The Doublet Affair (Ursula Blanchard Mysteries) by Buckley Fiona

Author:Buckley, Fiona [Buckley, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2013-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

A Gift for Meg

I had barely returned from Thamesbank, but it couldn’t be helped. I worked the girls hard that Friday and Saturday and wouldn’t let them take their ease even on the Sunday, but made them do a further two hours of embroidery, as soon as mass and breakfast were over.

I had hoped to see both the Masons at the breakfast table on Monday, but only Ann was there. To her, I said that the girls had earned a short holiday, and that I wished once more to make a short journey on a private matter. “I shall only be gone overnight,” I said.

“We had better tell my husband,” Ann said. “He broke his fast early and went out again to his workshop. He doesn’t like to be disturbed, you know.”

“I’m afraid the matter is urgent,” I said. “If you think I shouldn’t go without telling him, then I must see him.”

“Well, he would expect to be informed,” Ann said, pushing her platter away. “We’ll go together.”

Though I had been out to the workshop several times, I had only paused to watch for a few moments, never to interrupt, and I had not been out there since I came back from Thamesbank. Now, it gave me a surprise.

Leonard Mason’s working shed was large, with wide double doors and a roof steeply pitched to give plenty of height inside. Even so, it was hardly big enough for the vast wood and canvas bird which was taking shape within. Ann and I hesitated, wondering how to get ourselves and our farthingales past the wings which blocked our entrance. Ann called, and after a moment, Leonard appeared from the dim inner regions, ducking under a wing and regarding us testily.

“What is it? I am really very occupied just now. I asked Crichton to help me again before he started work with the boys this morning, but he put his thumb in the way of my hammer in the first few minutes and now he’s gone off in a fit of temper.”

“Oh dear. Poor man,” said Ann anxiously.

Her husband merely looked annoyed. “What about poor me? Some tasks are very difficult when one is on one’s own. Now, what is it you want? I can see from here that the house isn’t burning down.”

Ann explained. The furrows deepened between Leonard’s nostrils and the corners of his mouth. “Another jaunt, Mrs. Blanchard? Well, as I have said before, you are free to come and go. I have to admit that Pen acquitted herself well while you were away. You are evidently training her to take responsibility. For that, I suppose I must commend you. What is the purpose of your journey this time?”

Clearly, I ought to produce some sort of reason for my sudden departure. I couldn’t pretend to an urgent message, as they knew quite well that no messenger had arrived for me. I fell back on the useful excuse of discretion.

“It is a matter which arose when I was at Thamesbank.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.