Murder on Charing Cross Road Read Free

house. It ain’t grand enough for Luten’s table.”
    “I didn’t know you used tablecloths.”
    “I don’t, but it’ll come in handy if I ever have to throw a dinner party. It’s too good for rags.”
    They parted. Coffen, always hungry, decided to have a bite before delivering the invitation. When he had changed into evening clothes and gnawed his way through a few bites of tough mutton and watery potatoes his cook called dinner, he decided to drop in on Black. Black would feed him. He was acting as caretaker for Corinne’s house until they found someone to rent it. Luten wanted to keep the property in the family. He took the card for Luten from the salver by the door where he had left it and popped in on Black, who had the door open for him.
    Black had been in the habit of monitoring all the comings and goings of the friends on Berkeley Square to keep his mistress informed of their doings. This was no longer possible now that she wasn’t living here, but old habits died hard. And there was always the possibility that he’d catch a glimpse of her.
    Black had been in love with her from first moment he had seen her. Black had been associated with Lord deCoventry for years before he married his Irish Bride. There had been occasions when even a lord had doings with the demi-monde, and deCoventry had found Black to be reliable in dealing with them. As death drew near, he had fears for the future of his young widow-to-be. Such a beauty — raven hair , a face like an angel, eyes as green as the grass of Ireland and no notion of how wicked the world was — would be bait for all sorts of ne’er-do-wells.
    The estate went out of her hands but deCoventry had provided the little house on Berkeley Square, along with a country place and a competence —enough to attract fortune hunters. DeCoventry had charged Black with the job of seeing to her safety. He then told his wife that Black was to be her butler, and she was to trust him. She had found it good advice. But now that she was married to Lord Luten, Black’s job was over. Luten would see to her safekeeping.
    The Berkeley Brigade knew nothing of Black’s dealings with deCoventry but they knew his past was shady. They also knew deCoventry trusted him, and that he was an excellent butler. He had often helped them with cases in the past when knowledge of the criminal classes was necessary.
    “Evening, Black,”Coffen said. “I see you’re keeping on the qui vive.”
    Black gave a weary sigh. “I am, though I hardly know why I bother. Things ain’t the same for me since she left.”
    “She didn’t go far,”Coffen pointed out.
    “True, but she’s not here. Have you ate, Mr. Pattle, or will you join me in a wee bite? I’d be happy for the company.”
    “I could do with a bite,”Coffen admitted.
    Black led him to the kitchen, where he rustled up some tasty gammon and eggs. In his dreams, Black assumed the role of Lord Blackwell, friend and beloved of Lady Luten. He usually kept his infatuation on a tight leash, but his conversation that evening gave Pattle the hint he was sorely missing her.
    To cheer him up, Coffen said, “You can go see her right now. I have this invitation Prance wanted me to give her. It’s not important, an invite to some do they likely won’t be attending.”
    “I’ll do that, Mr. Pattle. I’ll see she gets it,”he said eagerly, and took the invitation.
    “Thankee, Black. And if you get lonesome, just pop over to my place for a chin wag, any time.”
    Black’s lined face creased in a smile of gratitude. Mr. Pattle was his favorite of all the gentlemen of the Brigade. Coffen left and Black made a careful toilette before going to call on Lady Luten. But when Evans answered the door, he learned that the Lutens were dining with the Greys before going on to Lady Jergen’s party. They must have left while he was getting dressed. “I’ll see it’s delivered when they return,”Evans said, taking the envelope.
    Black returned across