• Home
  • M C Beaton
  • Mrs. Budley Falls From Grace (The Poor Relation Series Book 3) Page 2

Mrs. Budley Falls From Grace (The Poor Relation Series Book 3) Read online

Page 2


  A butler came out and stood on the steps. Mrs. Budley sank back in her seat quickly. The carriage dipped and swayed as John got down from the roof. She dimly heard his voice shouting something and then the carriage door was opened and there was John letting down the steps.

  “His lordship is out hunting,” said John, “but I explained who we were and a room is being prepared for you.”

  Mrs. Budley allowed herself to be helped down. Her legs felt like jelly. Clouds were racing high ahead across the top of the castle, giving a sickening impression that the great pile was actually moving.

  Feeling very small and alone, she walked up the staircase. The butler bowed and then stepped in front of her to lead the way.

  She found herself in a great baronial hall with walls fourteen feet thick. Down the centre of the hall was a table long enough to feast trains of vassals. The walls, which were panelled in cedarwood, were hung with lances and maces and spears, and in front of them stood rows of rusting suits of armour. Up by the ceiling fluttered cobweb-thin medieval battle-flags.

  “If madam will take a seat by the fire,” said the butler, “the housekeeper, Mrs. Dark, will arrange your quarters.” He turned to John and Betty and said, “Follow me.”

  So Mrs. Budley was left alone. The walls were so thick that all sounds of the outside world were silenced. She walked to one of the windows and looked straight down to the river Avon, foaming fifty-five feet below. Then she drew her pelisse more tightly about her and trod along the huge tiled length of the hall floor to the fire which blazed like a funeral pyre from a strange antique grate in the form of a basket. The marble chimney-piece was so high that a man with a tall hat on could easily have walked under it. Huge logs, like tree trunks, crackled, spurted and blazed in the fireplace. In front of the fire stood a fire-screen with a massive heavy gold frame holding a plate of glass so fine it was indistinguishable from the very air. Mrs. Budley had never seen anything so wonderful. Everything was on such a gigantic scale that she felt she had wandered into some ogre’s castle.

  Her thoughts turned to the absent marquess. Out hunting! But such an old and frail man could not possibly hunt. Perhaps he followed the hunt comfortably in his carriage.

  A footman in brown-and-gold livery came in carrying a tray with a decanter of wine and a plate of biscuits, which he set on a table next to a huge winged armchair beside the fire. Mrs. Budley sat down. Her feet did not touch the ground. She nibbled at a biscuit and wished John and Betty had stayed with her.

  There was a huge portrait above the fireplace of a man in the dress of the time of Charles I. He had long curly black hair and a thin wolfish face and the painted eyes seemed to sneer down at the cringing Mrs. Budley.

  “It’s a home like any other,” she told herself fiercely. “Just a trifle on the large side.”

  She stifled a whimper of relief when Betty appeared at the far end of the hall, followed by a tall thin woman with a ring of keys at her waist. They walked down the length of the hall.

  “This is the housekeeper, Mrs. Dark,” said Betty. “She will take us to our quarters, madam.”

  Mrs. Dark, in keeping with this giant castle, was a very tall, gaunt woman with a greyish complexion. She wore an enormous starched cap which ballooned above her head. “Perhaps,” said Mrs. Dark, in a hollow doom-laden voice, “madam wishes to finish her refreshment.”

  “No, no,” gabbled Mrs. Budley. No doubt there was a pretty and unintimidating bedchamber waiting for her. No need to be so frightened by this great hall. Halls were hardly ever modernized.

  “Very well,” announced Mrs. Dark in sepulchral tones. “Follow me.”

  Mrs. Budley was to learn later that the entertaining rooms, which stretched out on either side of the hall, extended for three hundred and forty feet. As it was, she felt she had been trudging through one terrifying medieval room after another before they reached a curved stone staircase.

  “This,” said Mrs. Dark at last, throwing open a door, “is your apartment, madam.”

