Murder On Marsh Lane by Marilyn Clay

Author:Marilyn Clay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: British Cozy Mystery - Amateur Female Sleuth - non-violent - suitable for teens, Agatha Christie inspired British cozy mystery with female sleuth, Clean wholesome Regency romantic mystery suspense, Historical country house murder mystery thriller, Christian historical murder mystery suspense, Regency mystery suspense thriller amateur female sleuth, Historical romantic suspense murder mystery
Publisher: The Regency Plume Press
Published: 2021-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Shall We Dance, Miss Abbott?

FINALLY ARRIVING AT Lord and Lady Holland’s beautiful home that night, I realized that due to the unsettling events of the afternoon, my excitement for this evening’s gala had waned to the point that I would have been content to sit alone in the carriage in the dark whilst Hannah and Ellie partook of the festivities.

As it turned out, I am exceedingly glad I chose to accompany the girls inside. Wearing their elegant new white silk gowns with coloured satin sashes wrapped about the empire waists and matching ribbons in their hair, both girls looked charming tonight and were in exceptionally high alt.

We had a bit of a wait until the Dandridge carriage finally inched its way up the crowded street, but we three soon joined the throng of other elegantly clad guests making their way up the walk and into the Holland’s three-storey mansion. Inside, we were led down a wide marble corridor and through an arched entryway into the grand ballroom. There, after once again waiting our turn, the Holland butler solemnly announced our names to the crush of people already assembled within the brilliantly lit chamber.

I confess that to hear my name called out as if I were a person of consequence did rather startle me. I am unsure how it affected Hannah or Ellie, but, having never had such a distinction extended to me, I confess I felt a trifle self-conscious when I noted a good many persons turn to gaze our way.

“Why is everyone staring at us?” Hannah whispered as we three at last advanced into the cavernous room, it lit by hundreds of candles affixed to dozens of chandeliers, the flickering prickles of light reflecting off the polished parquet floor beneath our feet.

“Perhaps they are wondering who we are,” Ellie suggested.

Enraptured by the sight unfolding before me, I said nothing. The ballroom floor was already crowded with couples moving through the intricate patterns of a dance. Apparently we had missed the introduction of the Holland’s niece in whose honour tonight’s ball was given. Soon after that set drew to a close and the couples drifted apart, the orchestra immediately launched into a lively gavotte. As our party continued to search for a familiar face amongst the shoulder-to-shoulder throng, the ballroom floor once again burst to life with smiling couples expertly executing the lively steps of the dance.

My astonishment rose as I gazed about at the sight of hundreds of people lavishly turned out in the finest silks and satins. The vast array of costly jewels . . . emeralds, diamonds, rubies and sapphires sparkling from every lady’s neck, arms, hands and ears was beyond anything I had ever seen. Even the sight of enormous diamond stickpins glittering from the lapels of a good many gentlemen’s coats was remarkable to behold.

Amongst the crowd, I noted a number of gentlemen turned out in full dress uniform, blue coats with red trim, or vice versa, some with wide red or white satin sashes wrapped about their middles.

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