The Country House Conspiracy: Ruby Redlick Investigates Historical Mystery (Demimondaine Detective Agency) by Tracy Jennifer Johnson

Author:Tracy Jennifer Johnson [Johnson, Tracy Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ikigai Press
Published: 2022-05-11T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Amorous Intentions

Ruby crouched down to place her fingers against Lady Victoria’s neck. “She has a pulse, but it’s weak. Maybe if we call my chauffeur, Mister Brunelli, he could carry her back to her room. I trust him to be discreet and not gossip in the servants’ hall about this.”

Dottie went out to instruct one of the maids hovering sleepily, in case the lady needed attending. A while later, Mimmo came bounding down the servants’ staircase, two and three steps at a time. He halted when he saw Ruby on the floor, her eyes wide telling him to give nothing away, then his gaze went to Lady Victoria. She was moaning softly in her semi-conscious state. “Can we get her back to her room?”

“Of course. I’ll take her.” Mimmo hefted Lady Victoria into his arms, and carried her across the threshold of the servant’s doorway, out into the passage where Dottie stood looking out of sorts. Keeping lookout for any other servants who might observe them, Ruby led the way along the bachelor’s corridor and back to the main bedrooms. Dottie told the maid to bring up some hot tea, and to tell Worth to call the doctor. Ruby noted that Mimmo knew which bedroom door to head for without being told. Had he been in Lady Victoria’s room earlier? She pushed the thought from her mind. He lay Lady Victoria on the bed, and covered her over with the counterpane. How gently he handled her, with a concern that went beyond simple humanity. If she’d been in any small doubt about what had happened in the attic between them, it was totally eradicated. He looked intent upon remaining at Lady Victoria’s side but Dottie returned and said; “Thank you Brunelli. I’d be grateful if you said nothing of this to the other servants.”

“Of course, madam.” He flashed a glance of irritation at Ruby but left without a word. She knew it must grate on him to be called a servant and dismissed from the room, no matter how politely.

Dottie watched him close the door, then said; “Has she been…?”

“I don’t believe so, although we may have to ask the doctor to look at her in that regard.”

“Goodness… I don’t think, seeing as he’s a man and…” She trailed off, leaving Ruby to fill in the gaps of how urgently she needed this not to be what it seemed. She had various members of the nobility and parliament in the house, a scandal of this nature would be devastating. “Could you possibly look into what occurred without provoking…?”

“Yes, I’ll do what I can. Starting with the whereabouts of each of the gentlemen located on the bachelor’s corridor right before we discovered Lady Victoria.”

“Yes that sounds just right. No wonder you’re the best detective in London.”

“I wouldn’t say the best,” Ruby said. “Maybe the most notorious.” Her hostess was obviously relieved that Winston, being married and his wife only absent as she was close to her confinement, was not located amongst the bachelors.

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