  Mrs. Budley looked wildly round. She found herself in a cedar-panelled sitting-room, very dark, with another huge fireplace, piled up with blazing logs. There was a large writing-desk by the window with a massive carved chair like a throne in front of it. In front of the fireplace were two huge armchairs.

  “And your bedroom, madam.” The housekeeper opened a connecting door and ushered Mrs. Budley into an even darker room, dominated by a four-poster bed of red velvet. Red velvet curtains like dried blood hung by the window. A huge toilet-table held on its greenish marble surface a hand-basin like a bird-bath and a jug of water that would surely take two men to lift.

  “Thank you,” said Mrs. Budley in a voice as hollow as that of the housekeeper.

  “The master dines at four o’clock,” intoned the housekeeper. “Go directly to the dining-room. The dressing-bell is sounded at three. The castle gardens are accounted fine, should you care for a walk.”

  “No, I thank you. I shall rest and read,” said Mrs. Budley firmly.

  When the housekeeper had left and the heavy door had slammed shut behind her, Mrs. Budley said to Betty, “Have you picked up intelligence about the master? Is he very old? Is he really forgetful?”

  “I been putting away your duds, madam,” said Betty. “John, he’ll find out sure enough and come here before dinner. It seems this marquess keeps old-fashioned country hours for dinner, and very sensible too, for I don’t hold with this new business of eating at midnight,” by which Betty meant seven or eight in the evening.

  “You should not say ‘duds’ for clothes, Betty, if you are to appear a real lady’s-maid,” said Mrs. Budley, thinking with a pang of regret of the frivolous French creature she had once employed when her Jack had been alive and money had seemed plentiful. “What should I wear? If he is so very old, he has probably poor sight, so I don’t suppose it much matters.”

  “Got roaring fires all over the place,” said Betty, “but it don’t half get cold away from them. I laid out your grey silk.”

  “Not very pretty.”

  “Silk’s warmer than muslin, and a good Norfolk shawl to go with it.”

  “Oh, well, I suppose you have the right of it. But that grey is a relic of my half-mourning and I somehow feel that if I looked pretty, I might be braver.”

  “You won’t look pretty, madam, if you are freezing cold.”

  Mrs. Budley helped Betty to unpack. They had nearly finished when John came lumbering in. “Rum go,” he said laconically. “Close as clams, the servants here. Can’t get them to talk about the master. But there’s a rare fine kitchen garden, and if you give me that list from Despard, madam, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Have you comfortable quarters?” asked Mrs. Budley.

  “I’m in a little room on the half-landing below you,” said Betty, “and John’s in the attics. We didn’t say anything about being married, for real servants ain’t married and ’twould look odd.” John and Betty had stayed on with Lady Fortescue in the former days of her poverty for no wages, provided she allowed them to wed.

  “I shall feel better when this dinner is over. Did any of the servants query the intelligence that I am supposed to be Lord Peterhouse’s niece?”

  “Seemed to accept it,” said John. “You rest easy, madam. Few days is all you need.”

  After they had left, Mrs. Budley prowled about her quarters. Everything of value was too heavy to lift, from the huge marble clock on the mantelpiece to the enormous alabaster vase in the bedroom. She should really start work right away and ring for the housekeeper and ask for a guided tour. That’s what Sir Philip had told her to do. “Ingratiate yourself with the housekeeper,” he had said. “Show interest in the kitchens and look bored in the muniments room and don’t stare too hard at anything that might be worth taking. And find out where the late marchioness had her apartments.”

  But Mrs. Budley only wanted to forget about her predicament until dinner-time. She sat down in the throne of a chair by the desk.
There was a huge brass ink-pot and a giant sand-shaker and an enormous seal, so quartered that it seemed to have as many segments as a backgammon board. Betty had put the volumes of the novel from the circulating library on the desk.

  She opened the first volume and began to read. The novel was very enjoyable and she nearly fell out of her chair with alarm as the sound of the dressing-bell rang through the castle.

