The Unholy Preacher: A Gentleman Detective Mystery by Evelyn James

Author:Evelyn James [James, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Raven Publications
Published: 2021-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

They had come to a dead end, or so it seemed, with the search for Rupert. It was getting late and with the brothers now fully alert to their presence, there seemed little point resuming their surreptitious search for clues to where Rupert had vanished to. Bainbridge suggested they go home and regroup. He was tired and his bones felt heavy in his body, as if suddenly they were made of lead. He needed time to think and process all they had seen.

They returned to where they had left the car.

“Houston once considered becoming a monk, you know,” Bainbridge said.

He had reached that point in the day when his mood turned melancholy, and his thoughts revolved back to his dead business partner.

“Houston did not strike me as religious,” Victoria said, as she climbed up into the car.

Bainbridge contemplated the uphill struggle he must now face before he could enjoy the luxurious comfort of being within the vehicle. That weightiness within his bones seemed to be dragging him down. He hauled himself up onto the footrest and then nearly folded headfirst into the car.

“I am considering getting some steps made for you,” Victoria remarked.

He was sure it was a comment meant in kindness, but it somewhat stung to know that his inabilities had been noticed by his niece. Not that he had actually hidden them, as such, in fact he had made a fuss about getting in the car every single time he attempted it.

He was not sure what reaction to his predicament would have made him feel better, but the suggestion of supplying steps as if he were an invalid brought his mood even lower than it had been before. He righted himself in the passenger seat and fell silent.

Victoria, possibly noting his mood shift, said nothing further on the matter.

“Do they have monasteries in America?” Victoria asked as they drove off, referring back to their earlier stilted conversation.

“They do,” Bainbridge said. “Houston was going through a rough patch at the time he was considering it. I do not think a life of religious contemplation would have suited him.”

He thought about this a moment longer.

“I think the solitude and sheer time alone with his own thoughts would have sent him quite mad.”

“Not that you can really call the chapel in Elm Hill a monastery,” Victoria said. “Not in the correct sense. It is more a gentleman’s club with robes.”

Bainbridge raised an eyebrow at her.

“Precisely what do you think goes on at a gentleman’s club?”

Victoria paused, considering the question.

“I honestly could not say. I have never been allowed in one for the simple reason I am not a gentleman. Which if you ask me, is sheer old-fashioned chauvinism. There is no such thing as ladies’ clubs, is there?”

“They would be a hotbed of dissension,” Bainbridge said drily. “Too many women together with time on their hands to consider life is a very dangerous mix.”

“I do hope that was sarcasm, Uncle, or else you will have dropped considerably in my opinion,” Victoria said haughtily.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.