Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld by Catherine Lloyd

Author:Catherine Lloyd [Lloyd, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Miss Morton?”

“Yes?” Caroline halted at the bottom of the stairs and waited as the butler came toward her. She hadn’t slept well and had risen early, taken her breakfast in the kitchen, and started answering Mrs. Frogerton’s correspondence.

“There is a young person here asking to see Mrs. Frogerton, but as she has not come down for breakfast I wondered if you might speak to her instead?”

“Of course.” Caroline followed the butler into the parlor where he usually left Sergeant Dawson and discovered Letty, Madam Lavinia’s maid.

“Good morning, Miss Morton.”

“Letty.” Caroline smiled at the girl. “I understand that you wished to speak to Mrs. Frogerton.”

“She asked me to let her know if I thought of anywhere Madam might have kept that strongbox,” Letty said.

“And?”

“I remembered something when I was dusting today. A few weeks ago, I went into the back parlor where she held the séances to lay the fire and startled her so badly she shouted at me to get out.”

“What was she doing?”

“I’m not quite sure because she had her back to me, but she was fiddling around near the fireplace.” Letty frowned. “And something about it looked odd.”

“Did you manage to discover what she might have been doing?”

“Not at the time because I was too scared, but I remembered it when I was in there today. I couldn’t see anything obvious, but I thought Mrs. Frogerton might want to know.”

“I’m sure she will,” Caroline said. “If we have time today, she’ll probably want to pop round and see for herself.”

Letty nodded. “I’ll be there, miss. I’m currently packing up Madam’s things, although Lord knows what I’m supposed to do with them then.”

Caroline found a coin and handed it to Letty.

“Thank you, Miss Morton.” Letty pocketed the coin.

“I know you said that Madam never mentioned whether she was married or not, but did anyone call on her regularly?”

“There were several gentlemen who visited her. I could hardly keep them straight in my head.” Letty paused. “I never saw any of them kissing her or anything, they was always very respectful.”

“Have you heard from Mr. Murphy?”

“No, but I wasn’t expecting to.” Letty shrugged. “He came with the house. I’ve only known him a few months and we weren’t close.”

“Do you know whom Madam rented the house from?”

“No, I’m sorry, miss.” Letty’s patience for Caroline’s questions visibly waned and she glanced at the clock. “I have to go. That Sergeant Dawson said he’d be coming to talk to me at ten.”

“He told me that Mr. Murphy was supposed to have stayed in town.”

“Oh, blimey,” Letty groaned. “Now the peeler will be wanting his address and everything, won’t he?”

“I should imagine so.” Caroline escorted Letty to the front door. “Take care now and don’t tell anyone else about what you think you have discovered until you’ve spoken to Mrs. Frogerton.”

“Yes, miss.” Letty looked to the left and then the right and ran nimbly across the street, one hand holding on to the rim of her bonnet as she dodged a brewery cart.

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