  A servant with a basket of logs walked in and began to pile up the fire. She retreated to the bedroom to wash and change. Betty appeared and helped her into her clothes and then tried to arrange her hair but Mrs. Budley sent her away, saying she was quite capable of arranging her hair herself.

  But the minute Betty had gone, she wished she had kept her close, for there were no curling-tongs and she was too shy to ring the bell and ask for some. She brushed her hair and tried to tame it into some semblance of a Roman style but it remained as fine and fluffy as ever. She bound a grey silk cord in it, shaping the cord into a sort of coronet. This took up a great deal of time and she started nervously as a second bell was rung, the dinnerbell.

  She waited hopefully for a servant to come and guide her to the dining-room, but no one came, so at five past four, she went to the door and let herself out into the corridor, trying to remember if the dining-room was one of the ones on the ground floor which she had walked through.

  Rooms led to other rooms, staircases to other staircases. She began to feel quite tearful. Of what use was there in sending servants with her if they were never there when needed?

  And then a voice behind her, in a dim passage, said, “Can I be of assistance, madam?”

  She gave a little shriek of alarm and swung round. A tall footman stood there.

  “Oh, yes, yes,” said Mrs. Budley in a voice which, to her horror, trembled. “I am looking for the dining-room.”

  “Follow me, madam. His lordship is waiting. His lordship does not like to be kept waiting.”

  And with these awful words he strode off, and picking up her silken skirts, Mrs. Budley scurried after him.

  Chapter Two

  There are more matches made up in country

  houses than in all the west-end London ones put

  together,—indeed, London is always allowed to

  be only the cover for finding game in, and the

  country the place for running it down.

  —SURTEES

  THE FOOTMAN opened a massive door which swung open with a creak and stood aside. Mrs. Budley walked into the dining-room.

  It was huge and shadowy, with a painted ceiling. A long table ran down the middle of it, set with two places, one at either end. A large fire crackled, sending up tongues of flame so that the shadowy room was alive with dancing red light. Like hell, thought Mrs. Budley, complete with Satan.

  For a wickedly handsome man, who had been seated at the end of the table near the fireplace, had risen as she entered. He had a hard, cold face and large dark hooded eyes and black hair. He was muscular and fit. Here was no doddering old gentleman.

  Mrs. Budley sank into a low curtsy and made to move forward towards him, but he waved an imperious hand and a footman pulled out a chair for her, the one at the far end.

  Mrs. Budley sat down, her mind racing. Perhaps this was some genuine relative of the old man.

  The butler entered, followed by six footmen, and all began laying dishes on the table. “Bennet,” said the tall man, and the butler replied, “My lord?” and Mrs. Budley heard nothing of the following exchange because a wave of black fear had just engulfed her. This terrifying man who looked like the devil incarnate must be the marquess. He must be the new marquess. The old man must have died. Now she was more terrified of him than Lady Fortescue, Sir Philip, the colonel and Miss Tonks all rolled into one. Let them shout and berate her. She was making her escape from the castle this very night.

  “You are Mrs. Budley,” said the marquess, his cold, authoritative voice carrying down the length of the table.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Of which branch of the family?”

  “The Cornish Tremaines. Tremaine is my maiden name,” said Mrs. Budley.

  “Indeed! How very interesting.”

  She tried to drink her soup but was too aware of his eyes surveying her and dropped her spoon in her dish.

  Not the usual type of woman who pursues me, thought the marquess. The little figure at the other end of the table from him looked ridiculously feminine and frail. The silver-grey of her gown emphasized her pallor and her eyes looked enormous. Not even a very clever trickster, ran his thoughts, or she would appear bolder, more at ease.

  Mrs. Budley’s soup was removed and replaced with a dish of whitebait. She picked at it nervously. Every time she looked down the table, she received a cold assessing stare from those hooded eyes.

