An Intrepid Woman: A Historical Romance Mystery (Tabitha & Wolf Historical Mystery Series Book 8) by Noel Sarah F

Author:Noel, Sarah F.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The next day, Wolf received a telephone call from his solicitor, Mr Anderson. They spoke for a few minutes, and then Wolf returned to the parlour, a bemused look on his face.

Tabitha looked up from her book, “What has happened?”

“I am not sure what to make of this. According to Anderson, the house is leased in the name of Lord Charles Beresford.”

“Why is that so surprising? We knew that she was the mistress of a so-called toff. I think the only surprise at this point would have been if her admirer was not a titled gentleman.”

“That is not the odd thing. When Anderson told me this, he said, ‘Be very wary where you tread.’ What on earth do you think he meant by that?”

“He said nothing else?”

Wolf shook his head. “Do you know anything about this Lord Beresford?” When Tabitha indicated she did not, he continued, “Then I think that we need to alert the dowager countess that we will be arriving earlier than expected. If anyone knows what Anderson’s warning might mean, it will be her.”

Tabitha remembered that the dowager had said that she had a luncheon that day and had Talbot telephone Manning to see when she was expected home. The butler indicated that his mistress was actually the one hosting. He then added that Lady Pembroke’s guests were Ladies Hartley and Willis, and he thought she might welcome the interruption.

“Why does she continue to socialise with these women she so clearly despises?” Wolf added.

“Target practice,” Tabitha answered succinctly. “Let us change our clothes and be off.”

Arriving at the dowager’s house, they were welcomed at the door by Manning, who said quietly, “I believe that her ladyship has been wishing them away for some time now. You will be very welcome. They are in the drawing room having tea.”

Entering the drawing room, they saw the dowager sitting on her customary chair, higher than any other seat in the room, while her two guests looked quite uncomfortable perched on low, stiff backed chairs. Of course, this discomfort was by design; the dowager wished to ensure her dominance in any conversation taking place in her home – or indeed anywhere, if possible. Her comment about target practice aside, it had long been unclear to Tabitha why the dowager chose to spend time with either Lady Hartley or Lady Willis; she seemed to despise them both even more than she did the rest of aristocratic society. Of course, given that Lady Hartley was an incorrigible gossip, her use as both a source and a spreader of tittle-tattle made some sense. However, Lady Willis’ utility was a mystery. Perhaps it was nothing more than her acceptance of total subservience.

What Tabitha didn’t realise was how much the two ladies loathed each other. Or, to be more accurate, how much Lady Willis loathed Lady Hartley ever since the latter spread a particularly malicious piece of gossip about the former’s ne’er-do-well husband. It was only the dowager’s sheer force of character that managed to get the two of them in the same room; they were both terrified of the old woman.

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