Petteril's Corpse by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster [Lancaster, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency mystery, historical mystery, Detective duo, Regency detective
Publisher: Mary Lancaster
Published: 2023-09-26T06:00:00+00:00

AFTER HER MEAL WITH the Haybury Court servants, it was too dark for April to examine any more rooms in the house. It seemed natural to help the others clear up and make things ready for the morning, both in the servants’ hall and in the main house. Mrs. Hicks appeared amazed to see her doing anything so menial as washing dishes, or carrying a coal scuttle, or helping set the table in the breakfast parlour.

“Does his lordship expect you to be doing this?” she asked, catching April crossing the hall with a fresh pile of starched linen napkins for the breakfast table.

“I don’t know,” April admitted. “I like to be busy.” Which was true. Now she no longer had to plot and fight for every scrap of food, she found too much time to herself weighed heavily on her.

Mrs. Hicks pulled her brow down into a frown, gazing fixedly at April, who, with difficulty, did her the courtesy of standing still. “What’s he got you looking all over the house for? What are you writing down?”

“Just what needs freshening up and what colours would suit it. I like colours and I saw what he liked from what he ordered in the London house.”

Mrs. Hicks stared some more, seemed about to say something, then walked away, saying over her shoulder. “Get on with those napkins, then.”

As she joined the other servants in the hall for a last mouthful before bed, she sensed a very faint softening toward her. Which could offer a little more pleasantness to life in the country.

Nevertheless, before the doors were locked, she found herself slipping away to see Benson and the horses in the stables. She missed Benson’s calm company.

Jem now blushed whenever she came by and barely dared speak to her. But Carter, the head groom, unbent somewhat and she spent some time listening to all the horse talk and asking questions while she sneaked a few treats to the horses, purloined from the kitchen.

She was still there when the sounds of Lord Petteril’s return had Jem bolting around to the front of the house to meet the horses. She was even helping to brush down one of the carriage horses when the Professor’s stamp and whinny told her Petteril himself approached.

His cravat loosened and his coat buttons open, he strolled into the lantern light, casually greeting the grooms and asking after all the horses as he inspected them and petted each.

“I think Orion’s doing better already, don’t you?” he said.

“He is that, my lord,” Carter replied. “Needed the exercise. These old fellows seem perkier, too.” He referred to the carriage horses, one of which April was currently brushing.

Lord Petteril blinked at her.

She said defiantly. “I was just here when Jem brought them in.”

“And you like horses,” he said mildly. “I know.” He patted the horse on the other side of his neck. “But the house doors are all locked. You’ll have to come back in the front with me.”

Benson took the brush from her.

As they walked around the house, April sped up to walk alongside him rather than behind.

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