  The distance between them made any easy conversation impossible. The dishes came and went, the servants padded noiselessly to and fro. Her mind went back to hunt dinners she had attended in her husband’s company. Then everyone had been very talkative, usually each guest praising the magnificent country they had ridden over that day, lauding its bottomless brooks, its enormous bullfinches, its terrific stone walls, its flying foxes, and all vowing that a man who could ride with the Quorn could ride over any country in the world.

  She had not thought very much of her late husband, for the shock of the financial mess she had found herself in after his death had made her blame him rather than mourn him. But now she missed him terribly and forgot for the moment how his gambling and drunkenness had caused scene after scene.

  She regarded this meal as some slow-moving obstacle race with the prize of freedom at the end. When her unfinished pudding was taken away, the covers removed and the fruit, nuts, and decanters placed on the table, she felt her goal was in sight. One glass of wine and then she would rise to her feet, say she would leave him to his port, and retire to her room, where it would be Betty’s job to find John and effect a quick escape.

  Last obstacle in the race—one glass of port. Raise it to your lips, she told herself, take several sips, and now … She got to her feet after setting her glass down on the table. The marquess rose as well. Mrs. Budley found her voice. “Pray excuse me, my lord,” she whispered hoarsely. She cranked up her voice. “Pray excuse me, my lord. I wish to retire.”

  His voice carried clearly and with awful finality to the ears of the shivering Mrs. Budley. “We shall retire together.”

  For one startled moment, she thought he was suggesting they go to bed together, but the servants were there and the marquess was holding out his arm.

  She walked down the length of the table and placed her cold fingertips on that arm. The butler sprang to open a door and he ushered her through.

  It was not a drawing-room, but some sort of retiring-room. It was quite small, panelled like most of the rooms in cedarwood, now black with age. Scented beeswax candles lit the scene and a coal-fire of reasonable dimensions burned in a people-rather than giant-sized grate.

  He helped her to a chair by the fire and took the facing one. He stretched out his long legs and studied the flames while two footmen carried in the decanters and placed them on a side-table.

  “We will serve ourselves,” said the marquess and waved his hand, so that the great ruby ring he wore on one finger blazed with a red light.

  The servants retired, the door was closed, and Mrs. Budley raised her fan to her face and peered over the top of it with dilated eyes at this fiendish marquess.

  “I think we should commence by being honest with each other,” he said. “I will begin. In the short time since I came into the title, I have been relentlessly pursued by mamas and their daughters. None have been quite so brave as you to date. I thought by avoiding London and staying here until I put my inheritance in order, I should avoid their wiles, but still they come. I was just on the point of seeing if the portcullises could still be made to work so as to banish the matchmaking and the curious when you arrived. As
you know, you are no relative of mine.”

  Mrs. Budley found her voice. “Of your late uncle, my lord.”

  “I am my late uncle’s nephew. Same family. No Budleys. No Tremaines. So no more lies, Mrs. Budley. Strange. You do not look like an adventuress. I was in the army when news of my inheritance reached me. I had been at the wars since the age of sixteen and had known very little social life. I am, for your information, thirty-three, and, yes, I am unmarried. Some wine, Mrs. Budley?”

  She nodded her head, hoping to fortify her spirits. The game was up. She could only hope he would not call the constable. But she had as yet committed no major crime. She had not stolen anything. Nor had she used a false name.

  He rose and poured her a glass of wine and carried it to her. She accepted it with a mumble of thanks.

  “My parents were not wealthy, Mrs. Budley,” he went on after resuming his seat, “largely due to my father’s gambling. I have had a hard life in a way. Now I find myself very rich indeed. The late marquess was my mother’s brother. He considered in marrying my father that she had married beneath her and so refused to have anything to do with her. So I did not expect to inherit. But here we are, Mrs. Budley.” He waved a hand. “Hardly a welcoming or comfortable establishment. I have already made friends in the neighbourhood, among the men I hunt and fish with. The trouble is all such friendships are marred by such men’s marriageable daughters and socially ambitious wives.

