The Lady Sleuth Megapack by Catherine Louisa Pirkis & Anna Katharine Green & Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Kris Nelscott & Janice Law

Author:Catherine Louisa Pirkis & Anna Katharine Green & Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Kris Nelscott & Janice Law
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, crime, suspense, woman, detective
ISBN: 9781479404513
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2014-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

BOOK II: THE FLOWER PARLOR

CHAPTER XV

LUCETTA FULFILS MY EXPECTATION OF HER

It was not till Mr. Trohm had driven away that I noticed, in the shadow of the trees on the opposite side of the road, a horse tied up, whose empty saddle bespoke a visitor within. At any other gate and on any other road this would not have struck me as worthy of notice, much less of comment. But here, and after all that I had heard during the morning, the circumstance was so unexpected I could not help showing my astonishment.

“A visitor?” I asked.

“Some one to see Lucetta.”

William had no sooner said this than I saw he was in a state of high excitement. He had probably been in this condition when we drove up, but my attention being directed elsewhere I had not noticed it. Now, however, it was perfectly plain to me, and it did not seem quite the excitement of displeasure, though hardly that of joy.

“She doesn’t expect you yet,” he pursued, as I turned sharply toward the house, “and if you interrupt her—D—n it, if I thought you would interrupt her—”

I thought it time to teach him a lesson in manners.

“Mr. Knollys,” I interposed somewhat severely, “I am a lady. Why should I interrupt your sister or give her or you a moment of pain?”

“I don’t know,” he muttered. “You are so very quick I was afraid you might think it necessary to join her in the parlor. She is perfectly able to take care of herself, Miss Butterworth, and if she don’t do it—” The rest was lost in indistinct guttural sounds.

I made no effort to answer this tirade. I took my usual course in quite my usual way to the front steps and proceeded to mount them without so much as looking behind me to see whether or not this uncouth representative of the Knollys name had kept at my heels or not.

Entering the door, which was open, I came without any effort on my part upon Lucetta and her visitor, who proved to be a young gentleman. They were standing together in the middle of the hall and were so absorbed in what they were saying that they neither saw nor heard me. I was therefore enabled to catch the following sentences, which struck me as of some moment. The first was uttered by her, and in very pleading tones:

“A week—I only ask a week. Then perhaps I can give you an answer which will satisfy you.”

His reply, in manner if not in matter, proclaimed him the lover of whom I had so lately heard.

“I cannot, dear girl; indeed, I cannot. My whole future depends upon my immediately making the move in which I have asked you to join me. If I wait a week, my opportunity will be gone, Lucetta. You know me and you know how I love you. Then come—”

A rude hand on my shoulder distracted my attention. William stood lowering behind me and, as I turned, whispered in my ear:

“You must come round the other way.

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