Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page A

Number Fourteen, Hazelton Square, was in the middle of a row of very fine town houses that fronted one side of the lush green park. Elegant colonnades and new gas streetlamps marked the entrance of each residence. A sense of unease trickled through her as she took in the sight of the two gleaming carriages waiting in the street. They were horsed with glossy, well-matched teams. The grooms who held the reins were attired in expensive livery. As she watched, a lady emerged from Number Sixteen and came down the steps. Her pale pink walking dress with its matching pelisse had obviously come from a modiste who catered to a wealthy, stylish clientele. This was not quite the sort of neighborhood she had expected to find herself in when she had set out this morning, Lavinia reflected. It was difficult to believe that Holton Felix had been acquainted with, let alone had actually tried to blackmail, a person who lived at such a fashionable address. She studied the colonnaded residences warily It would not be easy to talk her way into the front hall of one of these houses. Nevertheless, she could not see any other choice but to make the attempt. The address she held in her hand was the only clue she possessed at the moment. She had to start somewhere. Steeling herself for the task, she crossed the street and went up the white marble steps of Number Fourteen. She raised the heavy brass knocker and rapped it with what she hoped was an authoritative strike. Muffled footsteps sounded from the hall. A moment later the door opened. An imperious-looking butler built along the lines of a large bull gazed down at heL She could see by the expression in his eyes that he was already planning to close the door in her face. Hastily she extended one of the crisp, new cards she had ordered from a printer last month. "Kindly present this to your employer," she said briskly. "it is most urgent. My name is Lavinia Lake." The butler glanced disdainfully at the note. He clearly harbored grave doubts about the wisdom of accepting it. "I believe you will find that I am expected," Lavinia said in her iciest tones. It was a bald-faced lie, but it was all she could think of at the moment. "Very well, madam." He stood back to allow her into the hall. "You may wait here." She drew a deep breath and stepped hastily over the threshold. She had jumped the first hurdle, she thought. She was inside. The butler disappeared down a shadowy hall. Lavinia took the opportunity to assess her surroundings. The black and white tiles beneath her feet, together with the elaborately framed and gilded mirrors on the walls, spoke of fashionable taste and a great deal of money She heard the footsteps of the returning butler and held her breath. When he appeared, she knew immediately that her card had worked. "Mrs. Dove will see you. This way, if you please, madam." She started to breathe again. So much for the easy part. Now she faced the infinitely more delicate task of persuading a stranger to talk to her about blackmail and murder. She was shown into a large drawing room done in shades of yellow, green, and gilt. The furnishings were covered in striped silks. Heavy green velvet drapes tied back with yellow cords framed the view of the park. Her footsteps were hushed by a thick carpet woven in the same hues. A strikingly elegant woman occupied one of the gilded sofas. She was dressed in an exquisitely stylish gown cut from the palest of silver-gray silk trimmed with black. Her hair was caught up at the back of her head in a graceful style that subtly emphasized the graceful length of her neck. From a distance she could have been easily mistaken for a woman in her early thirties. But as Lavinia drew closer she noticed the fine lines at the corners of the intelligent eyes and an unmistakable softness around a throat and jaw that had once no doubt been quite firm. There was a fair amount of silver in the honey-colored hair. The lady was closer to fortyfive than thirty-five. "Mrs. Lake,