The Heiress (19th Century Romance) by Cynthia Keyes

Author:Cynthia Keyes [Keyes, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

“I only heard bits and snatches. I was on my way out, you see. I had been given a few days off to spend with my sister and was eager to be gone.” She glanced up at Margaret. “It sounded as though Mr. Matheson had told her he was leaving. Miss Ingram was terribly upset.” She shook her head. “But still, I had no idea she might do him in.”

“Hmm...” Eleanora considered Claire’s words for a moment. It was a motive for murder. Lovers’ quarrels had certainly been the cause of many a death. She dismissed the thought for the time being and went back to their original objective. “Did she ever mention friends? Was there any time she talked of acquaintances?”

Claire knitted her brows. “Let me think. Hmm… There was one time that she talked of a friend. She had a strange name. I just can’t seem to remember what it was.”

“Could it have been Idelle?” Eleanora asked. “That’s it! I remember now! It was Idelle. She said something about hoping to visit Idelle.” Claire grinned at her memory. “She said she hoped to sit with Idelle on the seashore once more.”

Eleanora looked at Elliot and smiled triumphantly. He inclined his head and gave her a smile. He had said nothing during the meeting, content to lean against the door and silently watch the exchange. She turned back to Claire. “Is there anything else? Anything that might help us find her?”

“I can’t think of anything. But if I do, I will send word.”

Eleanora rose from her crate, “Thank you ladies. I look forward to doing business with you. It is going to be an exciting project.”

Claire walked with her the few paces to the door. Eleanora looked back into the room. The children had remained quiet during the interview, hidden under a blanket in the bunk. This time only one peeked out at her from beneath the covers. Margaret, who was anchored in place by the stove, was looking teary once more. Eleanora turned to her, and said in her firmest voice, “I expect you at the office with an offer on our soup kitchen in the next few days. See that the matter is taken care of.” Margaret responded with a nod.

Elliot swung the door open. When she stepped across the threshold into the hall, Claire followed her a pace, grasped her hand, and pulled her in close to whis‐ per, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Eleanora could only smile before Claire was gone and the door clicked shut.

They were silent until they reached the coach. Once settled and the carriage had begun to move forward, Elliot commented, “That was well done of you.”

She smiled at him. “Pembroke should support a charity. This one is small indeed when weighed against the suffering in this community.” She was looking out her window as she spoke, watching the misery of life on the damp streets pass by.

The words Miss O’Malley had spoken echoed in her mind, particularly the bits about the fight between the couple, on the night he was murdered.

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