The Watery Grave: A historical psychic romance mystery (The Lady Mortician's Visions series), page 35
The Watery Grave
The Lady Mortician's Visions series
Helen Goltz
Atlas Productions
The Watery Grave – The Lady Mortician's Visions, book 6.
PUBLISHED BY: Atlas Productions
First published 2024.
Copyright © Helen Goltz
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the written permission from the author or the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations for review purposes. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover design, as always, by the wonderful Karri Klawiter, Art by Karri.
PLEASE NOTE: This book is written in British-Australian English.
Contents
Dear reader...
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
From the author:
Also by Helen Goltz
Endnotes
Dear reader...
For dog and animal lovers everywhere
Please know that no animals, including Julius’s big hound Rufus, ever get harmed, dog-napped, threatened, injured or die in these stories. Rufus lives on forever. So, rest assured, dear reader, and read on in peace.
I proudly support the WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals), RSPCA, and Animals Australia. I thank them for their continued efforts to make the world kinder to animals.
PLEASE NOTE: This book is written in British-Australian English.
Chapter 1
Brisbane, Australia. Monday 4 thMay, 1891. Mostly fine, scattered showers, 25 degrees.
The Courier – afternoon edition.
A FASHIONABLE WEDDING
By Lilly Lewis, reporter and wedding guest
Miss Violet Forrester, only daughter of the late Edward Forrester, married Mr Julius Astin, eldest son of the late Montague Astin of Auchenflower, at St Thomas’s Church, Toowong, on Saturday afternoon. The Rev. J. McWain officiated, and Mr Thomas Forrester gave his sister away.
The wedding was intended to be a very intimate affair with only relatives of the bride and bridegroom and a few close friends invited, including Detectives Harland Stone and Gilbert Payne and Lady Palmer, godmother to the groom and a dear friend of his grandmother, Mrs Maria Astin. However, long before the appointed hour, the church and grounds were thronged with people keen to see one of Brisbane’s most eligible sons and businessmen marry. The Astin family is well known in our fair city and has shared many of the community’s life experiences as proprietors of The Economic Undertaker mortuary service. Several of the wedding guests had to be escorted to get into the church.
The bride, an accomplished seamstress and employee of the Astin family, wore a beautiful gown designed and made by Miss Mary Pollard. The bodice and court train were of white brocade, the skirt of white crepe de chine arranged in three gatherings, down each of which, from the waist to the hem, were spays of myrtle, orange blossom, and lily of the valley. The same flowers trimmed the edge of the corset, bodice, and basque, which was finished with a gathering of crêpe de chine and featured transparent sleeves of the same fabric. The bride wore a coronet of bridal flowers and a long tulle veil and carried a superb bouquet of white blossoms.
The attendant was Mrs Vivian Allen, fondly known to the bride as Aunty Viv, though of no blood relation. Mrs Allen wore a handsome gown of light blue silk poplin. Mr Ambrose Astin attended the bridegroom as best man.
After the ceremony, Mr and Mrs J. M. Astin entertained their guests at a small garden party on the grounds of Lady Palmer’s estate nearby. Many of the grand old trees at the stately home lent valuable aid in beautifying the scene, and a large marquee had been erected at one end of the garden, whence the time-honoured bridal cake and other refreshments were served.
Mr and Mrs Astin left Brisbane by the afternoon train for Toowoomba, where they will spend their honeymoon visiting the region. The bride's travelling gown was made of blue crepe, with a silver-embroidered vest, cuffs, and collar.
Chapter 2
One week later…
Silver-haired, handsome Randolph Astin, the patriarch of the Astin family, was last to join his family and Mrs Dobbs for the afternoon tea break, having seen a client out the door of The Economic Undertaker and noted their order. He sat and sighed, weary and looking forward to Julius’s return tomorrow.
‘I am sorry they could not holiday for longer, but I, for one, will be happy to have Julius back,’ Randolph said, sipping his tea.
‘I can’t believe they are to return already,’ Ambrose said of his eldest brother and new sister-in-law. ‘The week flew by; I feel like I was only at the wedding yesterday.'
'I believe Violet was anxious about leaving Tom alone for too long, and Julius was no doubt anxious to return to the business,’ Phoebe said with a knowing smile to her grandfather and a glance at her brother, Ambrose.
‘We only lost one body while he was away,’ Ambrose said, looking very pleased with himself but hastily adding, ‘it might be best that we don’t mention that to Julius. All ended well.’
Phoebe couldn’t help but laugh, and Randolph shook his head at his grandson while Mrs Dobbs blessed herself, as she often did in the company of the Astin family.
‘It was a lovely wedding ceremony and afternoon,’ she said, slicing her apple tea cake and serving it, before taking a seat to enjoy a cup of tea. Mrs Dobbs joined The Economic Undertaker business after the Astin family buried her husband, and she found herself at a loss to fill her day. She quickly made herself indispensable by offering to manage the kitchen and look after the bereaved with refreshments.
