Read Online The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Colleen Coble
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anyone who I am.”
Goldia rubbed her forehead. “I don’t see how you can fool anyone for long, Miss Olivia. Someone is bound to figure it out.”
Olivia bit her lip. “I fear the news getting out after that man tried to drown me.”
“Hire a bodyguard,” the maid suggested.
Olivia shook her head. “It’s more than the danger. I am quite determined to find out who killed Eleanor.”
“Mr. Harrison would help you,” Goldia said. “He cared about her.”
“I suspect he had something to do with her death,” Olivia said, her voice hardening. “He is the last person I would ask for help.”
“What can I do, miss?”
Olivia stared at her maid. Goldia had been a stalwart champion and constant companion for three years. “Some friends of Eleanor’s told me she received a letter from our father that distressed her. I need to find that correspondence. It must be here in this house.”
Goldia put her hand to her mouth. “That’s impossible, Miss Olivia. Mr. Stewart is dead.”
“I know it seems unlikely, but I believe the woman who told me about it. Perhaps it was sent before Father’s death and was delayed somehow. You must help me find it.”
Harrison knocked on the door of the mansion with a doll for Jennie in his hand. His eyes burned from the late-night work the past two days. The doorman showed him to the parlor, where he found Lady Devonworth on the sofa. The deep garnet in her dress made her dark eyes look even more magnificent. She was a most annoying woman, but he couldn’t deny she was one of the most beautiful ones he’d ever seen.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Bennett,” she said.
“Lady Devonworth.” He brushed his lips across the back of the hand she extended to him.
“You look a bit tired, sir. Are you well?”
“Quite well. I’ve been working late.”
She motioned to the space beside her. “Please join me for tea and dessert. The cook here is very talented. The cranberry trifles are delightful.”
He sat gingerly on the edge of the sofa. The delicate perfume she wore wafted to his nose. He would never fit in with her kind of high society. Why did his father even wish it? Harrison would much rather be soaring on the wind.
“Where are Katie and Will? I brought a new doll for Jennie.” He showed it to Olivia.
She took the bisque doll and traced the cheeks and nose. “Is this a Kestner doll?”
“It is. Don’t you think she looks like Jennie?” The eyes and tiny teeth had caught his attention the moment he walked past its department-store shelf.
“She does, yes. Jennie will be thrilled.” She handed it back to him. “Katie took her to buy some shoes. Will is meeting with someone from the Bureau of Lighthouses. I don’t expect either of them home for several hours.”
He took a treat when she offered the plate. The cranberry trifle flooded his tongue with flavor as he searched for some kind of light conversation. He was used to talking with men where the topics ranged from politics to the approaching comet.
“Are you settling into the house?” he asked, desperate to break the silence.
“Oh yes. It’s quite lovely. Not exactly my taste,” she said, glancing around the parlor. “I’d love to get rid of the velvet and replace it with damask or silk. It’s a little heavy and stiff. But redecorating is hardly worth the cost when so many people are out of work and struggling to put food on the table.”
He raised his brows but said nothing.
“You look surprised, Mr. Bennett. I do have thoughts in my head beyond fashion and parties. For example, I’ve been watching the comet’s approach. Do you think we shall all die if the earth passes through the tail? There was a peddler here yesterday trying to sell us comet pills. The silly housekeeper actually bought some.”
“So you doubt our danger?” Harrison asked.
“Don’t you?” Her full lips tilted in a smile. “I see nothing in the Bible to indicate the earth’s demise will be from poisonous gas.”
She
Goldia rubbed her forehead. “I don’t see how you can fool anyone for long, Miss Olivia. Someone is bound to figure it out.”
Olivia bit her lip. “I fear the news getting out after that man tried to drown me.”
“Hire a bodyguard,” the maid suggested.
Olivia shook her head. “It’s more than the danger. I am quite determined to find out who killed Eleanor.”
“Mr. Harrison would help you,” Goldia said. “He cared about her.”
“I suspect he had something to do with her death,” Olivia said, her voice hardening. “He is the last person I would ask for help.”
“What can I do, miss?”
Olivia stared at her maid. Goldia had been a stalwart champion and constant companion for three years. “Some friends of Eleanor’s told me she received a letter from our father that distressed her. I need to find that correspondence. It must be here in this house.”
Goldia put her hand to her mouth. “That’s impossible, Miss Olivia. Mr. Stewart is dead.”
“I know it seems unlikely, but I believe the woman who told me about it. Perhaps it was sent before Father’s death and was delayed somehow. You must help me find it.”
Harrison knocked on the door of the mansion with a doll for Jennie in his hand. His eyes burned from the late-night work the past two days. The doorman showed him to the parlor, where he found Lady Devonworth on the sofa. The deep garnet in her dress made her dark eyes look even more magnificent. She was a most annoying woman, but he couldn’t deny she was one of the most beautiful ones he’d ever seen.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Bennett,” she said.
“Lady Devonworth.” He brushed his lips across the back of the hand she extended to him.
“You look a bit tired, sir. Are you well?”
“Quite well. I’ve been working late.”
She motioned to the space beside her. “Please join me for tea and dessert. The cook here is very talented. The cranberry trifles are delightful.”
He sat gingerly on the edge of the sofa. The delicate perfume she wore wafted to his nose. He would never fit in with her kind of high society. Why did his father even wish it? Harrison would much rather be soaring on the wind.
“Where are Katie and Will? I brought a new doll for Jennie.” He showed it to Olivia.
She took the bisque doll and traced the cheeks and nose. “Is this a Kestner doll?”
“It is. Don’t you think she looks like Jennie?” The eyes and tiny teeth had caught his attention the moment he walked past its department-store shelf.
“She does, yes. Jennie will be thrilled.” She handed it back to him. “Katie took her to buy some shoes. Will is meeting with someone from the Bureau of Lighthouses. I don’t expect either of them home for several hours.”
He took a treat when she offered the plate. The cranberry trifle flooded his tongue with flavor as he searched for some kind of light conversation. He was used to talking with men where the topics ranged from politics to the approaching comet.
“Are you settling into the house?” he asked, desperate to break the silence.
“Oh yes. It’s quite lovely. Not exactly my taste,” she said, glancing around the parlor. “I’d love to get rid of the velvet and replace it with damask or silk. It’s a little heavy and stiff. But redecorating is hardly worth the cost when so many people are out of work and struggling to put food on the table.”
He raised his brows but said nothing.
“You look surprised, Mr. Bennett. I do have thoughts in my head beyond fashion and parties. For example, I’ve been watching the comet’s approach. Do you think we shall all die if the earth passes through the tail? There was a peddler here yesterday trying to sell us comet pills. The silly housekeeper actually bought some.”
“So you doubt our danger?” Harrison asked.
“Don’t you?” Her full lips tilted in a smile. “I see nothing in the Bible to indicate the earth’s demise will be from poisonous gas.”
She
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