  “The answer to my immediate problems is to have a wife of my own. As I have never been in love or what I have read love to be, any female of child-bearing years will do. Yet the misses I have met—and believe me, I have met many who have been dragged here by their families—do not please me. They simper and lisp and cry when they leave, as if implying I had led them to believe some warmer connection was in the offing.

 

    Agatha Raisin 31 - Hot to Trot Read onlineAgatha Raisin 31 - Hot to TrotBeatrice Goes to Brighton Read onlineBeatrice Goes to BrightonDeborah Goes to Dover Read onlineDeborah Goes to DoverDown the Hatch Read onlineDown the HatchHot to Trot Read onlineHot to TrotBeating About the Bush Read onlineBeating About the BushDeath of a Policeman Read onlineDeath of a PolicemanEdwardian Murder Mystery 04; Our Lady of Pain emm-4 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 04; Our Lady of Pain emm-4The Waverly Women Series (3-Book Bundle) Read onlineThe Waverly Women Series (3-Book Bundle)The French Affair (Endearing Young Charms Book 2) Read onlineThe French Affair (Endearing Young Charms Book 2)Death of a Witch hm-25 Read onlineDeath of a Witch hm-25Summer of Discontent Read onlineSummer of DiscontentPenelope Goes to Portsmouth Read onlinePenelope Goes to PortsmouthThe Day the Floods Came ar-12 Read onlineThe Day the Floods Came ar-12The Quiche of Death Read onlineThe Quiche of DeathDeath of a Dentist hm-13 Read onlineDeath of a Dentist hm-13Edwardian Murder Mystery 03; Sick of Shadows emm-3 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 03; Sick of Shadows emm-3Agatha Raisin The Deadly Dance ar-15 Read onlineAgatha Raisin The Deadly Dance ar-15Agatha Raisin & the Vicious Vet ar-2 Read onlineAgatha Raisin & the Vicious Vet ar-2Lessons in Love (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 3) Read onlineLessons in Love (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 3)Those Endearing Young Charms Read onlineThose Endearing Young CharmsAgatha Raisin and The Wellspring of Death ar-7 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and The Wellspring of Death ar-7Death of a Macho Man hm-12 Read onlineDeath of a Macho Man hm-12Lady Fortescue Steps Out Read onlineLady Fortescue Steps OutThe Wicked Godmother Read onlineThe Wicked GodmotherAgatha Raisin 18 (2007) - Kissing Christmas Goodbye Read onlineAgatha Raisin 18 (2007) - Kissing Christmas GoodbyeAgatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death ar-1 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death ar-1Agatha's First Case Read onlineAgatha's First CaseLady Fortescue Steps Out (The Poor Relation Series, Vol. 1) Read onlineLady Fortescue Steps Out (The Poor Relation Series, Vol. 1)There Goes The Bride Read onlineThere Goes The BrideAgatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Terrible TouristThe Folly Read onlineThe FollyThe Chocolate Debutante Read onlineThe Chocolate DebutanteHiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery Read onlineHiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin MysteryThe Education of Miss Paterson Read onlineThe Education of Miss PatersonAgatha Raisin Love, Lies and Liquor ar-17 Read onlineAgatha Raisin Love, Lies and Liquor ar-17Molly Read onlineMollyDeath of a Poison Pen hm-20 Read onlineDeath of a Poison Pen hm-20Hamish MacBeth 15 (1999) - Death of an Addict Read onlineHamish MacBeth 15 (1999) - Death of an AddictDeath of a Witch Read onlineDeath of a WitchHamish Macbeth 24 (2008) - Death of a Gentle Lady Read onlineHamish Macbeth 24 (2008) - Death of a Gentle LadyDeath of Yesterday Read onlineDeath of YesterdayMrs. Budley Falls from Grace Read onlineMrs. Budley Falls from GraceThe Daring Debutantes Bundle Read onlineThe Daring Debutantes BundleBusy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery Read onlineBusy Body: An Agatha Raisin MysteryPretty Polly Read onlinePretty PollyThe Case of the Curious Curate ar-13 Read onlineThe Case of the Curious Curate ar-13Death of a Travelling Man hm-9 Read onlineDeath of a Travelling Man hm-9Death of a Bore hm-21 Read onlineDeath of a Bore hm-21Rake's Progress: HFTS4 Read onlineRake's Progress: HFTS4Miss Fiona's Fancy (The Royal Ambition Series Book 3) Read onlineMiss Fiona's Fancy (The Royal Ambition