Murder and Misdeeds by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Mystery/Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1997-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

As soon as the gentlemen had left with Hodden, Corinne ran upstairs and began to search the rooms. In the room next to Susan’s bedchamber she found a cache of linen in the dresser. Half a dozen sets of new bedsheets and pillowcases were there, not stitched by Susan’s awkward fingers, but finely done by a seamstress. This confirmed the notion of a trousseau. In another spare room she found towels and an elegant lace tablecloth worth a small fortune. All these sat idle while the towels in the guest rooms were threadbare and the sheets on the beds were like tissue paper. One daren’t turn over for fear of ripping them.

Excited, she next searched the attics, but she did not find the expected carpets or chaise longue, nor anything except old clothes and discarded lumber.

She planned to pay a morning call, but as her host was so exceedingly handsome, she wished to tidy her appearance. Simon proved vulnerable to flattery when she stopped at Luten’s room to compliment him on the marvelous breakfast he had prepared them.

“I should have brought Mrs. Ballard with me,” she said. “Here am I looking as if I had just run a smock race, while you turn Luten out in such high style. It is a problem even getting hot water. How do you manage it, Simon?”

“It will be my privilege to assist you, your ladyship,” he said, wearing a smile from ear to ear.

Simon glided down to the kitchen and was back in minutes with a basin of hot water. He mentioned that he had a few leisure moments, and if her ladyship had anything she wished ironed, he would be only too happy to oblige her. And she was only too happy to hand her wrinkled gowns over to him.

Fifteen minutes later, a refreshed and more stylishly coiffed Lady deCoventry set out for Mr. Stockwell’s house. Without Luten to hold her in check, she took the shortcut on foot down the path and across the park to Greenleigh and was soon tapping at his door.

“He rode out to his back acres an hour ago,” Mrs. Dorman said. “He’s fertilizing that field today, but I expect him back any moment, if you’d care to step into the parlor. A cup of tea, milady?”

“Thank you.”

While Corinne sat waiting, there was a knock at the front door. As Mrs. Dorman was in the kitchen, Corinne answered it for her.

“Luten!” she exclaimed. A scowl settled on her face. She had hoped for a private interview with Stockwell. He would be less forthcoming with Luten there, glowering at him.

“What the devil are you doing, answering Stockwell’s door?”

“Mrs. Dorman is making me some tea.”

“Has Stockwell opened a tea parlor?”

“Not at all. He is tending to his work, like a good farmer.” As they went into the parlor, she said, “You planned to come here without me! Don’t deny it. You are supposed to be searching for Jeremy.”

“The shoe is on the other food, Countess. You were supposed to be searching Appleby.

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