The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

was appalled. “Mr. Jones, if you came here today under false pretenses, be assured that I will go straight to the new Master of the Society and register a complaint about your services in the strongest possible terms.”
    “Probably best not to bother Gabe at the moment. He’s got his hands full trying to reorganize the Governing Council. Seems to believe he can actually get rid of some of those doddering old fools who are still playing at alchemy. I’ve warned him that a few of them might become dangerous if they find out that they are to be replaced but he insists that an element of democracy is what is needed to put the Society on the path for the new century.”
    “Mr. Jones,” she said sternly. “I am trying to discuss my case with you.”
    “Right. Where were we? Ah, yes, confidentiality.”
    “Well, then? Are you prepared to guarantee that you will keep everything pertaining to this matter confidential?”
    “Miss Bromley, this may come as a surprise to you, but I keep most things confidential. I am not a sociable man. Just ask anyone who knows me. I despise drawing room conversation and, while I always listen to gossip because I find it is often a source of useful information, I never engage in it.”
    She had no trouble believing that. “I see.”
    “You have my promise that I will keep your secrets.”
    Relief washed through her. “Thank you.”
    “With one exception.”
    She froze. “What is that?”
    “While the services of my firm are available to all members of the Arcane Society, it is understood that my first responsibility is to protect the secrets of the organization.”
    She brushed that aside impatiently. “Yes, yes, that was made clear by Gabriel Jones when he announced the establishment of your firm. I assure you, my problem has nothing to do with Arcane Society secrets. This is a simple matter of plant theft and murder. My only goal is to stay out of prison.”
    Icy amusement flickered in his eyes. “A sensible ambition.” He removed a small notebook and a pencil from an inside pocket of his elegantly cut coat. “Tell me about the theft.”
    She put aside her cup and saucer. “A month ago a man named Dr. Knox called upon me. He claimed to have been referred by an old friend of my father’s. Like you, Mr. Jones, I do not go out into society. Nevertheless, I occasionally enjoy the company of others who are as interested in botany as I am.”
    “Knox was, I take it, very keen on rare plants?”
    “Yes. He requested a tour of my conservatory. Said he’d read all of my father’s books and papers. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I saw no reason to refuse.”
    Caleb looked up from his notes. “Do you frequently provide such tours?”
    “No, of course not. This isn’t Kew Gardens or the Carstairs Botanical Society.”
    The old anger shafted through her. She managed, just barely, not to allow it to show in her expression but she could feel her jaw clenching slightly. She suspected that the very observant Mr. Jones noticed the small movement.
    “I understand,” he said.
    “In any event, following my father’s death and the death of my fiancé, there have been very few requests for tours, I assure you.”
    She thought she glimpsed something that might have been sympathy in his expression but it vanished in a heartbeat. She must have been mistaken, she decided. It was unlikely that Caleb Jones would recognize such a delicate sensibility if he fell over it.
    “Please continue with your account, Miss Bromley,” he said.
    “Dr. Knox and I spent nearly two hours in the conservatory. Before long it became obvious that he was particularly interested in my medicinal plants and herbs.”
    Caleb stopped writing again and gave her a sharp, searching look. “You grow medicinal plants?”
    “They are my specialty, Mr. Jones.”
    “I didn’t know that.”
    “Both of my parents were talented botanists but my mother’s chief area of interest was the study of the medicinal