A Poisoning In Piccadilly by Lynda Wilcox

Author:Lynda Wilcox [Wilcox, Lynda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: female sleuth, Historical mystery, Espionage, Motor racing, 1920s
Publisher: Lynda Wilcox
Published: 2019-08-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Buying a birthday present for someone that you don’t know well always poses a dilemma. How much one should spend is the first worry. Too little and the recipient will think you cheap, too much and they’ll either consider you are being flash, or wonder what you want from them in return.

Flowers are nice, but seldom last much longer than the actual birthday, and are of no use at all if intended for a hay fever sufferer.

The same could be said for perfume and it was all too easy to buy a bottle that would languish on the dressing table, uncared for and unused

Jewellery is a good choice, but often expensive and may not appeal to the taste of the celebrating individual.

It is, at least, easier to buy for a female friend than a male one. In that case you must hope he isn’t teetotal and then settle on a bottle of Scotch.

Eleanor left Bellevue Mansions the following afternoon with these thoughts in mind and scoured the shops for something suitable for Olivia Drew-Stenton. She had left the purchase very late — the party was that evening — but the thought of going empty-handed never occurred to her.

“Perhaps a nice box of chocolates will do the trick,” she murmured. “I’ll go and visit Anton.”

Her favourite chocolatier had just the thing and she was retracing her steps towards Shaftesbury Avenue and Piccadilly when she spotted a familiar face. Tommy Totteridge stood at the corner on the opposite side of the street and Eleanor had been about to go across and join him when she noted his companion.

Why was he talking to Mr Eisenbach’s secretary?

Eleanor stepped back into a doorway and watched as Jensen appeared to give a small rectangular object to Totters, who looked at it and then gave it back with a nod. The two men then separated.

Puzzled and deep in thought, Eleanor turned up her collar and hurried away from the spot, letting her feet lead her toward Piccadilly. She turned the corner, head down, and found her way blocked. Unable to halt she bumped into a tall figure.

“Oh!”

“Hello there,” said a deep voice. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t see you.”

The smile on Major Armitage’s face seemed to suggest that was just how it should be.

“It’s Lady Eleanor, isn’t it? Look here, are you free? There’s a snug little tea room just along the way if you fancy a cup of tea. I’d quite like to talk to you.”

Eleanor didn’t need to ask him what about. She acquiesced with just the right amount of hesitation. “Why, yes, I suppose so. Thank you.”

He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and Eleanor was surprised to feel the same frisson of fear and excitement she’d had all those years ago whenever he was near.

The cold winter day hastened toward darkness. Street lamps flickered on, helping to dispel the gloom. Inside the café it blazed with electric light and Armitage guided Eleanor to a table away from the door.

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