Finished Off by Rebecca Kent

Author:Rebecca Kent [Kent, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Ghost, Cotswold Hills (England), Mystery & Detective, Girls' Schools, Historical, Women School Principals
ISBN: 9780425228111
Google: GyQ-JH5w4lsC
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2008-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

S

“Reggie, I need to stop by the Pig and Whistle again

on our way home.”

Opening the door of the carriage, Reggie looked at

Meredith in surprise. “You want to go back to the pub,

m’m? But it’s closed for the afternoon. Won’t be open now

until fi ve o’clock.”

“I don’t want a drink, Reggie.” Meredith climbed up

onto her seat. “I want to speak to the proprietor. I’m sure

you can arrange that.”

“Well, yes, m’m, but—” His expression changed from

puzzlement to apprehension. “Ah . . . I see. You want to

investigate him.”

“Not exactly.”

“Someone else at the pub then?”

Meredith leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You

and I will get along much better, Reggie, if you’ll stop asking so many questions. Be assured I will tell you anything

you need to know. In fact, I would like you to accompany

me when I question the proprietor.”

“Oh, of course, m’m.” Looking excited at the prospect,

Reggie closed the door and climbed up onto his perch.

106 Rebecca

Kent

As they jogged once more down the High Street, Meredith went over the conversation she’d had with Amanda.

It certainly seemed that her husband had strong reasons for

hating his brother. It was hard to imagine anyone’s hatred

being powerful enough to kill an entire family. It was terrible, indeed, what too much spirits could do to the mind.

Deep in thought, she was startled when Reggie brought

the carriage to a halt. They had arrived at the Pig and

Whistle without her noticing.

The proprietor, a rotund gentleman with a nose that

glowed like the evening sun, seemed most unsettled when

Reggie presented her. Although he seemed reluctant to

talk to her, he graciously invited her and Reggie into his

parlor, and offered her a glass of ale.

“Thank you, Mr. Willoughby, but I have already partaken of your excellent brew and quite enjoyed it.” Seated

on a sagging armchair, Meredith smiled up at him. “I really

think it would be wise to refrain from enjoying another.”

Reggie, on the other hand, leapt at the chance of free ale.

He sat across the room, frothing glass in hand, while Mr.

Willoughby took a seat on the other side of the fi replace.

“My wife will be sorry to have missed your visit, Mrs.

Llewellyn,” he said as he settled himself more comfortably. “She’s visiting relatives in Brighton at the moment.”

Meredith nodded. “It’s a very pleasant town to visit.”

“It is, indeed.” He gave her a hard stare. “Now what,

may I ask, is the purpose of your visit today?”

“I have some questions about one of your customers, a

Mr. Claude Lewis. I was hoping you’d be able to answer

them for me.”

Watching his face closely, she saw wariness in his eyes.

“What’s old Claude been up to now?”

“Ah, so you do know him.”

“Yes, indeed. He’s a regular at the Pig and Whistle.”

“Yes, so I understand.” She paused, arranging the words

in her head. “I expect you know he recently lost his brother

and family.”

Finished 107

Off

Willoughby shook his head. He had a long, wispy mustache and muttonchops, and looked rather like an aging

walrus. “Such a terrible tragedy, that. Poor little mite, the

daughter, watching her whole family go up in fl ames, then

getting sick and dying like that.

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