The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall (Reeves & Worcester Steampunk Mysteries Book 4) Read Online Free

on the landing.
    “Psst!”
    “Are you sure it’s not you, Reeves? Is your pressure in need of regulation?”
    “I believe the hiss to have also originated from the landing, sir.”
    “You don’t think it’s a snake, do you? Henry didn’t bring a menagerie back from South Africa, did he?”
    “One hopes not, sir.”
    “Maybe a Boer Constrictor, what?”
    I waited for an appreciative comment — a quarter inch upward curl to the Reeves’ lips, perhaps — but was rewarded with nothing.
    “That was a joke, Reeves.”
    “So I feared, sir.”
    “Psst!”
    There it was again, louder this time.
    “I believe someone on the landing is attempting to attract your attention, sir.”
    I ankled up the stairs and onto the landing, keeping a wary eye out for snakes.
    “What ho?” I said. “Anyone there?”
    Emmeline — the real Emmeline — darted out from around a corner. My heart swelled, but ... she looked worried.
    “Ssh!” she hissed. “Quick, follow me. Lady Julia will call the police if she sees you!”
    I bounced after Emmie, following her into a corridor off the main landing.
    “It’s all right,” I said. “Lady Julia’s already given me the third degree.”
    “And you’re still alive?”
    “Veritably resurrected. Oh, and I’m not Reggie. I’m Roderick Baskerville-Smythe, Sir Robert’s nephew from South America. Long story. Lots of trains.”
    “And I’m not Emmeline. I’m Lily Fossett. No trains though. But what are you doing here? You’re not on a case are you?”
    “No, I’m here because you said you’d write every day, and I haven’t received a single letter. I thought you’d been eaten by bears!”
    “But I have written every day!” She paused. I could see her perfectly formed little grey cells positively whirring. “Lady Julia!” she exclaimed. “She must have told the servants to look out for any letter addressed to you, and hand them over to her. I bet she burned them. They’ll be ashes in her grate.”
    “Wait, so who’s the blonde girl who calls herself Emmeline?”
    “That’s the real Lily. We swapped places. You’ve met her?”
    “Ten minutes ago. Why have you swapped places?”
    “So I can avoid Henry without having it reported back to mother. I thought Lady Julia might send her daily reports.”
    “And Lily doesn’t mind all this subterfuge?”
    “Not at all. She’s an old friend and ... did you know that Henry’s father is a moving picture producer?”
    “No.”
    “Well that was the clincher. Lily’s always wanted to be an actress, but her family won’t allow her on the stage. So when I told her we’d be staying at Baskerville Hall she jumped at the chance to swap places. Apparently this is the home of Quarrywood — the biggest moving picture studio in England.”
    “Is it?” I’d seen the odd moving picture show at the theatre, but never thought to enquire where they were made.
    “So I told mother that I simply had to have a companion if I were to spend two weeks at Baskerville Hall or I’d raise the barricades in my bedroom again.”
    “So your mother swung the invite for Lily?”
    “Exactly. Lily’s been having a great time. Henry’s given her a part in his new film. He’s in moving pictures now too. Sir Robert’s made him a director. And prepare yourself for dinner tonight because moving pictures is all anyone ever talks about. One of the other house guests is a producer from America, and wait ’til you see Dr Morrow — he’s a mad scientist creating all kinds of prometheans for Quarrywood.”
    I made a mental note to order a new edition of Who’s Who . None of this moving picture business had got a mention in my old edition.
    “Isn’t there a slight flaw in your cunning plan?” I asked.
    “What?” said Emmeline looking concerned.
    “I’m thinking about what happens in two weeks time when you and Lily swap back. Won’t Henry be somewhat peeved to find his leading lady and love interest is someone else. Not to mention your