Mrs. Jeffries Rocks the Boat by Emily Brightwell

Author:Emily Brightwell [Brightwell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, blt, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9781101644980
Google: M1z8AwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00AFZ3NKE
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1999-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Mrs. Jeffries took a deep breath and slammed the knocker on the front door against the wood. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to accomplish. She wasn’t certain she could even get Mrs. Lucas to talk with her, but she felt she ought to try. People who didn’t leave their houses frequently saw more than one would expect. Their windows were quite literally their only connections with the outside world.

The door creaked open, and a gaunt, middle-aged woman wearing a maid’s uniform stuck her head out. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“I’d like to see Mrs. Lucas,” Mrs. Jeffries said boldly. She gave the maid a confident smile.

“Mrs. Lucas doesn’t see people.”

“Oh dear, that is too bad.” Mrs. Jeffries sighed. “I’ve come a great distance, you see. All the way from Yorkshire.” That wasn’t precisely a lie; she had come from Yorkshire. The fact that it had been five years ago, when her dear, late husband had passed away was of no consequence whatsoever.

“Are you sure it’s important?” The woman asked uncertainly. “Madam doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

“It’s very important.” Mrs. Jeffries nodded eagerly. “I need her help in locating someone.”

The woman’s thin lips cracked in a ghost of a smile. “She couldn’t help you there, ma’am. The mistress never leaves the house.”

“Who is it, Mary?” a woman’s voice called from the depths of the house.

“It’s a lady from Yorkshire,” the maid turned and shouted down the hall. “She says she wants you to help her find someone.”

“Ask her in,” the voice commanded. “Bring her into the drawing room.”

“That’s a bit of a surprise.” Mary smiled widely, stepped back and held the door open. “Come in, ma’am.”

Mrs. Jeffries stepped inside and followed the maid down the hall and into a large, airy reception room. Sitting on the settee and staring at her curiously was a stout woman with fading blond hair, blue eyes and exceptionally white skin. “Mrs. Lucas, I presume,” she asked by way of introduction.

“Correct. Who might you be?”

“My name is Hepzibah Jeffries,” she replied. “And I’ve come to see you about a matter of some importance.”

“A matter of some importance,” Mrs. Lucas repeated slowly.

“Shall I bring tea, madam?” the maid asked.

“That would be nice, Mary,” she agreed. “Oh goodness, where are my manners? Please, do sit down.” She gestured to the chair next to the settee.

Mrs. Jeffries quickly took a seat. She’d won half the battle; she was inside the house. “I do thank you for agreeing to see me. As I said, it’s a matter of some urgency.”

Isadora Lucas inclined her head graciously. “I’ve no idea why you think I’d be able to help you. As I’m sure my maid told you, I rarely leave my home.”

Mrs. Jeffries took another deep breath and decided to trust her instincts. There was something about this woman that convinced her she wouldn’t be easily fooled. She decided to toss her well-thought-out plan out the window and simply tell the truth. “Do hear me out, ma’am. I work for Inspector Gerald Witherspoon.

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