The Perfect Poison Read Online Free PDF

her.
    “Please sit down, Mr. Jones.”
    She was defining their relationship quite clearly, he realized, amused; making it obvious that she perceived herself to be the one in command and that she intended to retain the upper hand in their association. He found the subtle, unspoken challenge as stimulating as her aura.
    He lowered himself into the chair she indicated. “In your note you mentioned that the matter was urgent.”
    “It is.” She clasped her hands very tightly together on top of the blotter and fixed him with a very steady look. “Have you, by any chance, heard of the recent death of Lord Fairburn?”
    “Saw something about it in the morning papers. Suicide, I believe.”
    “It may have been. That is still to be determined. The family, or at least one member of the family, Fairburn’s son, has asked Scotland Yard to investigate.”
    “I had not heard that,” he said.
    “For obvious reasons, the family would like the inquiry to remain quiet.”
    “How did you come to learn of it?”
    “The detective who is conducting the investigation asked me to give my opinion. I have consulted for Mr. Spellar on a number of occasions.”
    “I know Spellar. He is a member of the Arcane Society.”
    “Indeed.” She gave him a defiant little smile. “As am I, Mr. Jones.”
    “I am aware of that. No one outside the Society would likely be aware that the Jones agency even exists, let alone know how to contact me.”
    She flushed. “Yes, of course. Forgive me. I fear that I am occasionally inclined to be somewhat defensive.” She cleared her throat. “My family has something of a reputation. I’m sure you’re aware of the gossip.”
    “I have heard a few rumors,” he said neutrally.
    “I do not doubt that.” Her fingers tightened visibly until her hands appeared clenched, not merely clasped together. “Will those rumors affect your decision concerning whether or not to accept my case?”
    “If they did, I wouldn’t be here. I should think that much would be obvious, Miss Bromley. As I’m sure you’re aware, the Arcane Society does not always conform to the same rules that govern the social world.” He paused a beat. “And neither do I.”
    “I see.”
    “I suspect you have heard gossip about me, as well.”
    “Yes, I have, Mr. Jones,” she agreed quietly. “It is one of the reasons I asked you to come here today. Among other things, it is said that you are greatly intrigued by mysteries.”
    “To a fault, I’m told. But in my own defense I will say that I am only intrigued by very interesting mysteries.”
    “Yes, well, I’m not sure my situation will qualify as interesting to you but I assure you I find it extremely worrisome.”
    “Why don’t you tell me a little more about your mystery?”
    “Yes, of course.” She straightened and squared her elegant shoulders. “As you may know, I possess a certain amount of botanical talent. Among other things, I can detect poison. If that poison is based on herbs or plants, I can usually determine the precise nature of the ingredients in the toxic substance.”
    “You deduced that Lord Fairburn was poisoned?”
    She gave him a wry smile. “You do indeed jump straight to the appropriate conclusion, I see. Yes, he most certainly drank some very lethal concoction. The only question now is whether it was a case of suicide or murder. To be honest, I think it highly unlikely that Inspector Spellar will be able to prove the latter.”
    “It is notoriously difficult to prove a case of murder by poison even when there is strong evidence, as in the case of arsenic or cyanide. It is too easy to convince a jury that it was an accident or that the victim took his own life.”
    “Yes, I know. But if there are extenuating circumstances—” She stopped abruptly.
    “Why are you so concerned with the outcome of this case, Miss Bromley? Surely it is Spellar’s responsibility to decide if it was murder, not yours.”
    Lucinda drew a deep breath and visibly