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Cynthia E. Hurst Mysteries
Category:
Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Lilax Books
Type: Fiction
Pages: 214
Copyright: July 7, 2024
ISBN-13: 9798332490064
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
A romantic triangle takes a tragic turn in Victorian Oxford.
On a rainy April day, an old school friend of Theo's comes seeking help from the Milestone Agency. Simon Cordell has found himself accidentally involved in a romantic triangle, an awkward situation that turns to tragedy when one of the parties is found drowned in the Thames. Theo and Rose agree to try and clear Cordell from suspicion, but with flood waters threatening to engulf Oxford, the duo find that for once, they may be in over their heads.
Excerpt
Rose looked around for Theo. He wasn’t in the drawing room or the kitchen. She decided he must be upstairs, working in the spare bedroom they had grandly designated as his study, and started for the staircase.
“Begging your pardon, ma’am.”
It was Pickett, wearing the resigned expression that meant he disapproved of something they had become involved in. Rose glimpsed Cora hovering in the kitchen doorway, her expression grave. Something serious had happened.
“Yes, Pickett?”
“If you are wondering where Mr Stone is, he asked me to tell you he had to go out rather urgently.”
“Go out where, did he say?”
“To Osney, I believe.” His tone indicated he could not think of a single reason why Theo should want to go to such a place.
Now why did the name ring a distant bell in Rose’s memory? Osney was some ways from St Giles, actually an island on the outskirts of Oxford surrounded by the Thames and some smaller tributaries. A stone bridge connected it to the main road that ran into Oxford. Rose had never been there, but she had heard that there were some decent houses in its streets, along with smaller, more humble homes for mill workers. But why would Theo …
She suddenly remembered. Theo had asked Simon Cordell if he still lived in Osney. So that was where he must have gone.
“Has he gone to call on Mr Cordell, do you know?”
“In a manner of speaking, ma’am.”
Pickett still wore his disapproving expression and Rose’s patience began to wear thin.
“Pickett, what has happened? I need to know.”
It was clear that Pickett disagreed with this statement, but after all, she was the mistress of the house, and he was obliged to answer her honestly.
“A messenger came to the door about a quarter of an hour ago, ma’am, with a communication for Mr Stone. I don’t know exactly what it said, but Mr Stone immediately took his outer garments and hailed a cab, saying only for me to tell you when you returned that he had gone to Osney.”
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