Being the 9th Jane Austen Mystery, by Stephanie Barron. Wowee! I have learned more about London society in the early 19th century than I expected in this installment in the series.
It is nearly 2 years since the Austen ladies have moved to Chawton. Jane has left Chawton for London to stay with her brother Henry and his wife Eliza, the Comtesse de Feuillide, while her book (newly named Sense and Sensibility) is being printed. She is there to be closer to the publisher in order to edit pages as they are printed. It is quite a task to take longhand prose and change it to printed word. She expects the whole process to take about a month. Her stay coincides with the London Season, a season in springtime for the gentry to see and be seen in the very fashionable city of London. Young ladies arrive from their country estates for their “coming out” during this time. It is a time of intense socialization amongst the ton (the wealthy class).
Amidst the soap opera drama this season unfailingly brings about, murder most foul is committed. Jane is soon to quit London and head back to the simplicity of Chawton. The death is ruled a suicide, but not before the press smears the name of a prominent political figure, the very real Lord Charles Castlereagh. The body of the beauty is laid upon his doorstep. Although the death is ruled suicide, Jane and Eliza are accused of perpetrating the deed owing to events that imply their involvement. Lord Castlereagh hires a runner (bondsman) to seek out the two and discover their connection, pin the murder on them and clear his name. Jane, ever the negotiator, convinces the runner to allow herself and Eliza to remain free if she can produce the real murderer in a week’s time. He grants Jane the time, though not out of compassion. His goal is simply to supply a plausible murderer and restore Lord Castlereagh’s character.
Jane’s investigation takes her throughout some of the more interesting sites of 19th century London. Apparently, men of means not only flaunted their wealth and power through liaisons with beautiful young women (some barely women and certainly not by today’s standards), but were expected to do so. The young women did all they could to secure a man of fortune and to have “carte blanche”, to be “kept,” as a mistress. Her prosperous beau would give her a home, a wardrobe, servants, anything she desired in exchange for the satisfaction of his physical wants. These “ladies” have many nicknames, one of which is “barque of frailty.” One young woman in particular gains the attentions of Jane as an object of suspicion.
Lord Harold, although missed (not just by Jane mind you. What a great character!), does continue to play a role in the mysteries that are drawn to Jane as a moth to the flame (poor Jane. Nowhere can she rest without a murder being committed!). Lord Harold’s associations of the past are links Jane puts to good use as she works to save herself and Eliza from the hangman’s noose. We meet Lord Hastings, a gentleman who figured prominently during Lord Harold’s time away from England as a young man. Hastings holds an important bit of the puzzle. Jane, sly as she is, expertly retrieves the fragment.
As she has throughout, Ms. Barron keeps me guessing. Just when it seems I have it all figured out, she leads me down another route to the real and logical conclusion. I will be sad when we reach the end of Jane’s detecting days.
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