The Opening Night Murder Read Online Free PDF

arranged seven years before. It would have meant living in Newcastle, but she would have been pleased to make the sacrifice of leaving London in exchange for a secure life in the care of her son.
    “No, I’m afraid.” Piers picked at the meat on his plate.
    “No references?”
    Here Piers perked a bit, he sat up straighter, and the roses of embarrassment on his cheeks faded some. “I’ve the name of a merchant here in London I’m to contact. And I’d rather be in London in any case, truth be told.” He returned his attention to his breakfast, but kept an eye on her reaction.
    Susanne’s attention sharpened, apprehensive, wondering whether Piers had declined an offer from Farthingworth in order to return home. She opened her mouth to chastise him for it, but thought better of berating her only son over something that couldn’t be undone. Instead she said, “Only one merchant?”
    Piers nodded. “He’s Farthingworth’s largest London client. He provides coal for all the great houses. Probably the crown as well, once the king is settled in.”
    “You’ll go to him today, I expect. Before the king’s return throws everything in London into confusion. Better to have any position at all than to seek one during the coming upheaval.”
    “Do you really think it will be all that bad?”
    It’s already bad, and will worsen.
Suzanne replied, “It can’t help but be troublesome. Even with Parliament telling the king what to do, there will still be changes made in trade relationships.” She remembered how things had shifted during the civil war, so that nothing could be depended on until it was clear Cromwell was in charge and would stay there. “Those whose familiesstayed loyal to the crown will now have advantage over those too close to Cromwell. If this fellow can’t take you on, you must seek an employer with few political ties or, even better, one with ties to the king.”
    Piers made a wry face, and a dry edge came into his voice. “Yes, that should be as easy as pie.” He took a bite of mutton, chewed a couple of times, then moved the meat to his cheek and said around it, “And if I lose my new position during this upheaval?”
    “Then you return to the search immediately and take whatever you can get.”
    “I hear a note of desperation, Mother.” He set his knife on his plate and sat back in his chair. “Is there anything wrong?”
    Suzanne bit her lip and also sat back to look at her son. Eighteen years old and as handsome as his father. Naïve about the world, but far too sharp where his mother was concerned. She’d never been able to hide anything from Piers, and only wished Daniel had been as attentive. She said, “William has left us.”
    That brought a snort, and Piers returned to his meal. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
    “Maybe so, except he’s taken his money with him. We’re on our own again.”
    Piers paused eating to gaze at his plate, then shrugged and resumed chewing. “We’ll manage.”
    “You mean we won’t starve. Yes, that will be a change from some days past. But I would rather do better than that in my old age.”
    “I’ll take care of you, Mother.” He glanced over at her. The look on his face broke her heart, he was so earnest and so brave. To her he was a little boy trying to be a man, but his ruddy complexion and bright blue eyes betrayed him for one tooyoung to make good that promise. And worse, for the thousandth time since his birth, he reminded her of his father.
    “I know you will. And with any luck I’ll find another income that will help buy more than just mutton and bread.”
    Piers nodded and returned to his meal once more. Suzanne addressed hers and thought hard about what to do.
    A knock came on the door, and both of them listened closely as Sheila answered it. But there were no words to hear beyond Sheila’s thanks for a delivery and the messenger’s muttered thanks for the farthing tip from the dish of small change kept on the stand beside the