Death Among Rubies by R. J. Koreto Read Free Book Online Page A

So we may be a little late with those speeches and pamphlets.”
    Mrs. Elkhorn gave a quick laugh. “Frances, you’ve never let me down. It’s more important that women are there to support each other—the pamphlets can wait. Gwen will be besieged by men: police, her fathers’ advisors, solicitors. The whole point of the League is women working together to help each other.”
    “I’ll take good care of Gwen,” promised Frances.
    “Let Tommie take care of Gwen,” said Mrs. Elkhorn. “She’s very nurturing to her. That is not your strong point, Frances. You have other skills.”
    It was insulting. But honest and true. “Of course, Mrs. Elkhorn. ‘We each have a role to play,’” she said, quoting one of her mentor’s favorite quotes back to her.
    “Very good, my dear. Keep me posted, if you can, and see you when you return. If anyone can succeed, you can.”
    Frances felt flushed with pride after the call. She valued no one’s opinion more than Mrs. Elkhorn’s.
    Next, she called her closest friend Mary, who was also her brother’s wife. Cumberland, the butler, answered the call.
    “A pleasure to hear from you, my lady. I will connect you to Lady Seaforth, who is in the drawing room.” A moment later, Mary was on the line.
    “Mary? I’m at Kestrel’s Eyrie. I came up with Gwen Kestrel and Tommie Calvin to work in quiet on some suffrage projects . . . but you must’ve already heard what happened.”
    “Yes, a special messenger came from Whitehall. Charles is closeted in his study with foreign office staffers. You know of course he was a distinguished diplomat. How is Gwen faring?”
    “Not well. As you know she’s a rather sensitive soul and this hit her hard. Tommie and I are doing what we can.”
    “Of course.” She paused. “Are you going to . . . insert yourself into this? I can’t imagine it’s anything but a lunatic who slipped into the house somehow. It’s an enormous residence, probably with half a dozen doors.”
    “I have been known to help the police,” said Frances.
    Mary laughed. “And they’ll be lucky to have you, even if they do resist the advice of a civilian—and a mere woman at that! But do be careful. Meanwhile, I can give you a clue. It was a secret, but now that it’s over, I’m sure Charles won’t mind. Sir Calleford was hosting a special meeting, or a series of meetings. A high-ranking French diplomat was there, and a Turkish diplomat as well. The Foreign Office has been very concerned with the instability in the Ottoman Empire, and concerned about what France would do. Oh, and more . . .” she reduced her voice to a whisper. “Charles has been receiving and sending an unusual number of special coded cables to the Eyrie, with confidential messengers arriving at all hours. Cumberland has been driven to distraction. Of course Charles can’t discuss the details, but something special, something unusual, was going on. Anyway, last night was the concluding dinner.”
    “Another interesting angle,” said Frances. This clarified the purpose of the dinner, which Gwen had told her about, but also made it clear that there was something secret going on.
    “Aha, you said ‘another.’ The Lady Sherlock is already on the case. Best of luck, my sweet, and make sure Mallow is by your side to guard you. But one more thing—” And even with the crackly phone connection, Frances heard a sharp change in Mary’s tone. She always backed up Frances’s suffrage work and police involvement with support and amusement, but now turned serious. “When you are settled back in London, you mustcome over for a long chat—lunch, or tea, just the two of us. I miss you.”
    “No more than I miss you. We will get together—I promise. Give my love to Charles.”
    One more call. A deferential clerk answered: “Caleb Wheaton, Solicitors.”
    “Mr. Henry Wheaton, please. Lady Frances Ffolkes calling.” And a moment later Hal was on the phone.
    “I can guess why you’re