Marion Chesney - Our Lady of Pain

OUR LADY

OF

PAIN

A LSO BY M ARION G HESNEY

Sick of Shadows

Hasty Death

Snobbery with Violence

W RITING AS M. C. B EATON

The Skeleton in the Closet

THE AGATHA RAISIN SERIES

The Perfect Paragon

The Deadly Dance

Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet

The Quiche of Death

THE HAMISH MACBETH SERIES

MARION GHESNEY

ST. MARTINS MINOTAUR NEW YORK

OUR LADY OF PAIN . Copyright 2006 by Marion Chesney. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.minotaurbooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Chesney, Marion.

Our lady of pain / Marion Chesney.1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 0-312-32968-7

EAN 978-0-312-32968-6

1. Great BritainHistoryEdward VII, 19011910Fiction. 2. CourtesansCrimes againstFiction. 3. Women detectivesEnglandFiction. 4. PoliceGreat BritainFiction. I. Title.

PR6053.H4535O94 2006
823'.914dc22

2005051699

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

For Sophie and Tom Lacey

and

their daughter, Tilly ,

with affection

OUR LADY

OF

PAIN

Up until that dreadful day in February, Lady Rose Summer would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that she was not a jealous woman.

She and her companion, Daisy Levine, had been suitably attired by the ladys maid to go to work: severe tweed skirts and jackets, long woollen coats, andto the distress of Daisydepressingly plain hats.

The fact that the Earl and Countess of Hadshire had allowed their daughter to go out to work was the result of many stormy scenes. Rose was engaged to a private detective, Captain Harry Cathcart. His previous secretary, too fond of gin, had sobered up and taken herself off to do mission work in Borneo. Rose, who had trained herself in shorthand and typing, had promptly offered to replace her.

Her parents did not know that she had an arranged engagement with Harry. Having failed a Season, they had threatened to send her off to India, the favourite destination for all failed debutantes. Horrified, Rose had begged Harry to ask for her hand in marriage.

The reason that her parents had finally capitulated was because their daughter had previously got herself into so many dangerous situations, and Harry had pointed out she would be safer under his constant protection. Daisy had promptly volunteered to act as undersecretary to guard her mistress.

The day was cold, blustery and dark as they entered Harrys office in Buckingham Palace Road.

Daisy lit the gas lamps, raked out the fire, piled up paper, kindling and coal, and soon had a cheerful blaze going.

From the shadow behind the frosted glass of the inner door, they could see Harry had already arrived. They hung up their coats, unpinned their hats and sat down at their respective desks.

Harry put his head around the door. I have some letters for you to type. Bring your notebook, Miss Summer. It had been agreed to drop Roses title while she was at work. Miss Levine, you will find on your desk various bills to be sent out.

Rose sat primly in front of Harry, her notebook ready. Harry shot her an irritated glance. Despite the severity of her hairstyle, Rose was disturbingly beautiful, with her large blue eyes and clear skin. He often chafed at this odd engagement and wished to end it, but somehow could not bear to think of Rose with any other man.

He was a tall man with thick, dark hair going slightly grey at the temples. He had black eyes under heavy lids and a hard, handsome face.

Rose gave a little cough, wondering why he did not start dictating. Harry gave himself a mental shake and began the days business as Roses pencil flew over the shorthand pad.

When he was nearly finished, Rose heard the outer door of the office open. Then Daisy entered and said, Theres a lady to see you. A Miss Dolores Duval. She handed Harry a little visiting card.

That will be all for now, Miss Summer, said Harry. Show her in, Miss Levine.

A subtle scent preceded Dolores. Rose blinked at the vision that entered the room. Dolores had a curvaceous figure clad in a sky blue velvet gown. Her sable coat was thrown open. The gown was low-cut to reveal the top halves of two magnificent white breasts. On her golden hair was perched a saucy little tricorne of a hat with an ostrich plume wrapped around the top in a half circle.

Rose left them and went back to her desk. I didnt think he did any jobs for the demi-monde, hissed Daisy. That ones no better than she should be.

Maybe shes an actress, suggested Rose.

And maybe Im the bleedin horses arse.

Daisy! Language! Daisy often slipped and revealed her Cockney origins.

A tinkling seductive laugh came from the inner office. Shes French, muttered Daisy.

Then Rose heard Harry laugh.

Ive never heard him laugh like that, exclaimed Rose.

Rose tried to type, but her fingers, usually so nimble, kept hitting the wrong keys.

Dolores seemed to be with Harry for quite a long time. At last they both emerged, Harry looking younger and happier than Rose had ever seen him appear before.

Finish your work, ordered Harry, and then take the rest of the day off.

He and Dolores went out and Rose and Daisy could hear them descending the stairs. Doloress voice floated back to them. Such a greem-looking pair of secretaries. Tiens! Dont they frighten you?