Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) by Maureen Driscoll Read Free Book Online Page B

have a pleasant day?”
    “Thank you, Mr. Keegan, I did.  The weather was
brisk but….”  He looked up at the portrait of the duke and duchess.  He
couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was slightly different, almost as
if they were sitting closer together than before.  Perhaps it was a trick of
the afternoon light.
    “Inspector?  Is everything all right?”
    “Yes, it’s just…never mind.  What time will dinner
be ready?”
    “As soon as you like it, sir.  We tend to eat fairly
early here, but Cook can serve you any time you wish.”
    “What time will the staff be eating?”
    “The staff, sir?”
    “Yes, Mr. Keegan.  If it would not upset the routine
terribly much, I should like to dine with all of you.  I eat too many meals
alone.  I would be glad for the company.”  It would also give him the chance to
learn more about Lady Evelyn.
    “But you are his grace’s guest, Inspector.”
    “I am also a man quite unused to the privileges of
the peerage.  Please.”
    Mr. Keegan shook his head, smiling.  “As you wish,
Inspector, but it won’t be fancy.”
    What the meal might have lacked in the opulence of
ducal china, it certainly made up for in warmth.  In addition to Mr. and Mrs.
Keegan, they were joined by Logan the underbutler, Oates the maid and Martha,
the cook.  The grooms had the night off and were at the tavern in town.
    It was readily apparent that the servants were
utterly devoted to the Kellington family and that Logan and Oates were as much
in love with each other as the Keegans were.  Martha had grown up in Caversham
and was widowed some twenty years.  She and the Keegans had worked for the late
duke and duchess.
    “A more devoted couple you could not find,” said
Martha.  “Very much in love.  It was a tragedy to lose them so young, but it would
have been so difficult to have one survive without the other.”
    “I don’t think they could have done it,” said Mrs.
Keegan.  “The other would have died of a broken heart.  I believe they’ve
looked after the young duke and the others from heaven.  Sometimes you can even
feel their presence.”
    “About that,” said Stapleton.  “There is something
quite extraordinary about the portrait.”
    “We were pleased to hear you commented on the duke
and duchess,” said Oates.  “Not many do.”
    “It is a very interesting composition.  Why, just
this afternoon I could have sworn…”
    “Would you like some more wine, Inspector?” asked
Mr. Keegan.  “His grace keeps an excellent wine cellar and instructs us to use
enough so none goes bad.  He’s such a good master.”
    “He always has been,” said Mrs. Keegan.  “Even as a
young lad.  All the children were, though Master Hal was certainly a scamp. 
Did he ever outgrow his boisterousness, Inspector?  I certainly hope not.”
    “Please call me Joseph.  And Hal retained a certain ‘boisterousness’
until recently.  But now that he is married, I believe he will be more sedate.” 
That was the most polite way he could think of to describe the former rake’s
behavior.
    “What will you do to help Lady Evelyn find a good
husband?” asked Mrs. Keegan.
    “Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss Lady
Evelyn’s concerns.  But I would like to know about the portrait…”
    “Everyone knows about the late earl’s will,” said
Logan.  “As well as the current earl’s efforts to steal the land from Lady
Evelyn.  It’s a shameful thing, it is.  The old earl would not want any part of
it.”
    “He would be most upset to think of his tenants
being displaced, ‘tis true,” said Oates.  “And I think it’s horrible making
poor Lady Evelyn marry in such a short amount of time, especially since there’s
not a man good enough for her, if I do say so.”
    “She is well liked in the county?” asked Stapleton.
    “All but worshipped,” said Logan.  “She is most
generous with her tenants and lends a hand to even those who don’t live on