Shrouded In Thought (Gilded Age Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

earlier conversation with Delphine.
    “Yes, and knowing how little I care about other people’s opinions of mine, you can imagine how little I sympathize with Martin Allworthy’s sense of values.”
    “He’s like Caesar’s wife?”
    “Quite so. Above reproach and, therefore, far beneath my notice.”
    “The night watchman said Allworthy left the factory before I got there, so I never saw him. What does he look like?”
    “Well, he’s in his late forties, with blond hair and a goatee, though both are going gray so it’s hard to tell what color they are anymore. Blue eyes. He’s developing a bit of a paunch which seems to be de rigueur for a captain of industry these days. His temperament is relatively self-effacing.”
    “What about the wife?”
    “She’s a bit older. Probably around fifty. A tall woman of formidable weight and temperament. Her hair has already decided its color—steel gray.” Evangeline considered a moment. “On the whole, I rather like her.”
    “Really?” Freddie looked up from his notes. “She sounds like an absolute terror.”
    “But she stands for something.”
    Freddie stared at her blankly until she elaborated.
    “Euphemia knows who she is, and if it ever came down to a choice of doing what was right or what other people thought was appropriate, she would do what was right.”
    “And?” Freddie prompted.
    “And I’m sorry I can’t say the same for her husband.”
    Freddie pondered her comment as he watched her rise and walk to the writing desk at the opposite end of the parlor.
    “And then there’s this.” Returning to her chair, Evangeline held out a card for Freddie to read.
    “On May 12th, the honor of your presence is requested—”
    Evangeline cut him short. “It’s an invitation to a dinner party at their house in the city a few weeks from now. Would you like to escort me?”
    “Would I!” the young man exclaimed eagerly.
    “Yes, I thought you might.” Evangeline rang for Delphine to clear the tea things as she walked Freddie to the door. The one at the front of the house. The one that Delphine double-bolted immediately after his departure.

Chapter 3—A Respectable Trade
    Martin Allworthy glanced nervously at the clock on the breakfast room wall. 7:42 a.m. His coddled eggs and toast should have arrived at 7:41 precisely. He prided himself on punctuality. Euphemia had gone to Shore Cliff early that morning to oversee the construction of the country villa, but as soon as she returned, he most assuredly would speak to her about the kitchen staff. The servants had never shown him the proper respect. They never came to attention when he entered a room the way they did for Euphemia. And now, his breakfast delayed the minute she left the house. It was a deliberate attempt to flout his authority. Of that he was convinced. A deliberate attempt. He would certainly speak to her about it. At the first opportunity.
    Martin’s plans for retribution were interrupted when the butler, Garrison, entered at 7:43 AM carrying his breakfast tray. After glaring at the butler and looking significantly at the clock on the wall, Martin grudgingly took the napkin from the proffered tray and folded it precisely into a triangle before placing it on his lap. He then took the morning copy of the Gazette which Garrison handed him. He folded the paper in half and then again in quarters and began to read.
    His breakfast proceeded without incident until he reached page three. Martin abruptly stopped chewing his toast when he came to an article entitled “TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT NORTHSIDE FACTORY.” Yes, it had been a tragedy. How could something like this have happened—at his company of all places? He had worked night and day to build the reputation of the business, though Euphemia never gave him credit for even half of what he’d done. And now this! He anxiously scanned the two-column story, then breathed a sigh of relief. At least the coroner had found the cause of death to be accidental