Oh Danny Boy (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #5)

“Used to adore him. Now they’ve all turned against him. Someone has spread a rumor that he has betrayed them.”


“Then someone is enjoying this,” she said, looking up at me suddenly. “You should find out whether anybody has tried to visit him in prison or asked after him.”

This was such an insight that I stared at her. “You should be the detective, not I, Miss Norton.”

She shrugged and gave me her charming smile. “It’s only human nature, isn’t it? If I ever played a trick on my little brother, or got him into trouble, I had to make sure I was there to witness his punishment. That was half of the fun. You see, I was not a very nice child, I’m afraid.”

“I don’t think we’re ever nice to little brothers,” I agreed. “I had to raise my own three brothers after our mother died. It wasn’t an easy task.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t,” she agreed.

For a while I said nothing, savoring the moment. Who would ever have thought that Arabella Norton and I would be sitting companionably in complete agreement. Wonders would never cease!

I decided to make the most of the present climate. “I’m most grateful to you, Miss Norton. And if I might take your suggestion one step further and ask you what might be an impertinent question…”

She nodded gravely. “I will answer it if I can.”

“The only person who has shown obvious joy at Daniel’s imprisonment is Mr. Partridge, the commissioner of police. Do you happen to know him?”

“Mr. John Partridge? My father knows him slightly. He’s not one of our close acquaintances, but I have met him. An odious man, I’d say. I didn’t like the way he pressed my hand when he shook it. Too familiar by far. Do you think he could have orchestrated Daniel’s imprisonment?”

“The thought has crossed my mind more than once.”

“But what reason would he have?”

“I wondered—it occurred to me,” I began hesitantly—“that he might be doing your family a favor.”

“A favor? My family?”

“Teaching Daniel a lesson for betraying you.”

“What a horrid thought,” she said, her face flushing.

“I apologize. I don’t know your family, and I have no wish to insult them.”

“To tell you the truth, Miss Murphy, my family was relieved I had broken my engagement. So if Mr. Partridge schemed to have Daniel arrested, it was for reasons of his own.”

“Then I can see I’ll have to delve into Mr. Partridge’s background,” I said, “but I thank you, Miss Norton. At least you’ve given me something to work on and renewed hope that I can save Daniel from that terrible place.”

“Is it really so terrible for him?” she asked in a hushed voice. “Surely he’s not treated like a common criminal?”

“Very definitely like a common criminal, and among common criminals, too. And of course they all know him and rejoice in his plight. One of them took a swing at him that resulted in an ugly bruise on his cheek. I’m worried that next time it might be a knife.”

“Oh, poor Daniel,” she said again. “I was angry with him for the way he behaved, and to tell you the truth, my first reaction when you told me the news was secret joy that he was being punished at last. But I truly don’t wish him ill. I do hope you can set him free swiftly, Miss Murphy.”

To my horror I felt a tear trickling down my cheek. Of all the things that were currently happening to my body, this was the most embarrassing so far. I wiped it away and hoped she hadn’t noticed.

“He and I were quite wrong for each other, you know,” she said, taking a delicate sip from her teacup. “He wasn’t my social equal, however much his parents wanted him to be. And it was never a love match. I was a silly girl of seventeen, and Letitia had just become engaged to be married. I couldn’t let her outscore me, so I set my cap at Daniel. He was one step more desirable, you see. He was very good-looking, and we made such an attractive couple. But I don’t think I’d ever have been happy with him. He was wedded to his profession first. It took all his time and energy. And those times we were together—well, he was somewhat of a cold fish. There was never what you might call passion between us. I hope it’s different for you.”

I felt the blush flooding my cheeks. “I can’t say I’ve ever found him a cold fish,” I said truthfully.

“Do you think you will eventually marry him?”

“I can’t even allow myself to think about the future, Miss Norton. The present is so terrifying and overwhelming. All of my energy is directed toward helping him, and I thank you for the wise insight and new hope you have given me.”

“I just wish you could give me a similar insight for poor Letitia.”

“I wish I could, too. What exactly did you want me to do for you?”

“Find out the truth, I suppose,” she said. “Find out where she really went.”