The Sign of Death (Victorian Book Club Mystery 2)

He’d pressed his index finger and thumb to the bridge of his nose. “No gun.”

Amy was ready and eager to go when he arrived at her house. However, since fate loved to play little games, Lord Winchester was also home, and invited him in for a drink.

“Where are you off to tonight?” Winchester swirled his brandy and smiled a warm and frightening smile at him.

Well, my lord, I am about to bring your daughter to one of the seedier parts of town. In fact, next to a place where a man was killed. But then, I’m sure you don’t mind. No need to worry, since I am carrying a gun, because once before when we were out and about, we were shot at. May I have some more brandy, please?

“We are making a trip to the bookstore.”

“The bookstore? Don’t you go there every Thursday?” Winchester frowned. “Today is Tuesday.”

William cleared this throat. “Yes, very true. However, the book we are to read for this week’s meeting was unavailable last week, but the store clerk said it would be in today. Late shipment.”

Winchester nodded and then quickly changed the subject, for which William was grateful until he heard the question. “Young man, I would like your support in something.”

Amy glared at her papa, and William got a sinking feeling in his stomach. “Yes, my lord?”

“Amy tells me that you are aware of her writing hobby.”

“Hobby! Papa, I write well-selling books that I make money on.”

Winchester pointed his finger at her. “No matter. A woman has no need to earn money if she has respectable men in her family. Only the lowest of the low must send their wives and daughters out to seek employment.” He took a sip of his brandy. “Am I not right, Wethington?”

How the devil was he going to get out of this one? He decided to play the diplomat. “I agree that there is more female employment in the lower classes.”

> He didn’t applaud himself for avoiding the issue, because he knew Amy’s father was not finished. The questions were only going to get harder to answer if he wished to maintain his friendship with Amy and not vex her father at the same time.

Since William had been considering marriage of late, Lord Winchester would be the man to approve or disapprove when he came with a request for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He would have to tread very carefully here.

“Lady Amy tells me her publisher is requiring her to appear at some book fair.” Lord Winchester waved his hand around in a sign of dismissal.

Since that was not a question, William merely nodded and looked longingly at his empty brandy glass. He could use a bit more, facing the interrogation.

“I have the perfect solution, but my daughter is not happy with the perfect answer.”

“Oh?” Here it comes.

“I suggested we hire someone—a man—to appear as this E. D. Burton person at the book fair and make everyone happy.”

William groaned inwardly. This would not make Amy happy, and in this case he had to agree with her. There was simply no easy way of getting out of this. Straightening his shoulders, he looked Winchester in the eye. “My lord, I find I cannot agree with you.”

Winchester’s brows rose. “Indeed?”

“Yes, sir. With all due respect, Lady Amy has worked hard on those books, and while she has abided by your wish to keep her identity private, I cannot support your idea, which would wipe out all her work and hand the accolades and praise for such fine books to an unknown man.”

Amy’s father stared at him for a few moments while William sweated it out. “Is that right?” Winchester gulped the last of his brandy.

William looked over at Amy, and the glow on her face and happiness in her eyes was worth whatever misfortune he had just brought down on his head.

“I have matters to attend to right now.” Lord Winchester stood and placed his glass on the table in front of him. “Enjoy your trip to the bookstore.” With those curt words, he strode from the drawing room, leaving Amy and William staring at each other.

“At least he didn’t have Stevens throw me out.” William stood and took Amy’s hand. “Let’s go before he changes his mind.”

Once they were settled in the carriage and on their way, Amy folded her hands and placed them in her lap. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. While I sympathize with your father in wanting to keep your identity hidden, I don’t agree with it.”

Her jaw dropped. “You don’t?”