Death at Brighton Pavilion (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries Book 14)
Page 24
I listened in stillness. I could demand Denis to tell me how he knew all this, but I had no need. Denis would keep himself informed about the magistrate’s every decision, and he would arrange to speak the right word into the right ears at the right time.
Uneasiness sat disagreeably on my stomach. “If my memories do not return, I will never know for certain whether I murdered Isherwood.”
“As I say, it no longer matters. The episode is finished.” Denis’s voice was hard, final.
It would always matter to me, but I would have to find a way to live with this. “Is that all?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “As I said, I am much occupied with trying to extricate myself from Brighton.”
Denis’s expression grew icy. “I also wish to inform you that Mr. Brewster will no longer be accompanying you. I have assigned another man to this task.”
My gaze swung to Brewster. He kept his head up, but moroseness flowed from him. Now I understood the unhappiness he’d exuded since he’d come to fetch me.
“Why?” I demanded. “Brewster ordered that tug to ram the boat, and he fished me to safety.”
“The fact that such a thing was necessary indicates Mr. Brewster is not up to the task of looking after you. He also did nothing to prevent you from being drugged and nearly accused of murder, not to mention you being trussed up on a boat and floated out to sea.” Denis closed his mouth, the line of it flat.
“It is hardly Brewster’s fault I manage to get into scrape after scrape,” I said, trying to curb my anger. “It is my way. Another minder will fare no better.”
“That remains to be seen.”
I began to grow alarmed. Denis was not kind to those who displeased him. “Brewster is a good man,” I said. “I ask you to leave him be.”
Denis’s brows drew together the slightest bit. “I intend to leave him be. But he will no longer work for me.”
“You’re sacking him?” Denis had done this to Brewster before, or at least had pretended to for his own reasons. “Rather unfair, I’d say.”
“It is not for you to say.” Denis’s voice turned hard. “I decide my business in my own way, and I have no intention of consulting you. I wish you good day.”
He said this to both of us. Brewster swallowed, but he’d already accepted Denis’s decision, knowing he could not fight it.
Denis waited, the room growing silent. The men stationed at each window watched Brewster and me, alert.
Arguing would not change the situation, I saw. I gave Denis a curt nod and left him standing in the middle of the sunny room.
Brewster followed me down the stairs. Outside, he adjusted his hat. “Well, that’s that. I’m off.”
“Wait.” I stepped in front of him, planting my walking stick on the pavement. “What will you do?”
Brewster shrugged. “Retire, most like.” From his look, the thought of that appalled him.
I could guess what might happen if Brewster found himself idle. He had once been a very good thief, and left on his own, he might well return to his old ways.
“You’re out a place because of me,” I said. “You worked for me before. Do so again.”
Brewster’s eyes narrowed. “As what? Your footman?” He curled his lip.
“Doing what you do now. My wife would be pleased to have you follow me to keep me out of trouble. Who knows what will happen in Oxfordshire? Or during whatever this errand Denis has in mind for me?”
Brewster studied me a bit longer, his long-suffering look returning. “I can barely keep you out of trouble now. How am I supposed to manage without His Nibs and his lackeys to help me?”
“I imagine Mr. Denis would step in if things grew too dire.” I had no doubt he would send another to watch me, and little doubt he would learn every word of this discussion.
Brewster removed his hat. He crushed it between his big hands while he considered, then he heaved a long sigh and jammed the hat back on his head.
“I’ll have to talk it over with Em. But all right. I’ll work for ye. If the wage is high enough.” He sighed again then turned away and began the trek back to the house.
“Lord help me,” I heard him mutter. “What am I in for?”
Thank you for reading!
Captain Lacey’s adventures continue in The Customs House Murders (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Book 15). Sign up for my newsletter to be informed of releases in this series here: http://eepurl.com/5n7rz
If you enjoy the Captain Lacey mysteries, you might like the Below Stairs Victorian mysteries, featuring Kat Holloway, a young and talented cook for the wealthy of Mayfair. The prequel novella to the series, A Soupçon of Poison, introduces Kat and the mysterious Daniel McAdam.
Historical Notes
I had the great fortune while researching this book to visit the beautiful walled city of Salamanca in western Spain, not far from the Portuguese border. The land is hilly and dry, with stretches of flat plains filled with olive groves, farms, and cattle. I could easily imagine the French and British armies winding along the ridges, watching each other warily until Wellington made the decision to strike.
