Read Online The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason - Free Book Online Page B

and slip out onto the streets, blast the waltzes. Although . . . perhaps I should stay for at least one with Mr. Dancy. He was rather charming and funny.
    â€œMr. VanderBleeth is the son of an American businessman,” Mina informed us, obviously having overheard part of our conversation. “He was in the trolley ahead of us when we—er, I—came in tonight. There were a number of individuals discussing him in the ladies’ salon. All of the young women are batty-eyed and simpering over the chance to meet him. Apparently he is very rich—something about window glass in New York City—and quite handsome. I happen to find mustaches, especially ones as large and thick as his, unappealing. But apparently that is the style in America. One can blame the author Mark Twain for that mode of fashion.Or perhaps it was that General Custer, who met such an unpleasant fate on the American prairie.”
    â€œMr. VanderBleeth has claimed a dance from me,” Lurelia said, looking much too interested for a young woman who was engaged to be wed. Apparently, mustaches didn’t put her off.
    Mina gave me a meaningful look. “Indeed. Well, I’m certain he’s to be only one of many.”
    â€œWhere is your dance album, Mina—if I may call you that. May I? And I am Lurelia to you, if you please.”
    â€œOf course. And I never need to take a dance album, for dances with me are never in demand.” Her words were blithe and easy. I was certain she actually believed them. “Evaline, if I could have a word with you. Your Highness—er, Lurelia, if you will excuse us for just one moment?”
    I had no choice when Mina looked at me that way, even though it was rather rude to leave our charge standing by herself. But my partner cared little for social niceties. There was a table of food nearby. Perhaps Lurelia would find a distraction there.
    â€œWhat?” I hissed.
    â€œWhen I was in the ladies’ salon—I had to search everywhere for you, Evaline, it was quite a waste of time!—I overheard some of the young women talking about Mr. VanderBleeth. It seems he is here in London in search of a titled heiress . . . but I suspect a princess would be an even more attractivecoup. Especially for an American. We cannot let Lurelia out of our sights, particularly with Mr. VanderBleeth. If they were found in a compromising position, it would be scandalous—”
    â€œHistory repeating itself. I understand. My dance with him is after Lurelia’s. I shall distract him from the princess.”
Blast
. That meant I was going to need to stay longer than I planned.
    â€œExcellent. I am confident you will handle him with the same skill with which you handled Mr. Treadwell during the spiritglass case.” I turned to leave, but Mina grabbed my arm. “There are two more things. First, there was a murder at the museum yesterday. Grayling believes it’s related to the robbery of the letter.”
    â€œA murder? Who? Where?”
    Mina looked frustrated. “I didn’t have the opportunity to get the details from Grayling, but I shall interrogate him about it as soon as possible. It sounded as if it was one of the museum guards. I’ll offer my assistance with the investigation, of course.” I barely managed to stifle a snort, but my companion didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she barreled on. “But more importantly, at least for now, I found a trace of facial powder with a scant bit of gold dust near the dance albums.” Her eyes were bright and determined.
    â€œThe same powder you found on the paper from Pix?”
    â€œAlmost certainly. Though there wasn’t enough for me to tell whether it carried a vanilla scent, I am confident it isthe same. I will have to test the sample to be certain, but I am confident in my ability to visually identify twenty different types of powder. I wrote an entire treatise on the