Death and the Visitors by Heather Redmond

Author:Heather Redmond [Redmond, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2024-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Jane

“I know that we’ve been distracted by this matter with Fanny,” I said to Mary as soon as Shelley had finished his note and left for the post office. I paced back and forth in front of the bookshop counter. Right when we returned from seeing Mr. Williams, Charles had muttered something about a letter he had to take to Mr. Ballachey and stormed out, leaving the book crates he’d brought from the warehouse behind. At least some of the books were gone, sold to his client.

One of the pins in my dress poked my shoulder. I winced and continued. “As I was saying about Fanny, Mr. Williams successfully distracted us from learning who killed Mr. Naryshkin.”

“Oh, who cares who killed that old kidnapper, anyway?” Mary asked.

I frowned at her. “The diamonds, remember? The saviors of the Juvenile Library?”

She glanced up from the pen she was cleaning. “We will never obtain the diamonds. We need to keep Fanny and me safe from the kidnappers, that is all. I cannot wait until this season of foreign dignitaries in London is over.”

I paused in my pacing. “Do you think they will kidnap me if they can’t get you or Fanny?”

“Why would they? You aren’t a Wollstonecraft.”

I touched one of my dark curls. “How would they know? They wouldn’t have had a description of either of you. I’m a girl of the right age, living in the right house.”

“If you see strange men watching the house, don’t go outside to confront them.” Mary stuck her tongue in her cheek and pulled out her own notebook. “Now, hush, Jane, I want to get down my thoughts before Mamma reappears.”

“You have cooking to do.”

“Pishposh.” She waved a hand, the sharp point of her pencil passing close to her eye. “I can spare a few minutes. Isabella, unlike Fanny, was successfully kidnapped in my story.”

* * *

Shelley returned, his friend Thomas Hogg in tow. They had been at Oxford together, and we had heard much about him.

“I have news for your father,” Shelley said, leaning over the bookshop counter.

I eyed the pair of them. Mr. Hogg, hook-nosed and dark-haired, had the same broad shoulders as Shelley, and looked healthy enough despite being a law student. “Would you please take those crates down the street to the warehouse?”

“Is your father there?” Shelley asked.

“He’s not in the house.” I heard the outer door open.

Shelley nodded at Hogg. They each picked up a crate and went into the hall. The greeting I heard was not from Papa. Instead, I had a customer, who kept me busy until dinner, inspecting our wares.

Mary paled a bit when she walked into the dining room, holding a bowl with turnips and potatoes. Shelley didn’t notice the domesticity, though he smiled at her. Somehow he’d sent off his friend yet remained for dinner. Polly bumped into Mary in the doorway. Mary nearly lost the bowl but stumbled forward.

“Stupid girl,” Mamma sneered. She’d already downed half a glass of wine.

Mary grimaced but managed to set down her bowl without further incident.

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