Read Online Murder's Sad Tale by Joan Smith - Free Book Online Page A

she’s having,” Corinne replied. “Luten is trying to twist Grafton’s arm to vote for some plot he’s hatching in the House, and says we must go.”
    “We’ll just drop in for an hour,” Luten said.
    Reginald decided to remain behind when Luten left. He didn’t like to ask in front of him if Byron had been invited to this little rout party, but as soon the front door closed, he said in an offhand manner, “Who else is attending this soiree?”
    “I don’t know, Reg,” she said. “Luten thinks the Melbournes will be there. She might have invited Byron.”
    “That’s what he’s trying to find out,” Coffen said. “Cheer up, Reg. There might be an invite for you in the mail.”
    “Me? I scarcely know the lady, and wasn’t particularly taken with her,” Reg said with a dismissing bat of his hand.
    “You’ve met her then?” Coffen said.
    “At that do at Melbourne’s place.” To change the subject, he said, “Coffen is waiting for you to quiz Mrs. Ballard about the hat, Corinne.”
    Coffen said. “I’m waiting to ask her if she happened to have a plaster about the house as well. I cut my hand last night, and we don’t have any at home.”
    Reg rolled his eyes. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me, I wonder.”
    “Might have happened to anyone,” Coffen pointed out. “Broken glass, dark — a recipe for cutting yourself.”
    “I was referring to the lack of basic supplies at your house, actually. What are you doing tonight, Coffen?”
    “Depends on what we find out about the hat, whether Russell had one when he was found. If he didn’t, I’ll find out if young Mickey was holding out on me and give him a piece of my mind. I want to find out if any of the other whisters were sweet on Miss Fenwick as well, and hear what Mrs. Ballard has to say. I’ll be working on different angles. Have you written to Keswick yet?”
    “Of course I have,” Prance replied, offended. “Why don’t you go have a word with Mrs. Ballard now, Corinne? Ask her about other jealous men in her whist club, and ask what she knows about a Miss Barker. I got the notion from Fenwick that she had her hopes pinned to Russell before Fenwick snatched him up.”
    “Now that’s interesting,” Coffen said. “Cooper let that name slip as well, as one of the ladies hot after Russell. Get her address, Corrie.”
    “I’ll have Black call Mrs. Ballard,” Corinne said, and rang for him.
    “How are you coming along with that picture of Russell, Reg?” Coffen asked.
    “I’ve finished it and returned the original to Miss Fenwick. I was up till two this morning working at it. It turned out rather well, I think.”
    “You might have told us,” Coffen scolded. “Let’s see it.”
    “I’ll bring it this evening. I didn’t think to bring it with me.”
    Coffen just shook his head at such an oversight. When Black entered, he took one look at Coffen’s cut hand, spoke in dire terms of infection, gangrene and amputation if it weren’t properly looked after, and ushered him to the kitchen to have it washed and properly bandaged. Corinne, knowing Mrs. Ballard’s dislike of an audience, spoke to her while he was gone.
    “I’ve never seen the hat,” Mrs. Ballard said firmly. “I can’t believe it belonged to Russell. He was a natty dresser.” She stated firmly that the other gentlemen in the group with the exception of Cooper were all clerics, mostly retired, and not the sort to be at all interested in Miss Fenwick. And the hat was not Cooper’s either. She was sure of that. When asked about Miss Barker, she waffled.
    “Miss Barker never actually said anything about being fond of Russell, although she certainly laughed louder than anyone else at any of his little jokes. I believe she did once have tea with him, and wouldn’t have said no if he’d asked her out of an evening. It’s true she took to wearing her pearl necklace and curling her hair after he joined our group, but I personally don’t believe she began