Death Comes to London by Lloyd Catherine

Author:Lloyd, Catherine [Lloyd, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780758287366
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2014-11-25T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Lucy smiled at the Countess of Broughton and poured her another cup of tea. It hadn’t taken her long to gain the countess’s permission to visit her at home. Insisting that it was an honor to be of assistance, she’d tucked a blanket over the countess’s knees and a fine paisley shawl around her shoulders. Being the daughter of a rector had taught her how to care for the bereaved and the lonely, and she sensed the countess was both.

“You are very kind, my dear.”

Lucy patted her black mittened hand. “I’m just doing what my father would wish, my lady. He always insisted that Anna and I place the needs of others above ourselves.” Particularly his needs, but the countess didn’t need to know that.

“An estimable man,” the countess murmured. “Most young women today seem far too intent on pursing their own pleasure rather than caring for their families.”

Lucy had persuaded the countess to give up her place in the large draughty drawing room and take refuge in her sitting room at the back of the house, which not only caught the morning sun, but also was a lot easier and smaller to heat.

“I met a Lady Bentley at my aunt’s house yesterday. She asked to be remembered to you.”

The countess shuddered. “I have no wish to be remembered by her. She and the late dowager ruined many a social occasion for me recently with their ridiculous feud.”

“Lady Bentley referred to some rubies that she believed belonged to her. Is it true that she meant to take the dowager to court over such a small matter?”

“It’s a rather complicated story.”

Lucy assumed her most interested expression and the countess continued. “They came out in the same year and were considered inseparable. Then Maude, my future mother-in-law, set her cap at a certain man, and managed to wring a proposal of marriage from him despite everyone knowing that he really preferred her best friend, Agnes.”

“Oh dear.”

“Lady Bentley was not the sort of woman to accept such a situation. She managed to persuade the man in question to marry her instead. As you might imagine, the dowager didn’t take that very well, and her family considered legal action against the Bentleys. Luckily, it came to naught because Maude met the Earl of Broughton and married him instead. She always insisted that her choice was far superior because she’d married an earl, whereas Agnes had settled for a mere knight.”

“But what does that have to do with rubies?”

“Well, Bentley gave Maude some of his family jewelry during their betrothal, and she refused to give it back after the arrangement ended. Lady Bentley insisted it should be returned to her, and the matter has remained one of heated discussion for the last forty years.”

“So why did Lady Bentley finally decide to resurrect the matter and turn to the law?”

“Because Maude insisted that Agnes had recently stolen the jewels from her. Lady Bentley, of course, denied it, and the dowager took her grievances and decided to air them in front of the ton.

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