The Detective Bride

by Sylvia Damsell

  Mr. Clarke smiled. “Tell me after you’ve gone through the file, well, tomorrow. After you’ve read through it and made notes you may leave but be back tomorrow morning at about nine.”

  “Thank you.”

  She felt like dancing as she shut the office door behind her and then followed Mr. MacIntyre to the office she had been assigned. She had the job. She was a detective. Everything was more than exciting.

  She looked round the office as she walked in. Sizeable, if a bit dull. Obviously nobody here had any idea about decorations. There was a large desk with a chair behind it, a filing cabinet and a table. There were a few easy chairs round the wall. She made for one, sank into it and was surprised at its comfort.

  The room needed a painting on the wall and maybe a few flowers here and there. If she was going to ever interview someone she would need to have somewhere where they would feel at home because people who came to detective agencies would be under a certain amount of strain. She put her feet up on the table, opened the file and there was a knock on the door.

  She leapt to her feet and went to open it, outside which stood Noah. “I just want to check you’re alright,” he said.

  “Come in.” She held the door open for him.

  “I can’t stay because I have something to do. I’ll be here in the morning to accompany you to any stores you need. I won’t actually shop with you but I’ll carry your bags.”

  “I might have a hundred,” she said.

  “Then I’ll carry a hundred. Welcome to the agency.”

  “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  “Yes. If you need anything just let me know.”

  “How about a few pots of paint? Could you help me paint this room?”

  “We’d have to check with the boss.”

  “I’ll speak to him tomorrow. We also need flowers.”

  “He said a woman would want to change things.”

  “He’s right.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Noah went and Susannah sank back into the chair. Why was it that men didn’t see the finer details? Not even her father did and Jason certainly didn’t. She would definitely get a picture to hang in here and she would somehow wheedle paints out of the men and maybe Noah would paint the walls. He seemed to be an agreeable and helpful man, not to mention handsome.

  She read the contents of the file carefully and made a few notes, mostly on what she would need to wear. She might also need a gun. Would the agency provide her with one? After all, detective work wasn’t the safest of jobs and if the men had burgled a jeweller they could be dangerous. There were also other things which might come in handy.

  Pepper to throw in someone’s face. Something hard with which to hit them over the head. A notebook and pencils. Maybe pockets added strategically to her garments where she could store necessary items. Binoculars in case she had to view things from a distance. Plenty of handkerchiefs. Gloves so she didn’t contaminate the evidence. Nothing particularly conclusive had been written about the use of fingerprints in crime but she knew that Sir Hershel had begun to be interested in them as a form of identification and at the moment Dr. Henry Faulds was doing the same. She would have to ask Noah or Mr. Clark about it.

  By the time she finished writing her notes it was going on for five and she felt ready to go home. She would continue thinking about the forthcoming enterprise but she couldn’t do much more until the morning, except maybe to buy a painting on the way home. Though she could save her money and take one of the ones she had in her bedroom. She made her way into the reception area, called goodbye to the receptionist and left.

  When she reached home she could smell something delicious in the kitchen and made her way to it to see what was cooking. Their cook, Cynthia Winterbottom, must be back and her cooking was out of this world. The older Susannah got the more she appreciated her.

  But it was her mother who had a table piled with cakes and was about to dish up the meal. Mashed potato, lamb, vegetables and all the ones Susannah liked. There were a few pies on the table with the cakes.

  Susannah took a little iced cake and bit into it appreciatively. “You’ve gone overboard,” she said.

  “We’re having a few people round tomorrow evening for a meal and Cynthia has a cold so I told her not to come in. Tomorrow I’ll do some more cooking.”

  “You’re getting domesticated, aren’t you?”

  Rosemary smiled. “I am domesticated. I just don’t choose to do it very often. But after a while in hotels it’s quite nice doing this though not for too long. How many eligible young men would you like me to invite to the meal?”

  Susannah giggled. “None because I won’t be here. I’m going to a friend for a few days.”

  “Anyone we know?”

  “No.”

  “In other words, none of your business. Don’t spoil your appetite,” as Susannah took another bite. “The food is totally ready. I just have to serve it. Could you call your father and Jason?”

  “Alright.” Susannah went into the hall and screamed up the stairs. “Papa! Jason! Get down here. Mama’s ready to dish up and you can’t miss this. It doesn’t happen very often.”

  Jason slid down the bannister and Henry ran down the stairs. “Your mother is a good cook,” he said. “When we first married and had very little money she could make a good meal out of virtually nothing. She would cut a couple of sausages into tiny bits so it looked more and put it in a batter. She would turn the rest of the batter into pancakes and spread them with conserve. She knew all the wild plants you could turn into vegetables and would pick apples. We never went hungry though I think on my own we would have done so.”

  Susannah started to play an imaginary violin while Jason crooned beside her. “And you walked to work barefeet to save your shoes and make them last longer while mama did the same while she was collecting herbs and things and tore her feet to shreds,” Jason said.

  Susannah giggled and Rosemary pretended to box both their ears while she passed them. “You’ve had life too easy,” she said.

