A Murder at Rosamund's Gate Read Online Free PDF

John’s playful squabbling, Lucy skimmed the last paragraph of the broadside. Here, J.L. delivered his judgment on the criminal and offered his readers a customary warning.
    On a whim, Lucy climbed upon the bench, mimicking Master Aubrey’s expression. “‘R must be apprehended. He must be brought to justice.’” With a great flourish of her hands, she read the final words. “‘He must be hanged— ere he strike again !’” Stepping down to mock applause, she caught sight of Bessie’s expression.
    Bessie’s rosy cheeks had completely drained of color. “Make fun, will you?” Bessie asked. “Poor, poor Jane. She was one of us.”
    *   *   *
    Lucy could tell that Jane’s murder continued to weigh heavily on Bessie’s thoughts. Throughout the next day, every time she saw Bessie pull the broadside out and look at it, she felt her friend’s rebuke sting her heart. When she tried to express her sorrow, Bessie had just shaken her head. “Don’t you understand, Lucy? Jane Hardewick had her whole life in front of her, and now it’s gone. And no one cares, because they think she deserved it.”
    “I didn’t think she deserved it—” Lucy began, but Bessie cut her off.
    “There’s Evensong,” Bessie said, hearing St. Peter’s bells chime. “Time to ready supper. The Embrys have been invited to dine.”
    Already out of sorts because of her tiff with Bessie, Lucy felt her mood sink even lower knowing the Embrys would be joining the family for supper. When Lord Embry and his friends had visited before, they’d spent most of the evening drinking the magistrate’s finest madeira, with no care to depleting his stores. She’d also spent most of the evening fending off their roving eyes and hands in the corridors; when out of sight of the Hargraves, they’d try to catch her unaware.
    Their noble status notwithstanding, Lucy wondered what the magistrate saw in the Embrys. Lord Embry did not seem clever or interesting, and indeed often said things that she could see made the magistrate flinch. To her surprise, Mistress Hargrave asked her to bring out the best pewter goblets and plates and the real silver emblazoned with the family’s mark.
    She understood later, though, when she overheard a whispered conversation between the mistress and Sarah. “Lord Embry is bringing his wife and daughter,” the mistress said. “Your father is hoping that Adam will get on with Lady Judith.” She pressed her hand to her forehead, sounding ever so slightly puzzled. “I suppose since her father is so important in the House of Lords.”
    Ah, that’s it, Lucy thought. They are hoping a match with the Embrys’ daughter will help advance Adam’s career. Such arrangements were customary among the gentry, of course, but she could not help but curl her lip for a man who would make a match for such reasons.
    Although nervous of grasping fingers, Lucy quickly realized that Lord Embry was all courtesy and good manners before his wife and daughter. As she filled goblets and plates, Lucy studied the Embrys under her lashes.
    Lady Embry was crisp and polite, sitting straight-backed in her chair. Judith was lovely, her blond hair pulled on top of her head, revealing fine, if icy, features. Her teeth were even but overlarge, Lucy thought, somewhat crossly. She did not like how mother and daughter looked about in a calculating way. When they thought no one was watching, they seemed to be appraising the magistrate’s furniture, the flagons on the table, the tiny silver spoons. Throughout supper, Sarah twisted the linen in her lap, obviously disconcerted by the elegance of the Embrys, and the mistress kept a distant smile on her face, inclining her head courteously to Lady Embry. Lucas chatted amiably enough with Judith while Adam spoke with his father and Lord Embry.
    When the company moved to the drawing room, Sarah tried to engage Judith, but Judith seemed more interested in talking brightly to Adam. “This is lovely wine,”