Murder from A to Z by V.M. Burns

Author:V.M. Burns [Burns, V. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2026-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

Thompkins refreshed the trays with bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast in the dining room. Making sure that the coffee and tea were both full and hot, he stood nearby. From a quiet corner, Thompkins kept a watchful eye on the buffet set up in the Marsh dining room for breakfast. Thompkins was vigilant, but still his mind drifted back in time. In the butler’s grandfather’s reign as butler to the Marsh Family, breakfast would have been as formal of an affair as dinner with multiple courses served by an army of servants. During Thompkins’s father’s service, breakfast was much more relaxed with a buffet that was tended by footmen. Thompkins didn’t like change. He took great pride in serving the Marsh Family, but as the father of two girls, neither of whom chose a life of domestic service, he was happy that his daughters had choices. His oldest, Mary, was happily married to Joseph Mueller, while the youngest, Eleanor, had declared a desire to study nursing. It was a career that she was well suited to. Now that England was at war, Eleanor would be in demand. Thompkins was proud of his girls, but he couldn’t help but worry.

The world was changing for all of them. Even here at Wickfield Lodge, change was in the air. With all the footmen off to war, it was now Thompkins’s responsibility to do many tasks he would have once seen as falling beneath his station. Yet Thompkins would do his duty to the family, just as his father and his grandfather had.

Many of the great Families had collapsed. Fortunes were lost through poor management, gambling, or taxation. Yet the Marshes had weathered the storms of war and economic depression. They’d adapted. Even Thompkins had adapted—not only in his domestic duties, but through the services he provided to the government. He wondered what his wife or his children would say if they knew the role that he’d played in helping not only Scotland Yard, but King George, to catch murderers.

“Psst.”

Thompkins watched Flossie, the day maid, nervously enter the dining room. She made her way to the butler’s side.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Thompkins, sir, but Mrs. McDuffie needs you,” Flossie whispered.

Thompkins nodded. “Thank you. Tell Mrs. McDuf fie I’ll be there shortly.”

Flossie hesitated for a moment, clearly wanting to say more, but she merely gave a brief curtsy before rushing from the room.

Lady Elizabeth caught the eye of the butler and gave a silent nod.

Thompkins left the dining room. In the servants dining hall, he found Mrs. McDuffie, Flossie, and his son-in-law, Joseph.

Joseph was pale while Mrs. McDuffie’s cheeks were flushed. Millie sat at the table clutching a cup of tea. Flossie huddled against the wall.

“What’s going on?” Thompkins looked around the room.

“I didn’t want to bother you, but we didn’t know what else to do.” Mrs. McDuffie wrung her hands.

“Do about what?” Thompkins asked.

“It’s happened again,” Mrs. McDuffie said.

“What’s happened?” Thompkins asked.

Mrs. Anderson stuck her head around the corner. “I’m making a sauce and asked Mr.

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