‘It was a wonderful day, and I must say a very emotional one for Maria and me,’ Randolph said, and all eyes turned to him.
‘Why, Grandpa? Did you think Julius would never marry?’ Ambrose asked. ‘Sure, he’s grumpy, moody and aloof, but the ladies never seemed to mind that, given he is almost as handsome as I am.’
Phoebe elbowed him, and he laughed. ‘Oh, fine then, he might be slightly more handsome if you like those tall, brooding types that feature in the ladies’ novels.’
‘All of my grandchildren are most handsome,’ Randolph said with a smile. ‘I knew Julius would have no problem finding a wife, but I wanted him to make a love match, like your parents and grandparents,' he said, including himself and Maria. 'I confess Julius has always been a bit of a mystery to me.’
‘How so?’ Phoebe asked, fascinated, given her close relationship with her eldest brother.
‘Well, I remember when he was the happiest of boys and after that terrible accident,’ Randolph referred to the death of his son and daughter-in-law, parents of Julius, Ambrose and Phoebe, ‘he was never the same. His boyhood was stolen, and once he was back on track—after a brief rebellious period—Julius took his responsibilities too seriously.’
‘So much for a young man to bear,’ Mrs Dobbs said.
‘Indeed, Mrs Dobbs, it worried me,’ Randolph agreed. ‘Maria and I tried to get him to enjoy his childhood, to leave the worry to us. We were fortunate that you two were young enough not to understand the full implications of that day,’ he said to Ambrose and Phoebe.
‘We did not see their deaths firsthand,’ Phoebe said, ‘unlike Julius.’
'True,' Randolph nodded. ‘That boy worked so hard. He had a paper run, gave his earnings to his grandmother, studied and secured himself a school scholarship, and looked after you two; he still does. He looks after us all now. Forgive me for saying so because I love you two no less, but he is the grandchild I most wanted to see settled.’
‘Amen to that,’ Mrs Dobbs said, filling their teacups again.
‘It has all turned out well,’ Ambrose said in his normal fashion of lightening the mood. ‘Violet must put up with him now, and hopefully, he’ll come into work cheery every day, with a smile on his face, well fed and rested.’
The small party exchanged looks and smiles, knowing it was not Julius’s nature and no one expected marriage to change him to that degree.
Ambrose cleared his throat. ‘As well as the lost body, which we found, perhaps we should not mention that we accidentall
y buried one of the customers in the wrong timber coffin as well.’
‘I am sure, as they are dead, they will not know the difference between cedar and mahogany from six feet under,’ Phoebe agreed.
‘And their family did not notice,’ Randolph agreed. ‘It was an upgrade of sorts.’
‘Exactly,’ Ambrose said. ‘As for the two missing shrouds…’
‘I’m sure they’ll show up,’ Randolph said, and Ambrose nodded.
‘Good then, to the happy couple.’ Ambrose raised his teacup. ‘I confess, I’m looking forward to seeing Julius. I missed him at our jobs this week. Good Lord, who would have thought?’
‘Who would have thought indeed?’ Randolph said with a smile, knowing full well how close his grandchildren were. He, too, was looking forward to Julius’s return, not just to share the load but also to have the family reunited.
As luck would have it, Mr and Mrs Julius Astin's return came at the perfect time.
At dusk, several miles away in South Brisbane, Detective Harland Stone hurriedly alighted from the omnibus and, with large strides, headed to the waterfront, his partner Detective Gilbert Payne extending his stride to keep up. Harland groaned when he saw the hundreds of people around the river’s edge, many in a state of heightened distress. The detectives would not normally be called to the scene of a ferry accident, but accusations that the vessel had been deliberately struck or sunk saw them issued with orders to get to the Brisbane River with haste and investigate.
‘If only it had happened earlier in the day when fewer people might have been onboard,’ Gilbert said as they gingerly made their way through the crowd.
Harland agreed. 'The ferry will be full of after-work commuters. I hope most have been rescued. Excuse me, police, please let us through,’ he said as politely as possible while moving towards the two uniformed policemen at the river’s edge.
‘Sirs,’ one of the young constables greeted them, recognising the Roma Street Police Headquarters' newest pair of detectives. Despite their success in solving several complex cases over the past year, they were still considered oddities, and Detective Gilbert Payne was not well regarded, given his acceleration through the ranks had more to do with his family's connection with the commissioner than his skills. He carried that burden in every job.
‘Constable. What have you then?’ Harland said, stopping and surveying the area.
‘A disaster, Sir,’ he said, pushing his hat back on his forehead. 'The bridge is closed after the recent flood as the authorities said it was not safe to cross, so there are a lot more water vessels ferrying people across the river.’
‘And what has happened?’ Harland pushed him to get to the point.
‘It’s the River Lady, Sir. She’s a small wooden steamboat, 58 feet long and with a maximum of 10 horsepower,’ he rattled off to Harland’s great annoyance and Gilbert’s delight; the younger detective liked facts and figures.
