Lord Lucifer by Lee Jade

Author:Lee, Jade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“Who are you? Where’s Simpson?”

Lady Beddoe’s expression was as tight as her hair, which pulled her face up until she looked perpetually startled. And that looked very odd given her sour frown.

Lucas performed a modest bow as he opened the door and stepped back to allow Oscar’s only daughter and her husband to enter. Lord Beddoe, however, remained outside, his gaze on Geoffrey, who was just now sauntering up the street.

When he looked back, he shook his head. “This is bad business. Bad business indeed.” His words didn’t appear to be for anyone but himself. He handed his hat to Lucas—who hadn’t offered to take it—and then headed straight for the parlor and then the sideboard to pour himself a drink.

Meanwhile, Lady Beddoe stood at the base of the stairs. “I suppose Papa’s upstairs, then. I suppose I’ll have to see him.”

Lucas set the hat on the entry table, then stepped to watch Penelope’s expression closely. “Your father is upstairs, but he hasn’t been cleaned up yet. The results of poison can be messy.”

Her gaze cut hard to him. “Yes, Geoffrey told us that shrew poisoned our father.” Then she sniffed delicately. “I’ll wait until things have been properly prepared before I see him.”

“And how did Geoffrey know that?” Lucas asked. “The constable is still completing interviews.”

“As if that matters,” she said as she headed for the parlor. Her black skirts made her look like a burned-out tree. “I hope she hangs for it.”

“I assure you, it matters a great deal. How did your brother know Lord Dunnamore was poisoned?”

She turned to stare at him with a huff. “He pays a footman to tell him things. Do you think we would allow a murderess to run wild in our father’s home without some form of watch?”

“And do you know this footman’s name?” He would bet anything it was Fisher.

“I don’t concern myself with my brother’s spies. Only the information he gives.” She looked around the parlor. “Where is Diana? With the constable, I suppose?”

Lucas didn’t answer. The knocker had sounded again—Geoffrey, no doubt—and since Simpson was still belowstairs, Lucas took a perverse pleasure in forcing the man to cool his heels on the stoop. Meanwhile, Lord Beddoe turned from the sideboard and, after taking a full measure of claret, spoke to Lucas.

“How was it done? Was it truly poisoned tea?” He shuddered as he spoke and quickly took another gulp of his drink.

Lucas studied the man, trying to gauge possible guilt. If he had to guess, he’d say that the husband knew nothing about the business beforehand and was horrified by the idea of death. Indeed, he could speculate that Lady Beddoe was of a similar mindset. Anything that brought knowledge of death was turned upon with the viciousness of a mad dog.

The knocker sounded again with the force of a battering ram. Apparently, Geoffrey wasn’t happy with being left outside. Lady Beddoe frowned at him.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“I’m not the butler,” he answered smoothly. Let the bastard wait until Simpson came back.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.