A Most Discreet Inquiry (The Regent Mysteries Book 2) by Cheryl Bolen

Author:Cheryl Bolen [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Harper & Appleton
Published: 2013-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“My dear Mrs. Hale!” Daphne had exclaimed when she opened the door to the woman. “Do come in. Where are your children? I assure you they would have been perfectly welcome here. “

“Thank you, my lady. Me eldest boy is most capable of looking after the younger ones,” the woman said as she entered the house, “but I thank you for your kindness in extending the invitation to them.”

“Please excuse the chaos here. My husband and I are just back from Spain and haven't yet had the opportunity to procure a full staff of servants.” She ran her eye over the youngish mother. Fanny Hale had obviously made every effort to dress in her Sunday finest for a visit to an aristocrat's home. She wore a serviceable frock of dark gray bombazine with snow white gloves, and a white collar. She not only looked spotless, she smelled like a rose. Daphne was ashamed of herself for suspecting that Fanny Hale could ever have been a prostitute.

At the narrow staircase, Daphne put her hand on the banister, then turned back to Mrs. Hale. “Your visit will cheer my husband. I regret to say he's met with a rather unfortunate accident. Well, actually it wasn't an accident. I believe someone—possibly the same person who murdered your Mr. Prufoy—wished to kill my husband.”

Mrs. Hale's hand flew to her mouth as she let out a little yelp. “How dreadful!”

“Not nearly as dreadful as what you've have to endure,” Daphne said, tenderly setting her hand to the woman's forearm. “I am blessed to still have my Jack.”

The other woman's eyes misted.

“Have you remembered the lord's name?” Daphne asked.

“I 'ave.”

“Come, let's go tell my husband. I know your visit will hasten his recovery.” Though Daphne was inordinately curious to know of the mysterious lord, she would wait until they reached Jack's bedchamber.

When Mrs. Hale entered his room, Jack attempted to sit up, but the movement caused him to wince and collapse back into the bed pillows.

Daphne came to sit beside him. “Mrs. Hale has remembered the lord's name.” She turned from Jack to face the dead batman's lover. “Pray, who is the lord your Mr. Prufoy was going to see?”

“I knew I would know the aristocrat's name if I heard it, but it weren't a common name, if you understand me?”

Daphne nodded. Would the poor woman please just tell them the name!

“I heard my cousin—who's in service with a fine gentleman—say her gentleman has a book in his library what listed all the lords and ladies; so, I went to her gentleman's house to see the book.” She flashed Daphne a bright smile. “Me mum was well educated and taught all of us to read and write.”

Many of those who were in service at her parents' house, Daphne knew, could not read and write.

“The gentleman was ever so nice about allowing me to use his library when I said I was assisting Lady Daphne Dryden. I looked up and down the pages until I recognized the name.

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