The constable continued, ‘It was one of several small boats pressed into service this afternoon, Sir, and it has sunk,’ he said, getting to the point and looking out at the water where there was no sign of the ferry. ‘There are lots of people missing.’
Harland realised the young man was overwhelmed and reined in his impatience.
‘It’s all right, Constable. We will all do our best to assist during this tragedy; it is all we can do.’
‘Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.’
‘Who is the ferry captain, and is he alive?’ Harland asked.
‘Captain Gordon Crouch is his name, Sir, and he is alive. We tried to speak with him, but he was quite incoherent and said it was an accident, that the tide was too strong, and he could do nothing to stop it drifting into another boat.’
‘So, he did not believe it was a criminal matter that caused the capsizing?’ Gilbert asked.
‘He did not say so, but there have been cries to have his head,’ the constable said. ‘One survivor said the captain had been imbibing.’
Harland groaned. 'Where is he now?'
'When he returned, he was taken to hospital as a precaution, Sir.'
'Returned from where?' Gilbert asked, confused.
'He went home and changed.'
The detectives exchanged looks, and Harland scanned the area, spotting journalist Lilly Lewis and her tall partner, Fergus Griffiths, along the river’s edge. They were not the only faces he recognised from The Courier newspaper; a large staff had been dispatched to cover the various angles of the story.
‘How many on board, Constable?’ Gilbert asked.
‘No one knows, Detective,’ the young man answered, ‘but it is estimated to be eighty or so. It was quite crowded but not at capacity, I was told.’
‘And how many have been recovered or found alive?’ Harland asked, dreading the answer.
‘About thirty, Sir. The rest are lost out there,’ he said, nodding to the swirling waters.
Harland thanked the young constable and, with Gilbert, moved closer to the site of those receiving aid. People gathered at the water’s edge, wailing and calling names as if their friends or family members might surface from the water upon hearing themselves summonsed. As Harland scanned the area, another body was spotted floating nearby, and a rescue party moved to retrieve it.
‘Detectives!’ Lilly Lewis arrived beside them, slightly breathless from hurrying over the embankment. ‘It is odd to see you here. Do you believe the sinking is not an accident?’
‘Hello, Miss Lewis,’ Harland said, greeting her soberly. It had been at least a month since they had crossed paths, and she, too, was solemn of face.
‘We don’t know yet,’ Gilbert said, ‘but there was talk of it. Have you discovered anything untoward?’
‘No,’ she said, ‘but if it were a crime, would you let me work the case with you and report exclusively?’
Harland was always amazed at her single-focused outlook, even amidst tragedy.
‘If we abide by our normal terms and conditions,’ Harland said, offering her a small smile, which was returned.
Lilly told the two detectives, ‘Thus far, I have discovered that the tragedy happened at 5pm and the River Lady took only three minutes to sink. The captain survived and was taken to the hospital, but one of the surviving passengers told me he was under the weather and quite reckless.’
‘Drinking?’ Gilbert confirmed, and Lilly gave a small nod.
‘That is unsubstantiated,’ she said.
‘And that, if true, is the worst of crimes,’ Harland said.
Chapter 3
The next morning, Julius Astin barely had time to receive a heartfelt welcome back from his family and staff when the employees of The Economic Undertaker had to brace for the impact of a maritime tragedy. His wife, Violet, proprietress of Julius’s business, In Mourning – Attire for the Family, rushed in to join the family for an emergency meeting, as did cousin, Lucian, whose carpentry business—of which Julius was part-owner—made the coffins for The Economic Undertaker. Even Rufus, the recently inherited large black dog found in the cemetery who adopted Julius, looked serious as he lay near his master's feet.
‘Thank goodness you are back today, Julius,’ Randolph said, ‘though I am sorry that a tragedy has greeted you.’
‘I am glad I am here to assist, Grandpa,’ Julius said, looking at the faces of the staff—both family and hired—around the table or seated on chairs around the room.
‘You don’t look any different,’ Ambrose observed. Julius was momentarily lost for words before ignoring his brother and addressing his grandfather.
‘What is the latest on the ferry sinking?’
Randolph tapped the newspaper in front of him. ‘What a terrible thing. An estimated eighty people might have been on board, including women and children; 34 people have been recovered and are alive and well. Twelve bodies were retrieved at sundown; however, that leaves many unaccounted for, and according to the newspaper, another six were found in the water overnight. They were removed by police wagon to the morgue for identification this morning. We are bound to get many enquiries shortly, and it will be a busy few days if we get 15 or more to bury as well as our usual business.’
Julius agreed. ‘We may have up to four burials a day if that is the case – twice our normal load. Should this occur, Claude and I will manage two funerals per day, and Ambrose and Will can take the other two. You need to remember that any bodies that have been in the water for some time are likely to be even heavier than normal, so take care when lifting the stretchers.’
