Baynard's List (A Stephen Attebrook mystery Book 2) by Vail Jason

Author:Vail, Jason [Vail, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Hawk Publishing
Published: 2014-01-04T16:00:00+00:00

In a daze, Stephen did not remember leaving the house or crossing the yard. The world did not seem to swim into view until he was some distance down the road toward town.

“It seems Valence has set two seekers after the list,” Margaret said.

“No,” Stephen said, sucking thoughtfully on his front teeth. “Clement is doing this on his own. He broke Mistress Makepeese’s face only after he was sure she wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know. He did it so she wouldn’t be able to tell me if she had a change of heart. He must think that if he recovers the list, he improves his chances of escaping the hangman. He also discredits me.” He told her briefly how he had discovered Clement’s complicity in the death of a certain Patrick Carter, an Irishman, and how that led to Clement’s imprisonment on a murder charge. “He holds a grudge, you see.”

“What will you do now?” Margaret asked.

“I don’t know. Muryet had a secret lover. Perhaps he knows something.”

“He did? Who is it?”

Stephen shook his head. “I promised not to reveal his identity.”

“Surely you owe such a person no pledge of secrecy.”

“I didn’t make the pledge to him.”

“To whom then?”

“I’m not free to disclose that either.”

Margaret pouted, but the expression was more playful than serious. “Well, then, before you continue the hunt, you should at least have some refreshment. Let’s stop in at Olivia’s house. I’m sure that the cook will have something prepared.”

It was past noon by the time they reached the house on College Lane. They let themselves in and emerged into the hall, which was empty. Their footfalls echoed in its vastness. No voices sounded anywhere in the house and no one came to see who had arrived.

The emptiness of the house did not seem to bother Margaret, although she must be used to servants rushing to attend her. She removed her calfskin gloves and laid them on the arm of one of the chairs before the fire. She turned to face Stephen. She said, “It seems Olivia has not come back. Dinner must have been a success for her. I’m so glad.”

“You’ve known her a long time?”

“Since we were children. Our father’s houses were near Adforton, less than a mile apart. We were together constantly. We had a secret place in the forest where we used to meet, an old forester’s hut.”

Stephen nodded, trying to think of something clever by which to take his leave. But nothing came into his mind, which was frozen by erupting desire. Here he was alone with her in this vast house, well, as much alone as anyone could be in such a place, because there had to be servants lurking somewhere.

Margaret took a step toward him. Her blue porcelain eyes were suddenly misty. Her lips parted with an odd uncertainty, a strange hesitance. She said almost in a whisper, “Stephen, if you want to kiss me, there’s no one to see.”

He crossed the narrow interval between them with quick, decisive strides.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.