Free Reckless Rules (Brambridge Novel 4) by Pearl Darling Page B

himself. Picking up the gravy boat and handing it to Lord Granwich, he grinned. “I never reveal my sauces… I beg your pardon… sources to anyone."
    Lord Granwich groaned. “Go away and leave me in peace.”
     

CHAPTER 7
     
    Victoria slowly pulled on the gloves that Carruthers handed to her. The soft fur of their insides brushed against her cold fingers. She looked up at the portrait of herself and Lord Colchester hanging above the hall table and shuddered once again at the memory of the sitting for it, Colchester leaning over her, staring at the table upon which the painter had hurriedly placed a skull, two candlesticks, an open bible and a piece of lace. The portrait artist had explained that such a grouping was all the rage, showing the position of a wife in the household, and the learnedness of her husband. She tore her gaze away from the cold, dark colors and with relief fixed on the light colors of the hall.
    “I have reflected on each of the six cases,” she said without preamble. “And I will take none of them.”
    Carruthers gave her a blank stare as a footman descended the stairs and disappeared into the depths of the kitchens below. “Very good, my lady,” he said, gently taking Victoria’s hat from the hall table and waiting for her to finish fiddling with her gloves.
    Victoria glanced around the hall; seeing no one, she continued. “Frankly three of them were simply missing cat cases. They would have lowered my reputation if I had taken them on. One is a gentlemen looking to investigate his wife’s activities, something which I do not condone; another is of housebreaking at Lord Colthaven’s house. I do not want to deal with the man and he should have called the Bow Street Runners immediately if he has indeed lost a valuable amethyst inlaid diamond necklace and antique Indian dagger. Goodness knows why he didn’t.” Victoria paused for breath and continued, “And the sixth is a man I have never heard of until recently, Mr. —”
    “Durnish,” Carruthers supplied.
    Victoria nodded. “Exactly. I need to know more about him before I look into his case. Can you remind me again of the details?”
    “Mr. Durnish is looking for his brother. He will only reveal more details if you agree to meet with him personally.”
    “And he doesn’t know who I am?”
    “No, he made his enquiry through the usual channels, applying to the Colangle Investigation Agency via Chantelle’s sister in Regent’s Street.”
    “Good.” Chantelle was Victoria’s long suffering French lady’s maid. Her sister had set up shop as a seamstress in Regent Street, and for a small retainer fielded all enquiries that came in for investigative work. These were then passed on to Carruthers.
    “How is Isabelle, might I ask?”
    Carruthers reddened slightly. “She is well, my lady,” he said stiffly, crushing the light straw on Victoria’s hat with tense fingers.
    With a small smile and gentle hands, Victoria removed the hat from Carruthers and pinned it to her head. Whilst it was a good thing to be friends with her butler, it didn’t do to let Carruthers think that he had the upper hand all the time. It hadn’t been hard to divine poor Carruthers’ feelings for Isabelle. Every time he came back from Regent Street, his eyes took on an unfocused quality and he spoke in reverential tones of the seamstress there. He also took every opportunity to visit her shop.
    “I am going out to meet with Mr. Edward Deacon at Mile End Pauper House.”
    Carruthers wrung his empty hands slightly and thrust them behind his back. “Very good, my lady.”
    “Is there anything I should know before I go?”
    “Much will have changed since I was there. I would not be able to tell you anything insightful.”
    Victoria nodded. If Carruthers wanted to act like a clam about his upbringing then she was not going to pry. She had told no one about her life with Colchester and heaven forbid would anybody find out. Each to his own; everyone had the