Series Book 3)Hamish Macbeth 19 (2003) - Death of a Village Read onlineHamish Macbeth 19 (2003) - Death of a VillageLady Lucy's Lover Read onlineLady Lucy's LoverMilady in Love (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 5) Read onlineMilady in Love (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 5)Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue Read onlineColonel Sandhurst to the Rescue(17/30 Love, Lies and Liquor Read online(17/30 Love, Lies and LiquorHasty Death Read onlineHasty DeathDeath of a Nurse Read onlineDeath of a NurseDeath of a Scriptwriter hm-14 Read onlineDeath of a Scriptwriter hm-14The Chocolate Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 5) Read onlineThe Chocolate Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 5)Sally Read onlineSallyTilly Read onlineTillyDeath of a Dreamer hm-22 Read onlineDeath of a Dreamer hm-22Miss Davenport's Christmas (The Love and Temptation Series Book 6) Read onlineMiss Davenport's Christmas (The Love and Temptation Series Book 6)Death of a Dreamer Read onlineDeath of a DreamerDuke's Diamonds (Endearing Young Charms Book 1) Read onlineDuke's Diamonds (Endearing Young Charms Book 1)Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble (short story) Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble (short story)Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden ar-9 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden ar-9His Lordship's Pleasure (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 5) Read onlineHis Lordship's Pleasure (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 5)The Homecoming Read onlineThe HomecomingHamish Macbeth 02; Death of a Cad hm-2 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 02; Death of a Cad hm-2Agatha Raisin and The Potted Gardener ar-3 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and The Potted Gardener ar-3Death of a Glutton Read onlineDeath of a GluttonHamish Macbeth 02 (1987) - Death of a Cad Read onlineHamish Macbeth 02 (1987) - Death of a CadThe Wicked Godmother: HFTS3 Read onlineThe Wicked Godmother: HFTS3The Glitter and the Gold (Endearing Young Charms Book 7) Read onlineThe Glitter and the Gold (Endearing Young Charms Book 7)The Viscount's Revenge (The Royal Ambition Series Book 4) Read onlineThe Viscount's Revenge (The Royal Ambition Series Book 4)Her Grace's Passion Read onlineHer Grace's PassionHenrietta Read onlineHenriettaAt the Sign of the Golden Pineapple Read onlineAt the Sign of the Golden PineappleThe Blood of an Englishman Read onlineThe Blood of an EnglishmanSomething Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries) Read onlineSomething Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)Emily Goes to Exeter Read onlineEmily Goes to ExeterDeath of a Cad Read onlineDeath of a CadAgatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Wellspring of DeathDancing on the Wind (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 8) Read onlineDancing on the Wind (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 8)A Marriage of Inconvenience (Endearing Young Charms Book 5) Read onlineA Marriage of Inconvenience (Endearing Young Charms Book 5)The Ghost and Lady Alice (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 6) Read onlineThe Ghost and Lady Alice (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 6)Hamish Macbeth 04; Death of a Perfect Wife hm-4 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 04; Death of a Perfect Wife hm-4My Dear Duchess Read onlineMy Dear DuchessMrs. Budley Falls From Grace (The Poor Relation Series Book 3) Read onlineMrs. Budley Falls From Grace (The Poor Relation Series Book 3)Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Haunted HouseThe Education of Miss Patterson (The Love and Temptation Series Book 3) Read onlineThe Education of Miss Patterson (The Love and Temptation Series Book 3)Agatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley ar-4 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley ar-4The Original Miss Honeyford Read onlineThe Original Miss HoneyfordA Spoonful of Poison Read onlineA Spoonful of PoisonHamish Macbeth Omnibus Read onlineHamish Macbeth OmnibusAgatha Raisin and the Busy Body ar-21 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Busy