Murder on Charles Street by Leighann Dobbs & Harmony Williams

Author:Leighann Dobbs & Harmony Williams [Dobbs, Leighann & Williams, Harmony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leighann Dobbs

Chapter Twelve

Upon eating her fill at dinner, Katherine excused herself early from Lord Penhurst’s exhibition and returned home despite Lady Dalhousie’s protests. She left Mr. Gammon at the event, secure that he would be well occupied. The moment she entered her house, Emma barked out a greeting from a different room.

Katherine followed the noise to the front parlor, where Harriet sat in the armchair, mending the bottom of one of Katherine’s dresses. At Katherine’s entrance, she glanced up in alarm.

“Lady Katherine, what are you doing home so soon? I haven’t prepared anything to eat.”

Katherine shook out her cloak, despite the fact that it had not been snowing for once. She laid it over her arm as Harriet set aside her mending and stood. “No need. Lord Penhurst wouldn’t allow his guests to go hungry.”

Harriet didn’t appear to be listening as she stuffed her basket full of the cloth, thread, and needles she’d been using. She left it in the parlor as she bustled toward Katherine with her arms outstretched to receive Katherine’s cloak. Emma danced after her with an enthusiastic little yap, hurrying to greet Katherine. After divesting herself of her cloak, Katherine knelt to scratch the dog behind the ears.

“You’ll never believe who I saw there. Dr. Gammon’s son! I thought perhaps if he was occupied, I would do best to search the house next door in case he is due to return.”

Harriet looked dubious. “This late in the evening?”

Katherine shrugged as she straightened. “With him, I cannot say, and Mrs. Campbell asked me to return after dark. I’d best go now, while I have the opportunity.”

Looking a little puzzled, Harriet glanced at the cloak in her arms and held it out for Katherine once more. Katherine batted her away. “Not in these clothes. Can you imagine Mrs. Campbell’s reaction if I showed up in eveningwear? I’ll find something plainer to wear.”

She couldn’t be certain, but she thought she heard Harriet mutter under her breath, “All the dresses you wear are plain.”

Five minutes later, Katherine had exchanged her evening gown for a favorite walking dress. As she glanced out of her bedroom window, she craned her neck to look at the path below. Along the rear edge of each of the houses in this line was a tidy fence and a narrow walkway. Dusk had long since descended, and the light of the lamps out front of every door didn’t stretch to the back. However, as Katherine cupped her hands to the cold glass to see through it, movement caught her eye. The movement was along the path somewhere in the vicinity of Dr. Gammon’s house. Did her eyes deceive her?

Her instincts clamored as Emma, in one of the lower floors, gave a hearty bark before falling silent. Katherine squinted, but the figure she thought she had seen had melded into the shadows as if it had never been there.

Who would be walking the path at this hour? Has Mr. Gammon returned already?

No, it couldn’t be him. He was

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