A Deadly Deception: A gripping Victorian mystery with a paranormal edge (A Constance Piper Mystery Book 3) by Tessa Harris

Author:Tessa Harris [Harris, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: dp books
Published: 2025-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

CONSTANCE

Sunday, August 4, 1889

While Ma and me have paid our Sunday visit to St. Jude’s, Flo’s been preening herself at home. In between peeling spuds and setting the table, she’s been in front of the mirror, adjusting her hairpins and touching up her rouge.

A few minutes after we arrive back from church, there’s a knock at the door and my sister rushes to answer it. Side by side we line up, like a welcoming committee; only, I’m not sure how welcome Ma’ll be inclined to make Joseph Barnett feel in our home.

So there he stands, all scrubbed up in his plaid jacket, and instead of fish guts he whiffs of some cheap cologne. As soon as he’s over the threshold, Flo grabs him by the hand and drags him inside.

“Ma, this is Joe,” she says.

Ma prefers to be a bit more formal, on first meetings at least, but this time there’s no ceremony.

“Joe Barnett, well, I’ll be!” It’s hard to know if she’s angry or happy, but she’s surprised, and that’s for sure.

For once, there’s no cockiness in Flo’s manner. She’s nervous—I can tell—as well she might be, introducing our dear mother to a man who’s known to be a woman beater and an all-round good-for-nothing. There’s a pause as Ma considers Flo’s new beau. Joe Barnett’s reputation as Mary Jane’s man goes before him; it’s awkward. No mistake. Sensing that he’s a hot potato we really don’t want anything to do with, he nevertheless steps forward.

“Mrs. Piper,” he greets her, thrusting under her nose a bunch of wallflowers he’s obviously filched from some toff’s garden. His piggy eyes slide everywhere, but on her face.

Ma nods, shoots a glance at Flo, then returns the greeting. “Thank you, Joseph, I’m sure,” she says, sniffing the flowers politely. She’s acting all wary. It’s looking like I’ve been left out of the introductions, so I clear my throat noisily and Flo glares at me in return.

“And, of course, you already know my sister, Con,” she says, stony-faced.

“Constance,” I correct her; then I switch my look to Joe. “Yes, we’ve already met,” I say with a barb in my voice.

Ma’s gone to a lot of trouble for our guest. Before church she steamed a pudding, and Flo took a nice bit of beef to the bakehouse for roasting.

“Flo and me will see to everything,” say I, taking the lead. “You sit down, Ma.” So she settles herself at the table and invites Joe to join her.

“Bring us some stout, there’s a love,” she tells Flo, and within a minute or two, she’s supping with Joe Barnett like they were old friends. I watch them as I mash the spuds, taking out my anger on them as I pound them extra hard. Makes my blood boil to see it, it does. I’m sure if Ma’s heard the gossip, but she’s willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

When we’re in the kitchen, dishing up the dinner, I can’t contain myself any longer. Joe’s chatting to Ma as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

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