Body ar-21Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Witch of WyckhaddenHamish Macbeth 08 (1993) - Death of a Glutton Read onlineHamish Macbeth 08 (1993) - Death of a GluttonDeath of a Gentle Lady hm-24 Read onlineDeath of a Gentle Lady hm-24Ms. Davenport's Christmas Read onlineMs. Davenport's ChristmasAgatha Raisin Kissing Christmas Goodbye ar-18 Read onlineAgatha Raisin Kissing Christmas Goodbye ar-18Lady Anne's Deception Read onlineLady Anne's DeceptionAgatha Raisin The Perfect Paragon ar-16 Read onlineAgatha Raisin The Perfect Paragon ar-16Edwardian Murder Mystery 02; Hasty Death emm-2 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 02; Hasty Death emm-2The Constant Companion Read onlineThe Constant CompanionHamish Macbeth 14 (1999) - Death of a Scriptwriter Read onlineHamish Macbeth 14 (1999) - Death of a ScriptwriterGinny Read onlineGinnyHamish Macbeth 10 (1994) - Death of a Charming Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 10 (1994) - Death of a Charming ManHamish Macbeth 03; Death of an Outsider hm-3 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 03; Death of an Outsider hm-3The Love from Hell ar-11 Read onlineThe Love from Hell ar-11The Scandalous Lady Wright (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 4) Read onlineThe Scandalous Lady Wright (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 4)Hamish Macbeth 17 (2001) - Death of a Dustman Read onlineHamish Macbeth 17 (2001) - Death of a DustmanHamish Macbeth 13 (1997) - Death of a Dentist Read onlineHamish Macbeth 13 (1997) - Death of a DentistThe Paper Princess (The Royal Ambition Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Paper Princess (The Royal Ambition Series Book 7)Rainbird's Revenge: HFTS6 Read onlineRainbird's Revenge: HFTS6The Perfect Gentleman (The Love and Temptation Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Perfect Gentleman (The Love and Temptation Series Book 7)Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) Read onlineSir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4)The Witches' Tree--An Agatha Raisin Mystery Read onlineThe Witches' Tree--An Agatha Raisin MysteryDeath of an Outsider Read onlineDeath of an OutsiderHamish MacBeth 03 (1988) - Death of an Outsider Read onlineHamish MacBeth 03 (1988) - Death of an OutsiderAgatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Perfect ParagonDeath of a Chimney Sweep Read onlineDeath of a Chimney SweepThe Dreadful Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 1) Read onlineThe Dreadful Debutante (The Royal Ambition Series Book 1)Something Borrowed, Someone Dead Read onlineSomething Borrowed, Someone DeadAgatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage ar-5 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage ar-5The Highland Countess Read onlineThe Highland CountessDeath of a Chimney Sweep hm-1 Read onlineDeath of a Chimney Sweep hm-1The Skeleton in the Closet Read onlineThe Skeleton in the ClosetSusie Read onlineSusieAgatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye Read onlineAgatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas GoodbyeRegency Gold (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 2) Read onlineRegency Gold (The Regency Intrigue Series Book 2)The Marquis Takes a Bride Read onlineThe Marquis Takes a BrideHamish Macbeth 16 (1999) - A Highland Christmas Read onlineHamish Macbeth 16 (1999) - A Highland ChristmasDeath of a Liar Read onlineDeath of a LiarHamish Macbeth 01; Death of a Gossip hm-1 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 01; Death of a Gossip hm-1Love and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8) Read onlineLove and Lady Lovelace (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 8)Death of an Honest Man Read onlineDeath of an Honest ManThe Desirable Duchess Read onlineThe Desirable DuchessDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3) Read onlineDeception (Daughters of Mannerling 3)A Highland Christmas hm-16 Read onlineA Highland Christmas hm-16Polly Read onlinePollyThe Savage Marquess Read onlineThe Savage MarquessAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted Gardener Read onlineAgatha Raisin 03 (1994) - The Potted GardenerPushing Up Daisies Read onlinePushing Up DaisiesDeath Of An Addict