Limelight: A spellbinding Victorian murder mystery (A Penny Green Victorian Mystery Book 1) by Emily Organ

Author:Emily Organ [Organ, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

I wanted to see Annie again and see if I could find out who her mother could have been hiding from. But instead, I was compelled to attend the next meeting of the West London Women’s Society. Mary Colehill was the host this time.

I arrived at the Colehills’ home shortly after three o’clock. I tugged the bell pull and wondered whether Sebastian had returned from his trip away. I estimated it had been five days since he had left.

The maid led me into the drawing room, from whence the chatter of lively voices came. I stepped into the room and saw that it was filled with colourful, well-dressed ladies perched elegantly on settees and occasional chairs.

“Penelope!” Eliza rose out of her chair and came to greet me. She wore a purple woollen jacket over an oddly baggy purple skirt.

“Miss Green, welcome.” I turned to see Mary Colehill at my side, greeting me with a wide smile. She wore an attractive burgundy-and-cream-striped bustle day dress trimmed with lace. Her face was powdered and her neat hair was pinned with ribbons and bows. “You and your sister look very much alike,” she added.

“Do you think so? Eliza is much taller.”

“But there is a strong resemblance in your features. I have seen a portrait of your father at your sister’s home and I now see his likeness in you. Do please come and sit down.”

Eliza introduced me to the group. “This is my sister, Penelope. She was exploded by the railway bomb last week! Can you believe she is still in one piece?”

There was a collective gasp, followed by inquiries after my health. Having reassured them that I was well and that my ears were almost recovered, Eliza told me everyone’s name.

“You have met Mrs Lennox before, have you not? And this is Mrs Ferguson.”

I nodded and smiled, desperately trying to remember who was who. My eye was drawn to the picture of the ziggurat on the wall and I thought of Sebastian once again.

Would he be angry when he found out that Lizzie’s diaries had been destroyed?

“My sister is a writer on the Morning Express,” announced Eliza, eliciting a murmur of approval. “She is to feature the West London Women’s Society in that acclaimed newspaper. Isn’t that wonderful? You are aware, I am sure, that it is a national paper.”

I smiled weakly and hoped that Mr Sherman would finally agree to include a paragraph about the society. I feared that Eliza was hoping for a column on the front page.

Mrs Henrietta Henderson of the Rational Dress Society was introduced and she addressed us from the hearthrug. I took out my notebook and pencil in readiness to make notes and to show enthusiasm for the subject.

Mrs Henderson was in her forties and had an eagle-like appearance about her brow and nose. Her grey hair was brushed firmly back from her face and pinned into place with little decoration. Her blue jacket and skirts were of a similar design to Eliza’s, and when she

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