Dead Mourner's Grove: Goldenheart Mysteries Book 2 by M. Patrick Duggan

Author:M. Patrick Duggan [Duggan, M. Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

***

Right after breakfast tea, Clyde the footman announced the arrival of Deputy Constable Andre. Georgia met him in the parlor and invited him to sit. The poor fellow, still a bit sleep-deprived after his long ride back and forth from Grandhall, preferred to stand. That was the more appropriate protocol anyway, so Georgia let it be.

"I shall try to be concise with the questions, Deputy Constable," she said. "You look weary after your ride."

"Thank you, Duchess. I am fine,” he responded. Andre was a proper constable. She did not need to explain her title to him in any way. His demeanor indicated excellent training.

"You went to the coroner in Grandhall, yes?"

"Correct, Duchess. As you instructed, I delivered the material there," he said. "After that, I returned to the village. Here is the receipt from the expert confirming everything. He said he will look into it as soon as he can." He handed it to her. Georgia noted it was only a confirmation. Obviously, they did not have time to do a proper examination, as it had only been a day.

"Thank you, Deputy Constable. When I see Constable Jenkins again, I will sing your praises.”

Afterward, it occurred to her she might expedite things with a few targeted communications: one to the coroner, and another to the Countess of Grandhall. Quickly, she jotted the notes. The first to the Coroner's Office in Grandhall requesting they send her a copy of their investigation notes. If they had no plans to investigate, she urged them to at least send notes of anything they noticed about the evidence. She signed it with a Royal Writ Seal, as was her privilege. When engaged in enquiry, Georgia could invoke the King himself, if she felt it necessary. She did not go quite that far with this letter, merely affixing the overall Royal Writ.

Next, Georgia jotted off a note to her friendly acquaintance, Lady Constance Greenheart, the Countess of Grandhall, requesting she ask the expert to expedite his investigation. Georgia did not go into any detail on the case other than include the name of Lord Redstone and called it a matter of some interest to herself. She completed the letter with a vague invitation to lunch when next they might both be in the capital. She followed that with a salutation to Lady Constance's youngest son, Lucas.

That very last part, she hoped, would prompt the Countess to act on her behalf with the coroner. It was a slightly manipulative move by Georgia. If she had a shortlist of potential husbands, Lucas Greenheart would be at the top of it. Her letter would be arriving on the heels of the missive from Lady Amaris, and the Countess would likely interpret it as an invitation of significance. If she was indeed as keen to see her youngest son married as other sources might indicate, an answer would be quick.

According to the latest Findorian Peer Registry, Mr. Lucas Greenheart, or Luke to his friends, was still on the market to find a wife and recently entered as a lower peer.

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