Death at the Devil's Tavern by Deryn Lake

they would have to hear the ill tidings sooner or later, decided to tell the truth. ‘Yes, I’m afraid he is. Please accept my sincere condolences.’
    Both of them fought back tears, a sad and touching sight. ‘How did he die?’ asked Juliette in a whisper.
    The Apothecary cringed, not wanting such a terrible duty. ‘I fear he fell victim to a murderer’s hand, and that is why I am here,’ he said quietly. ‘I represent Mr Fielding of the Public Office, Bow Street, and it is my task to try and find the perpetrator of this evil crime.’
    Juliette gave a snort. ‘If financial gain was the motive then I doubt you need look further than my father’s mistress.’
    â€˜That’s not fair,’ Julian responded roundly. ‘Papa was entitled to his happiness. Just because Amelia comes from a lower walk of life there is no need to lay all ills at her door.’
    â€˜Huh,’ his sister answered in a most unladylike fashion, ‘to hear you talk anyone would think you had a fancy for her yourself.’
    â€˜How dare you!’ Julian replied furiously, and then he pulled himself up short. ‘Juliette,’ he said in a completely different tone, ‘here we are arguing while Father lies dead. We should be ashamed.’
    â€˜Don’t, don’t,’ she answered, and fell sobbing into a chair, while he made fists of his hands and gulped furiously in order to stop himself doing likewise.
    â€˜Take deep breaths,’ the Apothecary advised gently.
    Julian turned a stricken glance in his direction. ‘But what a terrible thing. Our own father victim of an assassin’s blow. Surely robbery must have been the reason for his death.’
    â€˜If so, not a great deal was taken,’ John answered grimly. ‘His rings and watch were missing, that is presuming he wore them …’
    Julian nodded. ‘He did.’
    â€˜â€¦ but it seems that those are considered honest pickings by the watermen whose duty it is to land bodies.’
    â€˜God’s life, are you telling me that he drowned?’
    The Apothecary shook his head. ‘I think not. It seems more likely that he was thrown into the river after he was killed.’
    Once he had spoken, John wished he hadn’t said a thing, for this grim picture finally reduced Julian to tears. But with the extraordinary communication that exists between twins, Juliette stopped crying at that moment and rising from her chair went to comfort her brother. Thinking that he had handled it all very badly, the Apothecary produced his smelling salts and passed them to her.
    She gave him a perceptive glance. ‘What’s this? Have the Beak Runners taken to carrying medicines?’
    John smiled sheepishly. ‘No, the truth is I am an apothecary. I only work with Mr Fielding from time to time.’
    â€˜I see.’ Juliette administered the salts to her brother. ‘Come Julian, we must rally. Let us give Mr Rawlings what help we can. We shall have plenty of time for grief after he has gone.’ She turned her lovely streaked face back in John’s direction. ‘Do you really mean to find the person who killed our father?’
    â€˜I’ll do my best, though a cunning criminal could well elude me.’
    Juliette looked at him pleadingly, her expression hard to resist. ‘I beg you not to let that happen. Now, Sir, what can we tell you? Would a description of the events leading up to Papa’s disappearance be of any use?’
    John motioned her to sit down, tactfully turning the two chairs away from Julian, who was struggling hard to control himself. ‘Could you go back a little further, Miss Hartfield? Perhaps you could tell me how Sir William came to be involved with Miss Lambourn in the first place. I mean, how long has he known her?’
    She crinkled her delightful nose. ‘I am not certain about that. I believe some time. Probably before our mother