Read onlineDeath Of An AddictBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1) Read onlineBanishment (Daughters of Mannerling 1)Amaryllis Read onlineAmaryllisHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a Snob Read onlineHamish MacBeth 06 (1991) - Death of a SnobThe Paper Princess Read onlineThe Paper PrincessHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 06; Death of a Snob hm-6The Dreadful Debutante Read onlineThe Dreadful DebutanteAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Fairies of FryfamHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a Dreamer Read onlineHamish Macbeth 22 (2006) - Death of a DreamerDishing the Dirt Read onlineDishing the DirtMinerva Read onlineMinervaDeath of a Nag hm-11 Read onlineDeath of a Nag hm-11Hamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a Celebrity Read onlineHamish Macbeth 18 (2002) - Death of a CelebrityQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5) Read onlineQuadrille (The Love and Temptation Series Book 5)Death of a Glutton hm-8 Read onlineDeath of a Glutton hm-8The Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series) Read onlineThe Westerby Sisters (Changing Fortunes Series)The Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7) Read onlineThe Scandalous Marriage (The Dukes and Desires Series Book 7)The Adventuress: HFTS5 Read onlineThe Adventuress: HFTS5Death of a Valentine Read onlineDeath of a ValentineDeath of a Nag Read onlineDeath of a NagDeath of a Dustman hm-17 Read onlineDeath of a Dustman hm-17Hamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 09 (1993) - Death of a Travelling ManThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2) Read onlineThe Loves of Lord Granton (The Changing Fortunes Series, Vol. 2)Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19 Read onlineAgatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison ar-19To Dream of Love Read onlineTo Dream of LoveAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of Dembley Read onlineAgatha Raisin 04 (1995) - The Walkers of DembleyHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a Gossip Read onlineHamish MacBeth 01 (1985) - Death of a GossipDeath of a Maid hm-23 Read onlineDeath of a Maid hm-23Belinda Goes to Bath Read onlineBelinda Goes to BathDeath of a Kingfisher Read onlineDeath of a KingfisherDeath of a Charming Man hm-10 Read onlineDeath of a Charming Man hm-10Death of a Prankster hm-7 Read onlineDeath of a Prankster hm-7The Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1 Read onlineThe Miser of Mayfair: HFTS1Hamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5 Read onlineHamish Macbeth 05; Death of a Hussy hm-5A Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6) Read onlineA Governess of Distinction (Endearing Young Charms Book 6)The Westerby Inheritance Read onlineThe Westerby InheritanceDeath of a Hussy Read onlineDeath of a HussyHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a Prankster Read onlineHamish MacBeth 07 (1998) - Death of a PranksterHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison Pen Read onlineHamish Macbeth 20 (2004) - Death of a Poison PenMiss Tonks Turns to Crime Read onlineMiss Tonks Turns to CrimeEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1 Read onlineEdwardian Murder Mystery 01; Snobbery with Violence emm-1Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Wizard of EveshamHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho Man Read onlineHamish Macbeth 12 (1996) - Death of a Macho ManYvonne Goes to York Read onlineYvonne Goes to YorkA Highland Christmas Read onlineA Highland ChristmasSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4) Read onlineSweet Masquerade (The Love and Temptation Series Book 4)Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wykhadden Read onlineAgatha Raisin and the Witch of WykhaddenThe Dead Ringer Read onlineThe Dead RingerAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous Marriage Read onlineAgatha Raisin 05 (1996) - The Murderous MarriageAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of Death Read onlineAgatha Raisin 07 (1998) - The Wellspring of DeathAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22 Read onlineAgatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns ar-22