The Scandalous Lady Wright (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 4) by Beaton M. C

Author:Beaton, M. C. [Beaton, M. C.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 2014-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

A week had passed since Emma had learned the shocking news about Mr. Henderson, a week during which the comte had turned up at Curzon Street very late at night and had gone almost immediately to bed.

Matilda and Annabelle were once more on calling terms, cards and invitations for Emma were beginning to arrive almost daily, and life appeared to be resuming an air of normality. There was only the comte’s nightly visits to remind Emma that the murderer of her husband was still at large.

The fine weather had broken and the days were unseasonably cold. The Harveys had condescended to invite Emma to one of their breakfasts. Lady Harvey felt that if she invited Emma, the comte might attend as well and perhaps show her more of that strangely flattering interest. Lord Harvey, slightly surprised that his wife should wish to include Emma in the party—not because she had been suspected of murder, but because he considered her rank in society to be not quite of the first stare—nonetheless agreed. He found it easier to agree with his more forceful wife on all points.

Emma had not seen Mr. Henderson since the time she had refused to go driving with him, and when she arrived was dismayed to find him among the guests. But Mr. Henderson’s pride had obviously been wounded, for he treated her to a brief chilly nod and then avoided her. The breakfast, which began at three in the afternoon, was served indoors instead of in the garden as had originally been planned. Before the company took their places at the table, Emma found herself surrounded by curious people eager to know if anything else had happened that might throw light on the identity of the murderer. Henderson, Lord Framley, and Lord Fletcher were standing together; slightly behind them was Madame Beauregard with a small, sallow man who appeared to be her husband. Emma looked at all the eager faces and gave a little shrug. “I am afraid I will never find out who killed Sir Benjamin,” she said. Then she saw the comte arriving, and some imp prompted her to say, “But I am sure there must be documents or papers still in the house in a secret hiding place which might give me a clue. After all, whoever killed my husband was someone with whom he entrusted the keys to the back door of the house and his study, someone he did not want either myself or the servants to know about. He was always making notes. I am sure I shall hit on something. I plan to redecorate, and perhaps the joiners and builders can take the place apart before they begin their work—” The comte entered the room and she broke off.

She shivered slightly. It was as if the temperature had suddenly dropped. There was a creeping feeling of menace in the air, and everyone was watching her steadily.

Then the comte came forward to bow before her, impeccable in Weston’s tailoring, his

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