A Lady in the Smoke by Karen Odden

Author:Karen Odden
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

It was mid-afternoon. I’d been sitting for hours on the upstairs window-seat, pretending to read but really keeping an eye out for Paul. I didn’t expect him; I truly didn’t. But then an unfamiliar carriage started up the drive and stopped below the portico. I felt hot and cold all at once; my mouth went dry; and my hands were damp as I smoothed my skirt. Shakily, I rose and hurried down toward the front hall.

Agnes was starting up the stairs, and her expression was startled.

“Why, I was just coming to find you, m’lady. There’s a man to see you. Mr. Flynn from London. I’ve put him in the parlor.”

Mr. Flynn. Not Paul.

I didn’t move, and Agnes looked at me uncertainly. “M’lady? Are you all right? Should I tell him you’re not at home?”

I gave myself a mental shake. “No. Thank you. I’ll see him.”

Thank god Mr. Flynn hadn’t arrived and been announced during breakfast. James would have insisted on seeing him with me. Probably Aunt Catherine would have come too, for good measure.

I put out a hand. “But, Agnes, please don’t tell anyone else he’s here. Not just yet.”

A spark of surprise lit her eyes, but she said only, “Yes, m’lady. Should I bring a tray?”

“Yes, please. He may want something if he’s come straight up from London.”

I entered the parlor. Mr. Flynn was standing at the window, holding a small cardboard box.

“You were probably expecting Paul,” he said.

I felt as though I’d been rude without intending it. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not pleased to see you.”

He held out the box. “Your mother’s medicine.”

“It was good of you to deliver it. Thank you.” As I took it, the glass bottles clinked inside, and I opened the lid to be sure they were all intact.

“You don’t look well,” he said. “You look half-starved, and you have dark circles under your eyes.”

I looked up from the open box, indignant. “I beg your pardon?”

He grimaced. “What I meant is, are you all right?”

I couldn’t help a small laugh at the way he showed concern. “I’m fine, thank you.” I snapped the lid closed and set the box on a nearby table. “Did you receive my telegram?”

“Yes, I did.” The words were normal enough, but it was dawning on me that his expression lacked all of his usual animation, and his voice was peculiarly subdued.

I began to feel uneasy. “For god’s sake, what’s the matter?”

He didn’t answer at first, just looked at me silently, and my uneasiness grew. I’d assumed that Paul had sent Mr. Flynn with the medicine because he was too busy to come himself, or because he didn’t want to see me again. But now a more frightening possibility occurred to me: Palmer had been murdered for what he knew; Griffin had fled; Paul knew at least as much as they did, if not more—

The words burst out of me: “Why didn’t Paul come? Is he all right?”

His lips parted but nothing came out.

“Mr. Flynn!” I snatched at his arm.

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