Page 30 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
Before she could answer, the door opened and Thomas entered, pushing a tray with tea, small sandwiches, and pastries. He rolled it to Charlotte who thanked him with her ever-present gracious smile. Which disappeared as soon as the man turned to leave.
“Thomas, did you see anyone lurking about the house this morning while Mrs. Pennyworth was away from home?”
Thomas came to a halt and faced him. “No, sir. Since Mrs. Pennyworth gives us Sunday afternoons off, we are all generally busy getting things done before we leave. I asked the others when Bridget showed me the flowers, but no one heard anything.”
“Thank you.” Elliot turned toward Charlotte and accepted the tea and plate of apple tarts.
“To answer your question, yes, this Tuesday afternoon is my monthly book club meeting. I am expecting twelve people.”
He grinned as he swallowed a bit of pastry. “Hopefully, not the good vicar, Mr. Spencer?”
“Heavens, no.” She offered a genuine smile for the first time all morning. “Definitely, no.”
After departing her home, Elliot walked the few miles to his house, preferring the sunny fresh air to the crowded omnibus. He hoped it would help clear his head. The image of an edgy Charlotte kept intruding into his thoughts, tying his stomach into knots. She was definitely showing the strain of these disturbing events. It had taken all his control not to gather her into his arms and comfort her, tell her it would be all right. Sometimes she appeared so fragile, he felt as though she would shatter into pieces.
To maintain his sanity and the temptation she posed, he needed to solve this case quickly. At least having the man’s handwriting helped. If, indeed, it was the culprit who sent the flowers, and not an actual admirer.
Why did the thought of Charlotte having an actual admirer annoy him? Since he was not a stupid man, he knew exactly why it annoyed him, and that annoyed him even more.
* * *
As soon asElliot entered Charlotte’s drawing room the following Tuesday, he knew something else had happened. Her cheeks were flushed, her voice high pitched as she flitted from group to group. He recognized most of the guests, Mr. Talbot, Baron Von Braun, Miss Garvey, Mr. Conrad, Lord and Lady Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. Glenmoor.
And the good vicar, Mr. John Spencer.
Now he understood Charlotte’s disquiet. The vicar sat in the corner, holding a forgotten cup of tea and watching every move Charlotte made with intensity. Elliot strode across the room, nodding to those he knew, forging a direct path to the vicar. “Good afternoon, Mr. Spencer. How nice of you to honor Mrs. Pennyworth with your presence.”
Startled, the vicar looked up at him, his eyes narrowed and his poor attempt at a smile not quite making it. “Indeed. I thought to visit some of my congregants’ homes to see how I may assist them in their daily lives. However, until I arrived, I had no idea Mrs. Pennyworth has a book discussion each month. I am anxious to hear what books they are reading.” Apparently, the idiot hadn’t heard the sarcasm in Elliot’s voice.
He could well imagine the glee Mr. Spencer would experience when the book discussions began. He doubted there were any books of which the man approved, which would give him the chance to berate everyone in the room at once. Taking the opportunity to move his investigation forward, he sat in the comfortable chair next to the vicar. “There is something you may assist me with, vicar.”
The man’s eyes glowed with righteous fervor at the opportunity to bring judgment down on another sinner’s head. He placed his tea on the table in front of him and rubbed his hands together. Elliot got the distinct whiff of some sort of liquor from the good man’s breath. “I would be happy to help you in any way, Mr. Baker.”
Elliot pulled a small notepad and pencil from his pocket and handed them to the vicar. “You may assist me by noting a few of your favorite Bible passages.”
Spencer’s brows furrowed. “Oh, but there are so many, it is hard to choose. I find sin in so many places, that I have a long list of quotes to cover all the commandments and deadly sins.”
The man was serious. Elliot was sure his selection would have nothing to do with love and forgiveness, and everything to do with condemnation and the damnation of one’s soul. “Perhaps just one or two to begin with?”
Nodding his approval, the vicar bent to scribble on the pad. The next morning, Elliot would take the writing, along with the note left with the flowers, to Mr. Drovers at the Foreign Office. Elliot had sent around a message to request a meeting with the handwriting specialist and had been granted an appointment at ten on Wednesday.
While the vicar scribbled, he observed the other guests. His time spent with Drovers tomorrow would be better served if he had several specimens to offer him. He glanced at the vicar who had already filled one page and was flipping to begin another. Elliot placed his hand over the man’s. “That is plenty, sir. I am sure that will keep me busy for quite a while.”
The vicar reluctantly closed the notepad and handed it to Elliot. “Yes, that should give you a good start on the path to righteousness.”
“I am sure it will. Thank you.” He tucked the notepad and pencil into his jacket pocket and nodded as he rose and made his way through the guests to join Charlotte who was standing with Mr. Conrad, Miss Garvey, and the baron.
Now he only needed to figure out how to get Talbot and Von Braun to scribble in his pad, too. Three men who had come to his notice as possible suspects. His gaze roamed the room at the gathering. Everything seemed perfectly normal, with perfectly ordinary people visiting in anticipation of discussing books.
But one of them was dangerous. Which one?
