Murder on Charles Street - Leighann Dobbs Page 0,28

still have some connections from my days in the military and know altogether too many veterans in need of treatment for their injuries. Someone ought to have heard of him and can secure me an introduction.”

Wearily, Lyle stood and held out his hand for his greatcoat. “It sounds like you have things well in hand, then. Be sure to keep me apprised if this proves worth taking to the courts, if only to make the final rest.”

Katherine smiled sweetly at him. “We always do.”

Chapter Nine

“Katherine, what do you think?”

Katherine paused her perusal of the servants milling in the market to glance at her friend out of the corner of her eye.

Pru scowled like a thundercloud. “Were you woolgathering?”

“I was searching for our quarry.” Katherine had an excellent memory, and one of the few things she’d been taught by her mother before her unfortunate demise had been to recognize the crests and colors of everyone of import in London. Because of Papa’s penchant for investigating, Katherine had been raised in this bustling city rather than in their sprawling country estate. Truthfully, she was so much like her father that if she ever found herself outside of the city, she might perish for lack of work to do. “I haven’t been able to spot Lord Westing’s livery thus far.”

Wrinkling her nose, Pru cut off the explanation. “Not that! I’m sure Harriet will point it out. I was asking your opinion about the gift.”

Katherine bit the inside of her cheek. Her excellent memory only applied when she was actually paying attention to the conversation. “The gift?”

Pru heaved a sigh. “The gift for the housekeeper at Castle Annandale!”

“You’re bringing her a gift?”

Pru glared at a passing food cart and the proprietor, who loudly hawked his penny pies. The delicious smell of roast meat met Katherine’s nose, and she nearly made a detour to purchase some. However, in so doing, she would have to cross Harriet, who hovered at that elbow. What if she took offense? Hopefully, she couldn’t hear Katherine’s gurgling stomach.

“Why are you bringing a gift to the staff?”

Harriet coughed into her fist.

Turning, Katherine held up her hands, palm outward in surrender. “I didn’t mean offense…”

Pru answered overtop, “Mrs. MacDonnell has been the housekeeper there since my Annandale was small. The same with most of the servants. I want them to like me. You know they hold a grudge against Englishwomen…”

Harriet coughed into her fist louder.

Torn between her two friends, Katherine answered absently, “As do most Englishmen about Scotsmen.”

This time, Pru’s sigh was softer. “I know people say he’s uncivilized, but I simply don’t see it. He is… unconventional. But then again, so am I. I’m not certain a conventional man would have me, or I would want him if he did…”

Katherine paused squarely in front of the vendor and turned to Harriet, paying attention to Pru with only half an ear. “Forgive me, I truly didn’t mean any offense. Let me make it up to you. Would you like a penny pie?”

Harriet craned her neck to peer over Katherine’s shoulder, then she narrowed her eyes. “I have a roast planned for this evening. It will spoil your appetite.”

Katherine hoped it would.

“Katherine, are you listening to me?”

Pulled in two directions, Katherine battled a scream. She held up both her hands, silencing her friends as she reclaimed a moment of peace.

Harriet lifted her hand and pointed. “I wasn’t coughing because I took offense. I was coughing because I saw the livery. I was trying to be subtler than this.”

“You did?” Katherine followed the line of her finger until she spotted the brown-and-red-attired footman strolling next to a maid. The maid held her arm close to her stomach, a list clutched in her other fist. The footman carried a tottering pile of boxes and sacks.

“We have to catch them before they slip away.”

Harriet caught hold of her sleeve as she bustled forward. “Don’t act too eager, or they’ll get suspicious. In fact, I think it would be best if I were to talk to one of them alone. Perhaps they will tell me something they would not tell you.”

Pru gave the pair a considering glance. “Katherine and I will question the young woman, then. Can you handle the footman?”

Harriet laughed. “Give me a moment to separate them.”

Katherine nodded, prepared to do just that, when a shrill voice pierced the air.

“Lady Katherine, is that you?”

In her haste to reach the maid and footman, she’d crossed into the mouth of an alley. The long, narrow stretch of