Aria to Death by Nupur Tustin

Author:Nupur Tustin [Tustin, Nupur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, A Joseph Haydn Mystery - Book 2
Goodreads: 36342944
Publisher: Foiled Plots Press
Published: 2017-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Rosalie hung back a few paces. Gerhard had finished unloading the crates of wine bottles meant for the Esterházy cellar and now sat on the wagon, eating a bit of bread and pickled mushrooms. The horses lazily munched the hay he had thrown down for them. She might have stood there forever had Gerhard not turned around.

“What is it, lass?” He tipped his head at the palace gates down the street. “Is more wine required? I have a few crates to spare, if that is the case.”

Rosalie shook her head, feeling more tongue-tied than ever. She approached the wagon, picking her steps with care. “It is just—” she began hoarsely, then cleared her throat. “I should like to get Greta something for her name day. A brooch or a small locket. Perhaps, even a necklace.” She smoothed down her apron. “Greta is uncommonly fond of necklaces,” she added.

It would look most odd if, having decided to buy a locket or chain, she picked out a fancy necklace.

“Why, lass, you had your chance today! Sabina has every kind of trinket a girl could want, and yet you bolted as though the devil were at your heels!” Gerhard’s blue eyes narrowed as he studied her features. “You have some other reason for wanting to go back there, don’t you? What is it? What harebrained notion has taken hold of your mind now?”

Rosalie clutched the edges of her apron. This was going much worse than even she could have imagined. If only Gerhard had not chosen this very moment to suspect her motives. It was her own fault, she supposed. Her opposition to meeting Sabina had been so great that now her eagerness to return to the milliner’s establishment must seem suspicious.

She swallowed. “I have obtained some—”

“You have not stolen anything from His Serene Highness’s household, have you?” Gerhard put his meal away and climbed down from his perch. “You had better return it. No matter what you may have heard, Madame Chapeau does not traffic in stolen goods.”

“I have not stolen anything.” Rosalie’s chin came up. Goodness gracious! What kind of person did he take her for? “I had no money to spare this morning, but Frau Dichtler just gave Greta and me a gold gulden to share between us…”

She spread her hands wide and lifted her shoulders in a small shrug. It was such a small lie, surely she had no need to even mention it in the confessional.

“No money! Why, didn’t you say so at the time, lass?” Gerhard’s blue eyes had such a depth of kindness in them as he gazed down at her, Rosalie felt tears welling up in her own eyes. She looked hastily down.

“Too proud to mention, it were you?” Gerhard laid a kindly hand on her shoulder, it’s warmth seeping through the fabric of her thin blouse. “I suppose I can respect that. Well now, when would you like to go, then?”

“In a day or two, or whenever it is convenient for you,” Rosalie said, raising her head.

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