The Dead Songbird (The Northminster Mysteries) Read Online Free

reddening.
    “How delightful!” said Lord Rothborough, rubbing his hands. “Felix, my boy, and Major Vernon! How excellent to see you both. But, my dear, what letter is this?”
    Felix’s heart sank at that careless endearment. How close were they, he wondered, and at what point in this story had they blundered in? The thought of the two together made him faintly nauseous. For Lord Rothborough’s reputation in these matters was by no means unblemished, and their situation could not be anything but suspicious.
    “Just a trifling business,” said Mrs Morgan.
    “With the police?”
    “It is nothing, I assure you. Nothing of any concern. I wanted a professional opinion, that is all.”
    “You could not have summoned a better man,” said Rothborough. “Though I wish you had asked me first. Major Vernon and I are well acquainted.”
    “I did not like to bother you. You have so many calls on your time already, such important business to attend to. Indeed I think I must be keeping you from –”
    “Not at all, not at all. What could be more important than seeing you are comfortably settled, Mrs Morgan?”
    “More than comfortably,” said Mrs Morgan. “I am honoured to have such a house put at my disposal.”
    “We could not have a national treasure putting up in ordinary lodgings. Such places are full of drafts and are most insanitary. If you had caught cold and lost your voice in Northminster, it would be a disaster. And this time of the year is dangerous. I have known so many people drop dead in March. One can never be too careful.”
    “Please be assured, Lord Rothborough,” she said, with a laugh that made Felix want to sit down and luxuriate in it, “I have no intention of dying in Northminster, especially not in your beautiful house. Your generosity has sustained my will to live. And now that you have seen for yourself that I am completely comfortable, I really cannot take up any more of your valuable time.”
    It was a dismissal; clear enough, though sweetly done. But Rothborough seemed disinclined to leave.
    “My time is at your disposal, Mrs Morgan.”
    “No, no, I will not believe that, my Lord,” she went on.
    “It must be. How can it not be?” he said. “And this police business. You cannot think I will not help you?”
    “I know you would move continents for me. But I do not think that continents will need to be moved. It is a trifle, as I said. I do not want you to trouble yourself, truly. And remember, I shall expect you at the rehearsal this afternoon. If you are not there I shall be disappointed. I need your opinion on which arias I should sing.”
    “You know I shall be.”
    “And if Mrs Morgan’s business turns out to be anything but trifling,” Major Vernon said, “we will at once enlist your assistance, my Lord.”
    “Very well, very well. I shall hold you to that, Vernon,” said Lord Rothborough. He turned to Mrs Morgan and took her hand. “ A bientôt, ma chére Madame .”
    He bent to kiss her hand, and seemed to take such a devil of a long time at it that Felix wanted to manhandle him away for his presumption.
    When Rothborough had at last gone, there was a moment of awkward silence and then she turned to Major Vernon and said, in a quiet, grave tone, “I hope you didn’t mind my writing. I couldn’t think what else to do.”
    “Then it is not entirely a trifle?” said Major Vernon.
    She shook her head and walked away, down the room.
    “No,” she said, with her back to them. “I was not sure to whom I should speak. It’s such a strange matter and I thought of going to Bow Street, but...”
    “Perhaps we should sit down,” said Major Vernon, reaching for his notebook.
    She turned back to them.
    “Yes, of course, gentlemen, do sit. I’m sorry, I have forgotten myself. Shall I ring for tea?”
    “No, we have everything we need. But you, ma’am, you are not at your ease. Please won’t you sit down? Carswell, get a chair for Mrs Morgan.”
    Felix moved a chair