  “And whose fault is that?”

  “I’m not sure but I think we’ve raised two enterprising young people. Did you get the post at the detective agency?”

  “Yes. I have my own office and when I return from my friend I’m going to get the walls painted and put a few feminine touches in a male oriented environment.”

  “Which agency is it?” Henry asked.

  “I’m not telling you or you’ll be checking up on me. I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

  “Never in your father’s eyes,” Rosemary said, reaching to take some vegetables from a tureen.

  “Well, he has to get used to it. Do you hear me, patér?”

  “I hear you, daughter. Shall we say the blessing?”

  “Why?”

  “Because we always do.”

  “And then ignore God for the rest of the time.”

  “Let’s say it and discuss it afterwards.”

  Henry said a brief prayer and they all filled their plates. “Maybe it is a bit hypocritical,” he said. “Would you prefer me not to ask the blessing?”

  “No. It brings some sanity into the house. Shouldn’t you and mama be thinking of such things at your age?”

  “Our age.” He smiled. “You mean, on the border of senility?”

  “Well, now you mention it.” She giggled. “You should see the man who sits at the reception desk at work. He looks as if he could destroy an army by just looking at them. I’m surprised they have any clients. I’m going to take some flowers tomorrow.”

  “Are you going on an assignment?” Rosemary asked. “You said you’ll be away.”

  “Just to a friend. When Jason has qualified as a lawyer I can send some of our clients his way. How about that, Jason?”

  “I shall be brilliant at my work,” he said.

  “With a head so big it won’t get through the door. You’ll have to live in your office because you won’t be abl
e to get out of it.”

  Jason screwed his nose at Susannah and the rest of the meal was full of conversation. Afterwards they all retired to the drawing room and Susannah took out the file she had been given. When Jason tried to look at it she pulled away.

  “Go and find your own reading materials.”

  “Is it a case?”

  “It’s paper. Maybe it’s school you need and not university if you can’t tell the difference.”

  “Very funny. It’s not dangerous, is it?”

  Susannah’s tone was light. “As you said, if you recall, my work will consist of following people to pry on them. Of course there’s nothing dangerous.”

  But would there be danger? She really wasn’t worried about that and tomorrow she would buy a gun just in case there was some trouble when they went to Princeton. They would be leaving late afternoon and Noah would be with her so he should keep any potential attackers away. All she must do was acquaint herself with all the facts.

  She began to read and was soon engrossed with her work as she alternately studied the case and made notes.

  Chapter 2

  “You’re certainly not going to lack clothes,” Noah said, stowing the parcels into a cab then lifting a trunk to put next to them.

  “I need to pack everything in the trunk. Can you help me?” Susannah spoke in the French accent she would be using from now on.

  He climbed up to sit beside her and bent to open the trunk as the cab moved away from the kerb. “Yes, of course.” He opened a bag and tipped everything into the trunk. “You do that.”

  She smiled. Under clothes and maybe it embarrassed him. Folding them neatly and laying them along the bottom of the trunk she took a dress from him which he had also folded. “I need a lot of clothes in my profession.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s not a criticism. Do you have anything practical?”

  “Yes. Some slimmer dresses which don’t have such voluminous skirts. I prefer those, anyway.”

  “So do I and you’re a beautiful woman.” Noah bent his head over another gown and she could almost swear he was blushing. Noah? Blushing? Did men do that? She hadn’t noticed with her father and Jason. But Noah was rather cute, if that was the kind of word a person used for such a large man. Not large as in fat because he didn’t have an ounce of fat on him, but he was certainly tall.

  “Thank you,” she said. Receive a compliment graciously. Her mother always told her that.

  “Have you been to Princeton?”

  “A couple of times. Sometimes when my father had business we would all go with him. Now we don’t, of course, and America is a bit far from France to travel.” Susannah pointed forward to the driver.

  “Yes, of course.” The cab driver probably couldn’t hear them but they had to get themselves into their part. “Is France a very beautiful place?”

  And that she could answer truthfully, which was a relief in case anyone else asked questions. “Very, but so is America.”

  “Where is your home precisely?”

  Now he was really pushing it and did he disapprove of ladies doing this kind of thing? “Nice,” she said. “I have a chateau in Nice though I move around a lot because of my singing engagements.”

  All untrue, of course, but she had been to France and she had stayed in a chateau in Nice. Noah raised his eyebrows and she was dying to tell him she had.

  “What’s it like?” he asked. “Is there a lot of sand?”

  “The beach is actually stony and the Mediterranean Sea is beautiful, also the countryside around.”

  “I love your accent,” he said. “Can you speak French to me?”

  She started to speak French and enjoyed the look of surprise on his face. Gorgeous looking he might be but he was as bad as any man when it came to believing that a woman could have any kind of education. She carried on speaking as she told him that and when she stopped he replied in French.

  “I wish I could speak as fluently as you do.”

  Help! What would he think of her outspokenness? She hadn’t a clue that he knew what she was saying. “That’s because I’m French,” she said in English. “I have spoken English a lot so I’m proficient at it but there are still words I stumble over.”

