The Confounding Case Of The Carisbrook Emeralds by Stephanie Laurens

Author:Stephanie Laurens [Laurens, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Savdek Management Pty Ltd
Published: 2018-06-13T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

After waving Cara and Hugo off to a quiet family dinner with Hugo’s and Barnaby’s parents, Penelope and Barnaby grasped the chance of enjoying a quiet family dinner of their own—in the nursery, along with a smiling if sleepy Oliver.

When, eventually, after tucking their somnolent son into his cot, they headed down the stairs, Penelope glanced at Barnaby. “It’s a pity we decided to attend this soirée. Given all that we learned today and what the others might have unearthed as well, having to wait another day before we can share our findings is…well, annoying.”

Barnaby smiled. He closed his hand about one of hers and gently squeezed. “Impatient as always.” She threw him a narrow-eyed look, which he pretended not to see. “Nevertheless, we need to hear Julia’s version of events.” A second later, he met Penelope’s eyes. “It would be helpful if you could also draw her out on the other relationships in that family.”

She arched her brows. “You’re not planning to be there when I speak with her?”

He allowed his chagrin to show. “Sadly, no. She’ll speak more freely to you alone.” With another, this time fondly amused, look, he added, “Don’t forget, you’re a youngest daughter, too.”

She widened her eyes. “You’re right—I’d forgotten she and I share that distinction.”

“Now I’ve reminded you, I’m sure you’ll use it to our best advantage. You might also ask her if Franklin’s returned to town. He’s another we need to catch up with.”

“True.” Penelope walked beside Barnaby into the back parlor, where they planned to while away the next hour or so until it was time to climb into their carriage and venture out on tonight’s investigative foray. Absentmindedly strolling to her desk, she said, “I wonder if, as in many larger families, Julia, as youngest, will prove to be the quiet but observant type.”

That hope was high in her mind when, two hours later, she and Barnaby walked into Lady Cannavan’s drawing room, occasioning as intense a stir as Penelope had foreseen. She and Barnaby were both connected to many of the premier families in the ton, and their involvement in investigations over recent years had only increased the ton’s interest in them. However, as neither was fond of the social whirl, they tended to appear only at events hosted by a select group of family and friends, thus denying the wider ton the opportunity to draw close and claim acquaintance.

Consequently, Lady Cannavan beamed as she welcomed them gushingly to her home and preened as, after exchanging the usual pleasantries, they walked into the large room to mingle with her other guests.

As Lady Cannavan was not one of the premier hostesses, Penelope had feared that she and Barnaby would know few of her ladyship’s guests, but luckily, several of the Cannavan connections who had been prevailed upon to attend were nodding acquaintances; there were just enough of them to provide cover as she steered Barnaby on a circuit of the room.

They spotted Lady Carisbrook among the crowd, with Julia

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