A Covent Garden Mystery by Ashley Gardner

Author:Ashley Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: murder, kidnapping, england, london, regency, napoleonic wars, captain lacey, covent garden, english army, peninsualar war
Publisher: Ashley Gardner

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Chapter Eleven

Louisa did indeed look haggard. Her face was gray except for spots of color burning in her cheeks.

"How on earth is this your fault, Louisa?" I asked. "Gabriella walked away from the rooms in King Street and either has lost herself or someone sinister has her. Or someone benevolent," I added, praying that this was the case. The benevolent person might even now be returning Gabriella to her mother. I wanted that circumstance so much it put a sharp taste in my mouth.

Louisa lifted her gaze, and the shame in her eyes startled me. "I went to see her," she said.

"Did you? When? You and I were to go together."

"I know." Louisa's voice strengthened. "I was too impatient, for which I will berate myself for the rest of my life. I did not want you with me, you see, because I did not want you to hear what I had to say to Carlotta."

I grew still. "I never gave you the direction to the boardinghouse."

"You said King Street, Covent Garden. It was easy, once there, to ask for the house in which the two people from France and their daughter stayed. I boldly asked the landlady if I could see Gabriella."

I gripped the arms of my chair. "And did you see her?"

"Yes."

Louisa's eyes moistened. She must have felt what I had--wonder that Gabriella had grown into such a beautiful young woman, love and pride. I saw in Louisa's eyes joy in Gabriella's intelligence and sweetness, sadness that Louisa had missed watching her blossom.

"You spoke to her," I said.

Louisa nodded. At that moment, a footman bustled in balancing a tray with a coffeepot and cups. The wonderful aroma of coffee filled the room. Louisa wiped her eyes while the footman set down the tray, arranged the cups, and laid out the sugar bowl, silver tongs, and a jug of cream. He took the tray and slid from the room while we sat in silence.

Donata took up the pot and poured coffee into my cup. She knew I liked it black and strong, so while she dropped sugar and cream into her own liquid, she offered me none. She stirred her coffee and cream until it became the color of Felicity's skin.

Lady Breckenridge tapped her spoon lightly on the edge of the cup and set it down, her movements elegant and economical, polished by a host of governesses and nannies. "What did you say that upset her, Mrs. Brandon?"

Louisa's cheeks burned red. Brandon looked on, brows lowered.

"I told her that her mother had deserted Gabriel," Louisa said. "I told her exactly what Carlotta had done--cuckolded him and left him for no good reason. I told Gabriella she'd been taken away and lied to because Carlotta did not want her returning to her true father. I told her what Carlotta's actions had done to Gabriel, how wretched he'd been when he'd learned that his daughter was gone forever."

"Louisa," I whispered. "Dear God."

"I know it was utterly stupid," she said in an anguished voice.

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