  Surely the cab driver couldn’t hear them over the sound of the horses’ hooves or even speak French. She hoped he couldn’t because she really hadn’t been polite. She grabbed her seat as they rounded a corner and Noah put out his hand to steady her.

  It was a big hand but probably went with his big head. She stifled the urge to giggle and it wasn’t long before they reached the station. Noah took out her trunk and she reached for his bag.

  “I can carry both,” he said.

  “I doubt it.”

  His eyes challenged hers as he put his bag on top of her trunk before lifting both. “I wouldn’t dream of letting a lady carry bags.”

  She walked beside him along the platform. “Don’t you change your clothes?” she asked.

  “As little as possible.”

  “Remind me not to get too near you then?” She still spoke in a French accent and was enjoying getting into her part.

  “I have five shirts, plenty of under garments and three pairs of pants. Is that enough for a couple of days?”

  “Barely. I have six gowns.”

  “Then both of us won’t need to be afraid of getting near each other.” He stopped at a door and stood back. “After you, madame.”

  She stepped into the train and took the bag before he could stop her. Walking ahead of him she made her way to a comfortable seat in the first class carriage. The journey would not be long and she was looking forward to it after not travelling for a while. What dangers might be ahead she did not contemplate. All of it was an adventure and adventures she usually only encountered in her dreams.

  Noah set the trunk down and sat opposite her. “Usually I go third class,” he said. “This isn’t bad.”

  “More than that, it’s good. What kind of hotel will we be staying in?”

  “The best. I will have a room next door to you in case you need me.”

  “I’ll be sleeping. I won’t need anyone.”

  “Would you like me to get you something to eat?”

  “No, thank you. The journey isn’t long. But if you want something feel free to get it.”

  “No. I’m alright.” He stretched out his long legs. “This is good. In third class you’re cramped. I have to take my legs off and put them in the cupboard above.”

  “Very funny. Do you like trains?”

  “This one I definitely like. Do you come from a rich family?” He paused as if he suddenly realised who she was meant to be. “Sorry, ma’am. That’s rather a personal question.”

  “My father is not at all rich,” Susannah said. “Though he has always worked hard. Since I’ve become more famous I have been able to help the family. We were brought up in a small house in Paris but now they have moved to Nice to live in my chateau and my father is my business manager.”

  There was the hint of a smile round Noah’s mouth and a definite smile in his eyes. “That is a good arrangement,” he said.

  “It is.”

  “No suitors?”

  “A man is courting me with a view to marriage.”

  “You need to be careful in your position. You don’t want someone courting you because you have a good income.”

  “He is a man of means and doesn’t need my money.”

  “That’s good. Are you sure I can’t get you something to eat or drink?”

  “Quite sure, thank you. I think I may read for a bit. I have a novel by Jane Austin though I’ll be looking at the scenery as well, of course.”

  “Of course. I’ll read my newspaper.”

  She opened her book but every now and again glanced at Noah as surreptitiously as she could. She couldn’t quite make him out and wasn’t sure if he was ensuring that she was up to what she was doing. Other people would ask her questions and they had not discussed how she wou
ld answer them.

  He spoke French and that was unusual because really she had taken him to be a relatively unlearned man in view of the job he did. She certainly hadn’t regarded him as unintelligent but not extremely clever and if she wanted to do this job she must be able to read people better.

  “When did you learn French?” she asked.

  “At school.”

  “Have you been to France?”

  “No. Maybe one day. If they all speak like you I definitely will go.”

  “You’re mostly hearing me speak English in a French accent. Someone told me that sounds more musical than when I speak French.”

  “It has a charm to it but your French sounds good too. Is this your first visit to America?”

  “Yes, and I’m really enjoying it. Everyone is so kind. I’m looking forward to singing in front of an American audience.”

  Noah smiled. “They’re not all they’re cracked up to be but Princeton ought to be alright. I can’t guarantee New York.”

  “Oh? Why not?”

  “The audience to which you will be singing will be a mixed bunch. Sometimes fights even break out. But I’m sure they’ll be mesmerised by your voice and won’t even think of fighting.”

  “I hope so.”

  And she did because she wasn’t used to being in such atmospheres. Courtesy of her upbringing but now she had to be tough. She even had to weed out who robbed the jewellery shop in Princeton and if it really was the guitarist. They chatted, read, looked out of the window and it wasn’t very long before they arrived in Princeton.

  “Once we’re settled I’m going to buy you a necklace in the jewellery store where the robbery was,” Noah said a little later when they were in the hotel and when he called in to her room. He pointed at a door. “That leads to my room and I’d like you to leave it unlocked. I promise not to come in unless you call for me. In fact, I would prefer it if you leave the door open about an inch.”

  Susannah frowned. “Why would I be in danger?”

  “You’re not but we’re on an assignment and we should always take precautions.”

  “I have a gun. I’ll put it under my pillow.”

  “No. That isn’t safe in case it goes off. Put it in a drawer in the little cabinet next to your bed.”