Page 77 of A Matter of Murder

“They didn’t do it,” Sally said fiercely. “He has no right—”

“He has every right, I’m afraid,” Darcy said. Sally leveled a fierce glare at him and opened her mouth, but Lizzie interrupted.

“What he means to say is that as constable, Mr. Oliver has the right to bring anyone he thinks has committed a crime to a justice of the peace. But a justice of the peace is very unlikely to make a decision in a matter of murder.”

“Really?” Sally asked, sounding hopeful.

Lizzie cringed and said, “That is to say, if Mr. Layne believes the accusation has merit, he won’t decide on it himself. He’s likely to refer the case to the court of assizes.”

“What’s that?”

“A higher court that is in session twice a year, in Hertford.”

“Hertford!” Miss Jeffries exclaimed.

“Twice a year?” Sally repeated. She looked between them all. “And what will happen to my grandparents until then?”

“Jail,” Darcy said grimly. Lizzie bit her lip. For all she badgered Darcy about his bluntness when dealing with clients, she wasn’t certain there was a softer way to say this. “All accused will be housed in the nearest jail until the next session can be called.”

Sally’s distress settled into something harder, more steely. Her blue eyes flashed dangerously. “My grandparents can’t go to jail.”

Lizzie had had the misfortune of seeing the inside of Newgate, and on this point she agreed with Sally. Elderly, confused Mrs. Burton would not do well in such an environment. “We’ll do all we can to prevent that.”

Darcy cleared his throat. “Well.”

She looked at him, raising her eyebrows.

“Lizzie,” he muttered.

“What?”

He darted a look at Sally, who was glaring at him, and then said to Lizzie, “We cannot promise to keep her grandparents out of jail if theyareguilty.”

“They aren’t!” Sally protested.

Lizzie bit her lip as she considered. Solicitors represented guilty people all the time. In fact, Lizzie estimated that the solicitors of Pemberley & Associates represented many less-than-scrupulous clients simply because they could afford to pay for the service. Lizzie herself had been hired by Jack Mullins, who had revealed himself to be not so truthful about his motivations. Lizzie didn’t like making a habit of this practice—helping people avoid the consequences of their own bad behavior because they had money left a sour taste in her mouth.

But this felt different somehow. Sally’s fierceness held a ring of truth.

“Sally, look at me,” Lizzie said. The other girl pinned her in place with defiant blue eyes. “I can likely talk the justice of peace out of pursuing this case with your grandparents. But if I do, you need to tell me what you know. The entire truth, so no one else gets hurt. I promise that we will help in whatever way we can, no matter how bad it may be.”

“Lizzie,” Darcy said, but Lizzie didn’t tear her gaze away from Sally. The other girl was clearly weighing something. Her jaw was clenched, and she was breathing heavily.

“Why?” Sally demanded. “Why would you help me?”

It was a fair question. A dozen answers flitted throughLizzie’s mind, but she discarded each and every one, settling on something that she felt Sally would understand. “You helped me find my dog. I think I owe you this.”

Sally nodded. “Fine. But save them first.”

The carriage slowed, and Lizzie peeked out the window and saw that they were pulling into Meryton. The driver directed the carriage to the assembly hall and came to a stop. Sally was the first one out, and Miss Jeffries followed, along with Charlotte and Guy. Darcy held Lizzie back a moment. “How do you intend to exonerate the Burtons from the charges?” he hissed.

Lizzie squared her shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know! Lizzie—”

“Come along!” Sally called.

Lizzie squeezed Darcy’s hand quickly. “Don’t worry. I’ll come up with something.”