see. Let the doctor do his work."

"Serena, come away," Madame D'Arcy said, grabbing my arm. Her face was pale, and her eyes troubled. "There is nothing you can do here."

A man knelt by the body, but I doubted he would be able to do anything for the poor woman either. The blood spreading on the cement made my stomach turn and I turned my gaze upward. She'd come from somewhere above us, but what would have sent her up so far? Had she jumped or was there a darker meaning?

My own questions, however, had to be put aside as the constable began to make his own queries. Who were we? What had brought us to the church? Had we seen the woman within? Did we know her? Had we seen anyone at all?

As we answered all of his questions, I saw Dr. Watson push his way through the crowd. Madame D'Arcy's grip on my arm kept me from going to him. Finally, the constable instructed us to go back to school, warning us that if there were any further questions he would come find us. "Seems a straightforward case of suicide, though," he muttered as he turned away from us.

The doctor had covered the poor woman's body. Abby's grip on my arm tightened as the teachers herded us towards the street. "I can't believe we just saw that happen," Abby said in a low voice. "I'm feeling a bit light-headed."

"Please do not faint," I said, putting my arm around her waist to support her. "I thought you were made of stronger stuff."

My rebuke made her straighten her back. "A woman killed herself! In front of us! How can you be so calm about this?" she demanded.

"I've...seen a thing or two."

My statement was weak even to my own ears. Abby glared at me and hurried ahead. She was right to be angry with me. It was something else I would have to apologize for.

~*~

As soon as we arrived back at the school, tea was sent for us all. Several of the girls were in states of hysteria, taking up the attention of the teachers. In the midst of this, the constable arrived, requesting to speak to Miss Hunter in private, citing his belief that the students have been traumatized enough.

Curiosity flickered in Miss Hunter's gaze as she agreed. My own curiosity piqued, I followed after them. Abby, much to my surprise, trailed after me. "Serena? What are you doing?" she asked as the door to Miss Hunter's office closed firmly.

I put my finger to my lips to hush her as I pressed my head close to the wood. Though slightly muffled, I could hear Miss Hunter's voice. "Alice Wood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Constable Miller said. "Doctor Winter was able to identify her immediately and informed me that the young lady was employed here. Have you any idea why she would take her own life? Perhaps trouble with a gentleman?"

"My housekeeper, Mrs. White, is the one who would know. She oversees all of the maids who work here. I'm only informed when there's a problem—"

A tug on my arm drew my attention away from the conversation. "Come on, Serena," Abby hissed. "You'll get in trouble if you're caught eavesdropping. Again."

Knowing that if I refused, she would be just as stubborn and draw attention to us. I allowed her to pull me away. My suspicion that the dead woman was the same I had seen enter the school earlier. Now I simply needed to figure out what to do with this information.

"I don't like that look in your eyes," Abby said, a note of worry in her voice. "What are you planning? What did you hear?"

"I'll tell you later. Look, why don't you go up to our room and get some rest," I said, facing her. She really did look pale still. "I'm sorry I sounded so callous earlier. I didn't mean to be. Please forgive me."

"And what are you going to do?" she asked with no little suspicion, ignoring my apology.

"I'm going to get some answers if I can."

For a moment, I thought she would protest, but she finally gave a shrug. As she went up the stairs, I went down to the kitchen. If I wanted to get anything useful from the housekeeper, I knew I had to speak to her before the constable or Miss Hunter did. Fortunately, I found her just as she was leaving the kitchen.

"Was there something you needed, Miss?" she asked. Behind her was slight chaos as the few maids who had returned from church were assisting the cook to get tea for everyone. "You're not supposed to be down here."

"I do have a concern," I said honestly. I couldn't let her know I was looking for information. "A few nights ago, I thought I saw someone come in after the doors were supposed to be locked. I've just been thinking about it since then and I was hoping you could ease my mind. Did one of the maids have an errand to run?"

Mrs. White's frown had deepened as I spoke. "Alice came back late three nights ago," she said, slowly. "I will have a word with her, Miss. I'm sorry you were alarmed by her late return."

"Oh, was she meeting a suitor?"

"She knows better than to do something so inappropriate." Mrs. White's said immediately, and there was a hint of offense in her voice. "I can understand why someone might assume such a thing, but I am astonished a young lady such as yourself would even suggest it."

Why was it so shocking for a young lady to say the truth? Was it because I was young, or was it because I was female? Not for the first time, I wished I wasn't as handicapped by such things. "My apologies, Mrs. White. It was the first thing that came to mind. Perhaps she had family trouble?" I said quickly, trying to soothe her ruffled feathers.

She shook her head. "I can't say, Miss. Alice was not one to confide in me."

"Does her family live in town?"

Before Mrs. White could answer, I heard footsteps behind me and I turned to find a maid there. "Miss Hunter wishes to speak to you," the girl said, giving me a confused look. No doubt not many students ventured down to the kitchen. "About the terrible suicide in town."

"Please excuse me, Miss," Mrs. White said, moving around me. "Thank you, Emma."

"Yes, of course," I said, stepping aside to give her more room. Though I was disappointed that Mrs. White hadn't told me anything useful, I refused to give up hope that maybe someone else who had worked with Alice could give me some bit of information.

My gaze went to Emma, who hadn't gone on her way. I waited until the housekeeper vanished up the stairs and then opened my mouth to ask a question. The maid spoke first. "You want to know what Alice has been up to, don't you?"

When people said servants knew everything, they weren't lying. "Alice died in front of me," I said with all honesty and as bluntly as I could. Emma's eyes widened. "I know she returned late a few days ago, and I suspect it wasn't the only time."

"Alice is dead?" She paused. "The suicide? It was Alice? We left ahead of the students to get tea started..."

"I'm afraid I don't know the details. What can you tell me about her? Did she have a gentleman she was seeing regularly? Did she have trouble at home? Please, everything you can tell me will help me learn the truth."

Emma's eyes shifted down and to the right. She was thinking. "Alice kept to herself, but she had a habit of going out later than she was supposed to," she said after several seconds. "We all have our secrets, so we kept quiet about it. She has no family, and we all assumed she was meeting a man."

"Do you know what she was doing today?"
"She didn't say."

How was I supposed to learn anything about a girl who'd kept to herself so much? The answer wasn't so difficult, and I could only hope I got to it before anyone else spoiled the scene. "Can you take me to where she slept?"