Murder In Maidstone by Marilyn Clay

Author:Marilyn Clay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency murder mystery series, Female sleuth historical mysteries suspense thriller, Clean historical mysteries for teens, Historical mystery thriller suspense, British Cozy Mysteries, Historical thriller suspense, Traditional British detective series
Publisher: The Regency Plume Press
Published: 2019-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 7 September 1821

That afternoon, Regina informed me that four gentlemen had arrived mere moments before luncheon was served. The mid-day meal was now being served fashionably late which was more in keeping with the habits of the aristocratic society that Lady Wentworth sought to emulate. Regina identified the newly arrived guests as Mr. Addison, Mr. Beardon and Sir Anthony Hartley, who had brought along his good friend Lord Sidney Summerville, a gentleman Regina gleefully announced was . . . “the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes upon!”

Smiling brightly, Regina flung herself onto the rickety rattan chair across from where I sat upon the tattered wicker settee; Tilda seated a bit apart from me on the opposite end of it. A grin began to play at my young maid’s lips as she listened raptly to Regina describe the handsome gentleman who had arrived at Maidstone Manor an hour or so earlier.

“Mother is beside herself with glee over the fact that there are now two titled gentlemen present, a baronet and a viscount.”

“Ah. So, Lord Summerville is a viscount, is he?”

“He is far more than that, Juliette. Believe me, the man is a true nonesuch. Even Frances perked up when she caught sight of him in the drawing room before we all went through to luncheon.”

“Well.” I did not look up from my work. “It appears the number of gentlemen gathered for the house party now more closely aligns with the number of ladies present for the festivities.” I handed off a broken plate to Tilda, who rose to place it with a pile of other shards of a similar size, whilst across from us Regina continued on in a dreamy tone regaling the attributes of the newly arrived Lord Summerville.

“He is quite tall and possesses a very muscular physique. I daresay there is no buckram padding filling the shoulders of his coat! He has dark hair that waves and curls a bit at the nape. His eyes are also brown, almost black, and a mere glance from those fine eyes is enough to set any feminine heart fluttering.” She reached to pat hers. “I can scarcely wait for you to make his acquaintance, Juliette. Believe me when I say that all thoughts of the gentleman you are keen upon will fly straight from your mind!”

“Oh, I doubt that, Regina.” I smiled as I continued to work.

She turned to address Tilda. “What do you think, Tilly? Is Miss Abbott’s gentleman caller as devilishly handsome as Lord Summerville?”

“Well, I ain’t yet seen yer’ Lord Summerville, miss,” Tilda replied. “But, he’d have to be something mighty special to rival Mr. Sher . . .”

“Tilda!” My head jerked up. “We agreed to not speak of my gentleman friend whilst we are here!”

“I don’t recall agreein’ to nothin’ of the sort, miss.”

“Well, we did,” I replied curtly. “And, you did. So, that means we shan’t. Will you hand me that broken pipkin, please.”

“I shall hand it to you on my way back to the drawing room.

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