The battle of Salamanca took place to the south of it, near the small town of Arapiles. It was a short, brutal battle that lost the French more than 13,000 men and won Wellington great aplomb. The battle was never supposed to have happened—Wellington was keeping an eye on the French lines, and he’d planned to leave and march back to Portugal, when he saw an opportunity for attack. Acting immediately and decisively, he surprised the French and wreaked plenty of havoc.
A contingent of the Spanish army was supposed to have guarded a bridge that would prevent the French army’s escape. But for some reason, the Spanish commander had word that he was to let the French through, or at least not try very hard to hinder them. Pursuit failed to capture the retreating French.
Wellington was furious—he’d never given the order, and to this day, there is speculation that the orders were misunderstood or simply never reached the Spanish commander. I decided to put my own interpretation on the matter.
The battlefield at Arapiles is one of the most intact of those Peninsular War, with guided tours offered.
Salamanca itself was fortunately not much damaged in the battle, and the city is largely unchanged. The cathedral is immense and stunningly beautiful. I spent a long time wandering about inside it, in both the old and new structures, admiring the architecture and art.
Back streets slope from cathedral to river, quiet and enchanting. Here the Roman bridge, its arches and stones intact, crosses the Tormes. On this end of Salamanca lies a wonderful Art Nouveau museum, the Casa Lis. While it hails from a hundred years later than Lacey’s time, it was well worth a visit, and became one of my favorite places in Salamanca.
Yachting
The Yacht Club—now the Royal Yacht Squadron—was founded in 1815 in St. James’s, London, as a place where gentlemen who owned pleasure sailing craft could meet and discuss the sport. The Prince Regent was an honorary member. The club took on the “Royal” designation when the Regent became George IV in 1820, and was renamed the Royal Yacht Squadron by George’s successor, William IV. The organization, now based on the Isle of Wight, is still going strong.
Steamboats were in use for passenger and cargo service on the Thames as early as 1815, and in 1816, tugs began working to guide large sailing vessels through the waters.
I hope you enjoyed Lacey’s adventures in Brighton.
All my best wishes,
Ashley Gardner
Also by Ashley Gardner
Captain Lacey Regency Mystery Series
The Hanover Square Affair
A Regimental Murder
The Glass House
The Sudbury School Murders
The Necklace Affair
A Body in Berkeley Square
A Covent Garden Mystery
A Death in Norfolk
A Disappearance in Drury Lane
Murder in Grosvenor Square
The Th
ames River Murders
The Alexandria Affair
A Mystery at Carlton House
Murder in St. Giles
Death at Brighton Pavilion
The Customs House Murders
The Gentleman’s Walking Stick
(short stories: in print in
The Necklace Affair and Other Stories)
Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Vol 1
Includes
The Hanover Square Affair
A Regimental Murder
The Glass House
The Gentleman’s Walking Stick
(short story collection)
Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Vol 2
Includes
The Sudbury School Murders
The Necklace Affair
A Body in Berkeley Square
A Covent Garden Mystery
Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Vol 3
Includes
A Death in Norfolk
A Disappearance in Drury Lane
Murder in Grosvenor Square
Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Vol 4
Includes
The Thames River Murders
The Alexandria Affair
Mystery at Carlton House
Kat Holloway “Below Stairs” Victorian Mysteries
(writing as Jennifer Ashley)
A Soupçon of Poison
Death Below Stairs
Scandal Above Stairs
Death in Kew Gardens
Murder in the East End
Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries
(writing as Ashley Gardner)
Blood of a Gladiator
Blood Debts (novella)
(More to come)
Mystery Anthologies
Past Crimes
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Ashley Gardner is a pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ashley. Under both names—and a third, Allyson James—Ashley has written more than 100 published novels and novellas in mystery, romance, fantasy, and historical fiction. Ashley's books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and have earned starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist. When she isn’t writing, she indulges her love for history by researching and building miniature houses and furniture from many periods, and playing classical guitar and piano.
More about the Captain Lacey series can be found at the website: www.gardnermysteries.com. Stay up to date on new releases by joining her email alerts here: http://eepurl.com/5n7rz
Follow Ashley Gardner
www.gardnermysteries.com
Copyright
Death at Brighton Pavilion
Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries Book 14
Copyright © 2019 by Jennifer Ashley / Ashley Gardner
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Cover design by Kim Killion