Read Online Charlotte Louise Dolan by Three Lords for Lady Anne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Three Lords for Lady Anne
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He’s been waiting since ten o’clock.”
After his long hours of intense discussion on weighty political issues, Bronson was not in the mood to consider the relatively trivial problems connected with his guardianship. “Ask him if he can return tomorrow—no, wait, I shall see him tonight. It must be important for him to have waited this long.”
Bronson entered the anteroom and saw that his valet had been right in his assumption. “Mr. Black, what can I do for you?”
“It’s more like what I have to report to you. Came across something else smokey and thought it might tie in with your interests.”
Pouring out two glasses of brandy, Bronson offered one to the other man. “Proceed.”
“I found out this evening that Trussell hired a new governess for those two wards of yours.”
“And? There is nothing strange about that. In general, I leave the hiring of the servants up to him since I am so frequently out of the country.”
“Well, it happens that this time, contrary to what is normal, he only interviewed one candidate for the post.”
“One candidate? I see nothing suspicious in that. Perhaps he was satisfied with her credentials and saw no need to waste his time with further interviews?”
“Aye, p’rhaps. Or p’rhaps he was intending to install an accomplice in Wylington Manor. Right handy that would be.”
“What makes you think there is anything ... smokey, I believe you termed it, about this person?”
“Not so sure she’s respectable. Got a face what would get her on the boards at Drury Lane just for the asking. And a figure that would get her off again just as quick as the gen’lemen got a glimpse of her. So why’d a woman like that want to earn twenty pounds a year trying to cram a little education into some brat’s head?”
It appeared to Bronson that her career choice tended to prove her respectability, rather than cast doubt on it. “I assume you have more, or you would not be troubling me at this hour of the morning?”
“Course I’ve got more. I discovered Trussell sold his lease on that little house in Mayfair to some banker, who took possession of it lock, stock, and barrel. Included in the furnishings was the red-haired bird of paradise. And Trussell has packed up his things and skipped out without paying his landlord a shilling on account.”
“From what you say, it would be just as logical to assume that he is running off to Gretna Green with a rich heiress, in which case I can only wish him the best of luck.”
“On the contrary, he caught the evening stage and appears to be heading for Devon, where that so-called governess is already installed, ready to hand, if you get my meaning?”
“This is all rather far-fetched. You are implying that Trussell has established his new mistress in Wylington Manor and is passing her off as a governess? On the face of it, it is too preposterous to believe.” The Bow Street runner continued to stare at him stoically, so Bronson decided he would have to play out the game. “Very well, what is this woman’s name, and what do you know of her background?”
Satisfied that he was being taken seriously, the runner pulled out his occurrence book and made a great show of flipping through the pages. “I been checking into things, you understand, just on the chance that you’d still be interested in having a little investigating done. The woman’s name is—” he scanned another page, then seemed to find what he was looking for, “—Anne Hemsworth, and her references would appear to be impeccable.”
“Then I fail to see what grounds you have for further suspicions.”
“You’re a fine gentleman, m’lord, but I’ve been in this business since before you cut your eyeteeth. I said her references would appear to be impeccable because I learned long ago that anything what can be written and signed can be forged. Why I could tell you tales ...”
Ceasing to listen closely to whatever story the runner felt called upon to
After his long hours of intense discussion on weighty political issues, Bronson was not in the mood to consider the relatively trivial problems connected with his guardianship. “Ask him if he can return tomorrow—no, wait, I shall see him tonight. It must be important for him to have waited this long.”
Bronson entered the anteroom and saw that his valet had been right in his assumption. “Mr. Black, what can I do for you?”
“It’s more like what I have to report to you. Came across something else smokey and thought it might tie in with your interests.”
Pouring out two glasses of brandy, Bronson offered one to the other man. “Proceed.”
“I found out this evening that Trussell hired a new governess for those two wards of yours.”
“And? There is nothing strange about that. In general, I leave the hiring of the servants up to him since I am so frequently out of the country.”
“Well, it happens that this time, contrary to what is normal, he only interviewed one candidate for the post.”
“One candidate? I see nothing suspicious in that. Perhaps he was satisfied with her credentials and saw no need to waste his time with further interviews?”
“Aye, p’rhaps. Or p’rhaps he was intending to install an accomplice in Wylington Manor. Right handy that would be.”
“What makes you think there is anything ... smokey, I believe you termed it, about this person?”
“Not so sure she’s respectable. Got a face what would get her on the boards at Drury Lane just for the asking. And a figure that would get her off again just as quick as the gen’lemen got a glimpse of her. So why’d a woman like that want to earn twenty pounds a year trying to cram a little education into some brat’s head?”
It appeared to Bronson that her career choice tended to prove her respectability, rather than cast doubt on it. “I assume you have more, or you would not be troubling me at this hour of the morning?”
“Course I’ve got more. I discovered Trussell sold his lease on that little house in Mayfair to some banker, who took possession of it lock, stock, and barrel. Included in the furnishings was the red-haired bird of paradise. And Trussell has packed up his things and skipped out without paying his landlord a shilling on account.”
“From what you say, it would be just as logical to assume that he is running off to Gretna Green with a rich heiress, in which case I can only wish him the best of luck.”
“On the contrary, he caught the evening stage and appears to be heading for Devon, where that so-called governess is already installed, ready to hand, if you get my meaning?”
“This is all rather far-fetched. You are implying that Trussell has established his new mistress in Wylington Manor and is passing her off as a governess? On the face of it, it is too preposterous to believe.” The Bow Street runner continued to stare at him stoically, so Bronson decided he would have to play out the game. “Very well, what is this woman’s name, and what do you know of her background?”
Satisfied that he was being taken seriously, the runner pulled out his occurrence book and made a great show of flipping through the pages. “I been checking into things, you understand, just on the chance that you’d still be interested in having a little investigating done. The woman’s name is—” he scanned another page, then seemed to find what he was looking for, “—Anne Hemsworth, and her references would appear to be impeccable.”
“Then I fail to see what grounds you have for further suspicions.”
“You’re a fine gentleman, m’lord, but I’ve been in this business since before you cut your eyeteeth. I said her references would appear to be impeccable because I learned long ago that anything what can be written and signed can be forged. Why I could tell you tales ...”
Ceasing to listen closely to whatever story the runner felt called upon to
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