Death in Hellfire Read Online Free PDF

honest of you to tell me that,” he answered as a footman came in carrying a tray.
    “I know, but I thought it best. I think any relationship should start off with the truth. The lies can come later.”
    John laughed aloud, at the same time pouring her a glass of rhenish. “Here, Miss da Costa, try this.”
    “Thank you, Mr Rawlings. I will.”
    She drank deeply and John noticed the way she supped, so that her generous mouth was bedewed with tiny droplets of wine. He knew then that providing she did not reveal anything terrible about her past, he would employ her. Trusting both his gut and his instinct, he found her refreshing and pleasant and felt already that she would be a good influence on Rose.
    “So what happened next?” he asked.
    “My mother and I got lodgings in London, in Clare Street behind the Strand to be exact. She worked in a dressmaker’s and I took employment with a milliner. But then she got ill and I left my work to look after her. But, alas, she died last month and I knew that I must find some other occupation - preferably one which demanded I lived in - to make ends meet. So here I am, Mr Rawlings. I can provide references from Madam Violet, the milliner, and also from my mother’s physician if they would suit.”
    “Yes,” said the Apothecary, attempting to act like an adult, “I should very much like to see them.”
    Miss da Costa produced two documents from her reticule and finished her wine while John perused them. He could see out of the corner of his eye that she was regarding him while he did so. He looked up.
    “Yes, they seem satisfactory. Tell me, madam, what you will teach my daughter?”
    “How to be a good woman,” she answered.
    John stared at her, quite dumbstruck, never having heard anything like it in his life. “And what of the more conventional things?” he heard himself ask.
    Octavia laughed. “I shall teach everything of everyday life as well, until she is old enough to go to school. You do intend to send her to school, I take it?”
    “Yes, I certainly do.”
    “Well then, sir, I shall leave you to think things over. Perhaps you would be good enough to send round to my lodgings with your reply, that is when you have interviewed the other candidates.”
    “There are no other candidates at the moment,” John answered.
    “I see,” said Octavia, and pulled a grave face.
    “But I am sure that there will be.”
    “Indeed yes.”
    “So in the meantime would you like another glass of wine?”
    “Yes, I would relish one,” the girl answered, and smiled her warm-mouthed smile.

Chapter Four

    A t breakfast the following morning, John told both Rose and Sir Gabriel about the lively Miss da Costa and how suitable he thought she would be.
    “But why do I need a governess, Papa?” asked his daughter. “I am perfectly happy with you and Grandfather.”
    “Yes, but we cannot always be here to take care of you, sweetheart. Besides, you lack feminine company. It is time you had a woman friend.”
    “But supposing I don’t like her.”
    Sir Gabriel interrupted. “I would suggest, my dears, that Rose be the person to make the decision. Why not call Miss da Costa to join us this afternoon and see how she gets on. Surely that would be the sensible way out.”
    “You’re right as usual, Papa,” said John. “Though convention decrees that the decision is mine, I will let Rose make the choice.”
    “Thank you, Father,” she said, and rising from her place at the table planted a moist kiss on his cheek.
    Breakfast done, John made his way to his shop but not before he had looked through his correspondence which the postboy brought early to Nassau Street. There were several replies to his advertisement which the Apothecary put on one side against the fact that Rose might take a dislike to Miss da Costa. Not that he could imagine such a thing. Wondering what his daughter would make of the situation, he entered his premises in Shug Lane.
    “Good day, Mr Rawlings,” said