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Madalene glanced nervously at Mrs. Foster, wondering why her solicitor was stalling. “Whatever is the matter?”
Mr. Walker took a shuddering breath before sharing, “Miss Hardy was found floating in the River Thames this morning.”
Madalene gasped as she lowered herself onto the settee. “How horrible!” she exclaimed.
“The Bow Street Runner that I hired to find Miss Hardy was able to identify her at the morgue,” Mr. Walker explained. “Apparently, she had been in the water for a few days.”
“And this Bow Street Runner is adamant that this person found was Miss Hardy?” Mrs. Foster asked.
Mr. Walker turned his gaze towards Madalene’s companion. “Yes, and her next of kin has been notified.”
Mrs. Foster rose from her seat and came to sit next to Madalene. “Are you all right, dear?”
Tears burned her eyes, but she fiercely blinked them back. “I don’t know what to say or do.”
“That is to be expected,” Mrs. Foster replied. “Edith was a dear friend of yours.”
Turning her gaze towards Mr. Walker, she asked, “How was she killed?”
Mr. Walker shifted uncomfortably before saying, “It would appear that she entered the water of her own accord.”
Madalene’s mouth dropped open. “You think she killed herself?”
“There were no signs of foul play, and the coroner ruled it as suicide,” Mr. Walker said, his eyes full of compassion.
Madalene started shaking her head profusely. “No, no, no…” she started. “That is impossible. Edith would never do that.”
“I know that it may seem impossible, but we don’t know if Edith was in her right mind at the time she entered the water,” Mr. Walker explained.
“The coroner is wrong!” Madalene exclaimed. “Edith was abducted. Her room had been ransacked, and the perpetrator must have killed her.”
Mr. Walker’s eyes were full of pity. “The constable now believes that Edith ransacked her own room before she headed towards the River Thames.”
“That is improbable!”
Mrs. Foster placed a hand on her sleeve. “It will be all right,” she encouraged. “You are just in shock right now.”
“Edith wouldn’t have killed herself,” Madalene asserted. “She was one of my dearest friends, and she would have told me if she was considering suicide.”
“You mustn’t blame yourself,” Mrs. Foster said, reassuringly. “Sometimes people hide their pain from others, and they won’t let anyone in.”
Shifting to face her companion, Madalene replied, “She was paying off her mother’s debts and trying to start a new life. Why would she do those things if she had planned to kill herself?”
Mrs. Foster offered her a sad smile. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that.”
“I would like to be the first to offer my condolences, Miss Dowding,” Mr. Walker said. “I hope I did the right thing by telling you.”
“You did,” Madalene rushed to assure him, “and I thank you for coming to see me.”
“You are welcome,” Mr. Walker replied. “I shall see myself out, then.”
Madalene rose from the settee. “Before you go, will you inform Miss Hardy’s mother that I would like to pay for the funeral costs?”
Mr. Walker visibly stiffened. “That is most kind of you. However, Miss Hardy will not be allowed to be buried in a parish cemetery due to the nature of her death. She will most likely be buried at a crossroad with her head downwards.”
“Then I wish to give Mrs. Hardy one hundred pounds for all the costs associated with her daughter’s death. With any luck, she can start anew with the money.”
“That is more than generous, Miss Dowding,” Mr. Walker acknowledged. “I shall see to securing the funds and informing Mrs. Hardy of your decision.”
