Free Death of a Fop (Bow Street Consultant series Book 1) by Sarah Waldock Page A

similarity in name between the malted porter he was used to and this fortified wine was a coincidence and the effects of the two should never be confused – or the unwary drinker of port would be the one to become confused!
    “It’s like this” said Caleb “Mr Churchill was into something havy-cavy as I expect you have surmised.”
    “Well if you ask me, and since it’s the mistress who pays my wages now, he was a dashed loose screw” said Fowler “And I don’t need military language to explain it! Bless the lady, she has no need to take on his Cyprian!”
    “The girl was attacked by the ruffians who killed him thinking that she knew what they couldn’t get out of him” said Caleb “Which is how I come to be staying here, account of worrying that they might turn up to torture Mrs Churchill, or the babby to make her talk.”
    “You don’t say!” Fowler was deeply shocked and actually showed it in a spasm of emotion across his wooden face. “Well then Mr Armitage, I’ll fettle Mr Churchill’s pistol then and sleep with that aside me just in case!” said he grimly. “Pretty deep stuff he was in then?”
    “I think deeper than he realised; which was how come he did something to annoy them; and I don’t know nothin’ so I shan’t be whiddling the scrap to you right now” said Caleb. “But if it leads to catching some other precious villains, there’s a reward in it for missus; which means she’ll be able to feel that she can keep on the house and her servants and you my lad as secure as her.”
    “Well I hope you manage that, Mr Armitage…. Lawks but you do manage that hussy well!”
    “Oh I think she’ll be amenable to you dropping her a hint too, Mr Fowler; especially if I put it to her that she’s to listen to you. Give her a burst of the old tongue if you know what I mean.”
    Fowler flushed.
    “It took me long enough to lose it” he said.
    “Oh but a wise man knows ‘ow to be bilingual” said Caleb “I learned some swell-cove words in the army and how to pick up me aitches most of the time; but I’d be no end grateful if you’d give me a few tips” he added artfully. A few tips would be useful; and so would consolidating his position as an ally to Fowler by letting the man feel that he could show Caleb a thing or two.
    “It’s all in the accent” said Fowler “See when I started learning – teaching – myself I started of talking with a round pebble in my mouth to make me mince my words out. Getting the grammar right – that’s just book learning that you can do in a library. But the voice now; that’s the hard bit. Different vowels.”
    “You don’t say!” said Caleb “Well I call that downright ingenious I do. Here, put that decanter out of the way, lad, before it looks too tempting-like back at us both.”
    “You’re right” said Fowler, moving the decanter firmly onto the tray and standing up. “Well, Mr Armitage, time for me to ask Maggie Ketch to put on water to boil for you and the….Mistress and her guest. Thank you kindly for letting me know what’s what. And an army man is always respectable; my brother was in the army.”
    With which pronouncement he swept out as silent footed and majestic as usual.
    Caleb went through to join the women and found Frances had been brought down. She crawled over to him and took a hold of his boot. Caleb stooped and picked her up without thinking, and threw her up.
    For a moment her lower lip wobbled ominously; then she decided that she had liked the experience and gave a gurgle of delight. Caleb threw her up again so that she was giggling and gave her firmly back to young Annie who was watching him in some trepidation.
    “Have you children of your own, Mr Armitage?” asked Jane, a wistful look on her face.
    “No ma’am; a few nieces and nephews. Never married” said Caleb.
    “You look as though you are quite natural with babies” said Jane “I cannot imagine Frank doing that.”
    She did not mention – she did not