The Secrets of Mia Danvers Read Online Free PDF Page A

before. He fingered the brown wool, then pocketed it. She’d been so very close to the killer and his victim.
    So close she’d been able to hear the girl’s cries. Alex couldn’t help but wonder if the killer had seen his witness hiding in the bushes? Though certainly if he had, he’d have killed Mia, too.
    Alex was no inspector, but he wasn’t feeling overwhelmingly confident in the abilities of the Metropolitan Police at the moment. Perhaps he would do a little investigative work on the murder and see what he could discover. The rest of his staff would know if Sally even had a beau who might possibly have killed her in a lovers’ quarrel.
    It struck him that Mia Danvers was not the perfect witness for such a crime, but she was the only one he had.
    ***
    The following evening, Alex sent for Miss Danvers. A footman had gone over to her cottage to retrieve her, but that had been more than a half of an hour ago. It should not be taking this long.
    Earlier that day he’d called a meeting with all of the staff of Danbridge to notify them of the incident. Then he’d spent a great deal of time visiting with those who’d known Sally personally and all had agreed that while she did have a fiancé, he would never have done anything to harm her. Everything they said confirmed his belief that the girl had not been killed in such a situation, but by a violent murderer instead. And he had questions to ask Miss Danvers regarding the details she remembered.
    He’d wanted to speak with her much earlier in the day, but he’d had to attend a soiree that evening, much to his chagrin. It all seemed foolish in light of the murder, but he’d made a previous commitment and, crime or not, he was a duke in search of a duchess. So the meeting with Miss Danvers had had to wait until he’d returned home. But now he was still waiting. He eyed his pocket watch once more, nearly forty minutes now. He exhaled slowly and watched the door to his study, waiting for it to open, for her presence to be announced. Nothing.
    Another fifteen minutes later and finally Hodges stepped inside. “Your Grace, Miss Danvers is here to see you.” He nodded, then led the girl inside the room. She entered with all the grace of a well-bred lady and one who could see perfectly.
    “That will be all, Hodges. Please have the tea warmed, then brought back. Miss Danvers will have to survive the stale tea cakes.”
    She wore another loose-fitting brown woolen dress, though this one was not missing a piece on its sleeve. His hand went to his pocket where that bit of fabric sat, though he’d changed pants earlier. He wasn’t certain why he’d continued to carry it around. Perhaps as a reminder of what he needed to do to bring justice to his servant girl.
    “I do not require refreshment, Your Grace,” she said evenly. Her long nimble fingers felt around her surroundings, first on the occasional table, then to the pair of wing-backed chairs, giving away her inability to see. She moved her way around one of the chairs, her fingers touching nearly every surface of the seat before she lowered herself into the chair.
    “I had tea brought in nearly half an hour ago,” he said. He was not used to having to wait for anyone save Her Majesty and he didn’t see her often enough to be bothered by that.
    “I was in the middle of something when your man came by to gather me. I had to finish,” she said politely, but most assuredly unapologetically.
    Alex was aware of his eyebrow rising in response to her comment, but he stopped his reaction there. He made his way to the chair opposite her and took a seat. When he did, she positioned herself so that she was facing him, as if she’d known precisely where he’d gone. But she was blind, the vacant stare in her startlingly beautiful eyes confirmed it.
    “What is it that you wish to speak to me about?” she asked. Again her hair was swept behind her in one long braid that hung down her back nearly to her waist. She still was