Read Online Death in Salem by Eleanor Kuhns - Free Book Online

am.”
    â€œStill, I’ll need to question him. And I must speak to this Georgianne.” Rees mopped his bowl clean with a heel of bread and continued. “Tell me something of the children,” he said. He had begun to form his own opinions but Xenobia knew them far better and was, he already knew, a perceptive woman.
    â€œWell, you’ve met three of the four and have no doubt made your own judgments.”
    â€œHmmm.” Rees recognized her reluctance to speak about her owners. “I noticed friction between Peggy and her father at the averil. Almost a quarrel. What was it about?”
    A grimace passed across Xenobia’s face too rapidly for Rees to interpret, although his first impression was that she was frightened. But she dismissed his question with a chuckle. “You must understand, Mr. Rees. Peggy worked as her father’s secretary. Not a feminine thing to do, not at all. When William came home, Mr. Boothe began turning over all those responsibilities to his son. Peggy is angry.” Xenobia shook her head. “She doesn’t want to behave as a young lady should.”
    Rees nodded. No wonder there was friction between Peggy and her brother. “And William will inherit, of course, as the older son. Is he anxious to acquire his father’s property?” Rees asked. Xenobia frowned, needled out of her stoic calm.
    â€œNone of those children would ever hurt their father,” she said angrily. “He was a good man. He gave them everything they wanted. Why Matthew…” she stopped abruptly, biting her lip.
    â€œAnd what about Matthew?” Rees asked. “He’s the only one of Mr. Boothe’s children I haven’t met.” When Xenobia did not speak, Rees continued. “I suppose he’s spoiled. The youngest child for several years, Matthew was no doubt the apple of both parents’ eyes. Peggy’s arrival must have put his nose out of joint.”
    Xenobia looked at Rees, her gaze direct. “Yes, you’re right. To this day he treats her as though she were a poor country cousin, little better than a servant. He’s accustomed to a life of idleness. And now that he’s involved in amateur theatricals…” She stopped abruptly. Rees had also heard the disapproval in her voice.
    â€œThe younger son, spoiled and jealous; Matthew is the wastrel of the family.” He made it a statement, and as Xenobia did not protest, he assumed it was true. “So how did Peggy acquire the position as her father’s secretary? Shouldn’t that responsibility have been placed in Matthew’s hands? Why was he permitted to avoid working?”
    â€œSince Miss Anstiss was too ill to pay attention to Peggy, she turned quite naturally to her father. Matthew never showed any interest in his father’s business, while Peggy was constantly at her father’s heels. Jacob’s little shadow. She ran errands for him and gradually took over his correspondence. Mr. Boothe often said Peggy’s brain was wasted on a female.”
    â€œI’d expect Matthew to protest,” Rees said. Xenobia shook her head.
    â€œI told you, he has no interest in business. None. Although he envied the bond between Peggy and their father, Matthew never wanted to work in the counting house. Or go to sea either, for that matter. Too busy spending his time drinking and gambling. And once he went to Harvard and wasn’t home, no one even considered involving him.”
    â€œBut he’s home now,” Rees said. He could not imagine his own father allowing such irresponsibility.
    â€œOnly until the fall. Besides, now he’s too busy acting in plays with his cousin.” Her tone put acting somewhere next to consorting with the Devil. She stopped abruptly, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. “My unruly tongue,” she mumbled.
    â€œNo fear,” Rees assured her, rising to his feet. “I promise, I won’t