An Ominous Explosion: A Regency Cozy (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries Book 10) by Lynn Messina

Author:Lynn Messina [Messina, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potatoworks Press
Published: 2022-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

It was quite disconcerting for the former Beatrice Hyde-Clare to discover that she could still be cowed by the intimidating stare of a London butler even after inhabiting the role of the Duchess of Kesgrave for several weeks and overcoming the contempt (mostly) of the formidable Marlow.

Lynch’s servant possessed none of Marlow’s unsettling physical traits—his brows, for example, were benign brown strips that dipped gently even as his jaw hardened with impatience—and yet she felt the familiar desire to apologize and slink away when he repeated for the third time that his employer was not at home.

He was not even scowling.

No, his visage bore an almost pleasant expression as he blocked the entrance to the elegant home in Sutherland Street.

It was absurd, she thought, for Kesgrave was right beside her, lending his consequence, and she towered over the other man by a good five inches.

He should never have been able to daunt her, and she wondered if it was possible to add lessons on “overcoming Mayfair butlers” to her training schedule. It seemed at least as useful a skill as planting a facer and, in both cases, height could be used to advantage.

The duke felt none of her timidity, and after failing to ascertain if the owner of the establishment was not at home or just not at home to visitors, stated that it made no difference. “We shall wait on Mr. Lynch’s convenience.”

Startled by the announcement, the butler took a half step back, intending, Bea decided, to close the door in their faces, but Kesgrave considered it an invitation and confidently strode across the threshold.

Now the servant’s eyebrows shot up and he stammered that he could not allow them to wait because their time was much too valuable. “As soon as Mr. Lynch returns, I will relay your interest and urge him to pay a call on you at your home immediately.”

The answer to the duke’s original query, however, was delivered with just a little too much zeal, and convinced now that the target of their investigation was already in residence, he said they would wait upon Lynch’s pleasure in the drawing room. “Do inform him that there is no rush,” he added, not unkindly. “We understand this is a difficult time for him and have no wish to add to his suffering. We merely seek to learn information that only he has.”

Scampering to keep up with Kesgrave’s long strides, the butler made another, less dignified attempt to dissuade him. “No, no, you mustn’t intrude…difficult time, yes, it is very difficult. Mr. Lynch is not…he has not…. At least wait in the study. It contains Mr. Lynch’s prized collection of…of…of…”

He trailed off as Kesgrave unerringly located the door to the drawing room and opened it to find the master of the house sprawled on the floor surrounded by technical drawings and empty bottles of wine.

On a strangled note, the butler said, “Books! Mr. Lynch’s prized collection of books. He has one from every decade. Please let me show it to you.

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