Death on the Cliff Walk (The Gilded Age Mysteries Book 1) by Mary Kruger

Author:Mary Kruger [Kruger, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2012-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

Belle Mer was dark and quiet when Brooke stepped out of the victoria, except for the light in the entrance hall. Mrs. Olmstead had gone to bed, Hutton informed her as she walked into the house, resting with the aid of a sleeping draught administered by the doctor. Brooke nodded, drawing off her gloves and removing her hat. With all that had happened, she was now in charge of running the house. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m going to my room, too. Oh, and Hutton.” She turned back.

“Yes, miss?”

“Send Annie to me, please.”

“Of course, miss.”

In her room, Brooke stood patiently while a maid unhooked her dress and loosened her corset, and then slipped into a befrilled cotton wrapper. A cool, damp breeze blew in through the window, and she glanced out, to see a quarter moon rising over the sea. A lovely night. If only the day’s events hadn’t been so dreadful.

“Miss?” Annie said, knocking on the door. “You want to see me?”

Brooke turned back. “Yes, Annie. Come in.” She nodded at the other maid, dismissing her, and then gestured Annie to a chair. Annie sat on the edge of it, looking distinctly uncomfortable, while Brooke took the blue velvet wing chair across from her. “You know everything that goes on in this house, don’t you?”

“Pretty much. Is there somethin’ wrong, miss? Somethin’ else, I mean.”

“No. You’re not in any sort of trouble, if that’s what you mean. Annie.” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees and her hands clasped. “I need to know who my uncle was seeing.”

“What? I mean, I don’t know what you mean, miss.”

“I think you do.” Brooke’s voice was soft. “We both know my uncle has a mistress. He always has had one. We also both know she’s probably a maid somewhere, because that’s what he prefers.”

Annie squirmed. “I’m sure I don’t know, miss.”

“Don’t you?” Brooke sat back, watching her, letting the silence spin out. She’d noticed Matt doing that when he’d come to the Casino, and that Eliot had spoken first, just to end the silence.

“No, miss, why would I?” Annie said, after a moment. “I have to get up early tomorrow. Can’t I go?”

Brooke leaned forward again. “Who is it, Annie? You have to tell me,” she went on, as Annie opened her mouth and then closed it again. “The time has passed for protecting anyone. My uncle has been charged with a murder he did not commit and he’ll likely be charged with the Cliff Walk killings, too.”

“Oh, no, miss! They can’t do that.”

“They can and they will, unless I find out where he really was.”

Annie’s hands twisted together. “Oh, miss, I don’t know-”

“I do. Tell me.”

“I don’t know for certain that he was there, but...”

“Yes?”

“Her name’s Nora Kelly,” Annie said in a rush. “She works at Belcourt Castle.”

“Good heavens. For the Belmonts?”

“Yes, miss. Oh, miss, she’ll be in dreadful trouble for this.”

“She already is,” Brooke said, her tone grim, as she rose. “She may as well come forward. Thank you, Annie.”

“Yes, miss.

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