Murder in the Soho Graveyard: A riveting Victorian murder mystery (A Emma Langley Victorian Mystery Book 3) by Emily Organ

Author:Emily Organ [Organ, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2025-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-EIGHT

Emma and Mr Wright carried the waterlogged stationery box to Belgrave Square where they could find a bench to sit on. Drops of murky water trickled as they walked. A large drop flicked onto Emma’s skirts, darkening the fabric with an unsightly stain.

‘Did you hurt yourself when you slipped?’ Mr Wright asked.

‘Only a little bit,’ she replied. The scrape on her leg stung as her skirts brushed against the raw skin, aggravating the pain. But she couldn’t inspect it now. Not in public. And certainly not in front of Mr Wright. She would tend to it when she was safely home, away from prying eyes.

They reached the square and found an empty bench beneath the bare branches of a winter-stripped tree. A chilly breeze rustled through, making Emma shiver as she set the box down between them.

‘Well, let’s hope we’ve found something interesting,’ Mr Wright said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

‘Or something entirely mundane,’ Emma countered, eyeing the battered box. ‘Given the state of it, anything inside is likely to be ruined beyond recognition.’

Still, she couldn’t deny the thrill of curiosity as she prised open the latch and lifted the lid.

The interior was lined with once-opulent red velvet, now sodden and stained with grimy water. Nestled inside was a thick pile of papers, clumped together in a damp, dishevelled mass. There was also a pot of ink and a pen.

‘Oh dear,’ Mr Wright muttered, peering in at the wet contents. ‘That doesn’t look very promising.’

Emma sighed. ‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘I don’t think there’s any need to hand this over to Mr Ashford, I shouldn’t think he’ll miss it at all.’

Emma removed her gloves and gingerly lifted the soggy bundle, feeling the cold moisture seep into her fingertips. The papers, stuck together by water, were fragile. Emma attempted to peel two sheets apart but the soft edges tore with the faintest effort.

Faint traces of ink swirled on some of the pages, although most of the writing had bled away into an unreadable blur. The entire pile appeared ruined.

Emma bit her lip. ‘Do you think anything can be salvaged?’

Mr Wright leaned closer, assessing the damage. ‘It’s hard to say. But maybe something deeper inside the pile can be retrieved. I want to know what these papers say!’

Emma nodded. ‘So do I! I’ll have to dry them carefully. If there’s anything legible, I’ll find it.’

Mr Wright grinned. ‘You’re a determined lady, Mrs Langley.’

‘I prefer to think of it as patience,’ she corrected, a smile tugging at her lips.

‘Patience is a trait I admire,’ he said. ‘I wish I had some of it myself.’

‘It’s all very well being patient, but I suspect we’ll uncover nothing more than household accounts or a list of servants’ wages. But I have to try.’

‘Well, if you do find something thrilling – perhaps a scandalous secret or the answer to all our questions – promise me I’ll be the first to know.’

Emma laughed. ‘Very well, Mr Wright. If I uncover anything intriguing, you’ll be the first to hear of it.

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