A Case of Luck & Death: A 1920's Murder Mystery (Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates Mysteries Book 13) by Emily Queen

Author:Emily Queen [Queen, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Willow Hill Books
Published: 2025-12-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Saturday morning, the sky hung low and gray, heavy with the promise of worse weather to come—the wireless had mentioned something about a spring storm blowing in from the Atlantic.

Rosemary made her way to Vera’s and found her friend in the sitting room, surrounded by an array of society magazines and fashion periodicals spread across a small writing desk. Vera leafed through them with growing irritation, occasionally pausing to study a particular photograph before moving on with obvious dissatisfaction. Despite the frustration evident in her movements, she looked considerably more animated than she had during yesterday’s walk—less pale, more energetic, as though a good night’s sleep had restored some of her usual vigor.

“Looking for inspiration?” Rosemary settled into the chair opposite.

“Looking for a unicorn,” Vera replied with uncharacteristic sharpness. “I’ve been through every society publication from the past six months, and do you know how many photographs I’ve found of women in my so-called delicate condition? Precisely none. It’s as though pregnancy renders one completely invisible to polite society.”

She gestured to a particularly glossy magazine featuring elegant ladies at various social functions. “Look at this—page after page of women attending garden parties, theatrical openings, charity luncheons. All of them in their fashionable dropped-waist frocks, all of them pretending that the business of creating new life simply doesn’t exist. We’re expected to disappear from public view the moment we’re obviously with child, as though we’ve committed some sort of social transgression rather than performed the most natural function in the world.”

Rosemary studied her friend’s expression, noting the combination of frustration and something else—a kind of wistful longing that seemed at odds with Vera’s usual confidence.

“Yet you don’t seem entirely displeased with the changes,” she observed carefully.

Vera’s hand moved unconsciously to smooth the silk of her morning dress over the gentle swell. “I won’t pretend I don’t feel... different. More womanly, somehow. Frederick certainly seems to find my new shape rather appealing.” Her cheeks flushed slightly. “He can’t seem to keep his hands to himself these days. Says I’m glowing, and that I’ve never looked more beautiful.”

The intimate nature of this confession made Rosemary shift uncomfortably. “Speaking of Frederick, how are his mysterious business activities progressing?”

“Still mysterious,” Vera replied with obvious frustration. “He left before breakfast this morning for another one of his unexplained appointments. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s having an illicit affair, though that seems rather unlikely given his renewed...enthusiasm for marital relations.”

“I’m quite certain Frederick’s devotion to you is absolute.” Rosemary adroitly sidestepped any further discussion of her brother’s private life. “Are you planning to spend all day with these magazines, or would you like to get out of the house for a bit? I’m going to the learning extension to inquire about having Mr. Pembridge’s camera repaired.”

Vera set down the magazine she’d been holding and looked up with interest. “The learning extension?”

“They have a photography program. I thought the instructor might know where to have it properly restored.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” Vera brightened considerably, tossing the magazines aside with theatrical abandon.

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