Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Emily Brightwell

the inspector and mrs. jeffries

mrs. jeffries dusts for clues

the ghost and mrs. jeffries

mrs. jeffries takes stock

mrs. jeffries on the ball

mrs. jeffries on the trail

mrs. jeffries plays the cook

mrs. jeffries and the missing alibi

mrs. jeffries stands corrected

mrs. jeffries takes the stage

mrs. jeffries questions the answer

mrs. jeffries reveals her art

mrs. jeffries takes the cake

mrs. jeffries rocks the boat

mrs. jeffries weeds the plot

mrs. jeffries pinches the post

mrs. jeffries pleads her case

mrs. jeffries sweeps the chimney

mrs. jeffries stalks the hunter

mrs. jeffries and the silent knight

mrs. jeffries appeals the verdict

mrs. jeffries and the best laid plans

mrs. jeffries and the feast of st. stephen

mrs. jeffries holds the trump

mrs. jeffries in the nick of time

mrs. jeffries and the yuletide weddings

mrs. jeffries speaks her mind

mrs. jeffries forges ahead

mrs. jeffries and the mistletoe mix-up

mrs. jeffries defends her own

mrs. jeffries turns the tide

mrs. jeffries and the merry gentlemen

mrs. jeffries and the one who got away

mrs. jeffries wins the prize

mrs. jeffries rights a wrong

mrs. jeffries and the three wise women

mrs. jeffries and the alms of the angel

mrs. jeffries and the midwinter murders

Anthologies

mrs. jeffries learns the trade

mrs. jeffries takes a second look

mrs. jeffries takes tea at three

mrs. jeffries sallies forth

mrs. jeffries pleads the fifth

mrs. jeffries serves at six

Mrs. Jeffries and the

Midwinter Murders

9

Emily Brightwell

Berkley Prime Crime New York

BERKLEY PRIME CRIME

Published by Berkley

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

[...]

Copyright © 2021 by Cheryl A. Arguile

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Brightwell, Emily, author.

Title: Mrs. Jeffries and the midwinter murders / Emily Brightwell.

Description: First edition. | New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 2021. |

Series: A Victorian mystery; 40

Identifiers: LCCN 2021022238 (print) | LCCN 2021022239 (ebook) |

ISBN 9780593101087 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780593101094 (ebook)

Subjects: GSAFD: Mystery fiction.

Classification: LCC PS3552.R46443 M635 2021 (print) |

LCC PS3552.R46443 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54-dc23

LC record available at [...]

LC ebook record available at [...]

Printed in the United States of America

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book is dedicated to the Very Reverend Jeffery Paul with thanks and gratitude for all his help, and to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Carson City, Nevada

Chapter 1

"How much longer is your wife going to keep us waiting?" Ellen Swineburn glared at the empty chair opposite her father before turning her attention to the others around the elegantly set table. Percy, her brother, drummed his fingers on the top of the silver napkin ring around his serviette. Next to him, Marcella Blakstone, their houseguest, took another sip from the aperitif she'd carried in from the drawing room.

Ellen pursed her lips in disapproval. Marcella was her stepmother's friend and, like her stepmother, was immune to the subtle nuances that separated the genuinely well bred from upstart pretenders. The frown disappeared off her thin, horsey face as her gaze met that of the Reverend Daniel Wheeler, the handsome nephew of the very same stepmother who was keeping everyone waiting for their dinner.

"Be a bit patient, Ellen," Jacob Andover, her father, replied. "I'm sure Harriet's on her way down. She wouldn't deliberately keep everyone waiting."

"You said that ten minutes ago," Percy interjected. He pushed his spectacles up his thin nose. "I'm hungry and we've waited long enough. I say you tell Mrs. Barnard to start serving."

Jacob sighed and reached for the small bell at the side of his plate. Picking it up, he rang it, and a moment later, the housekeeper, who was waiting in the adjoining butler's pantry with the serving maid, stepped through the door and stopped just inside the huge dining room. "Ah, Mrs. Barnard, send one of the maids upstairs to see what's keeping Mrs. Andover."

"She's not upstairs, sir. I don't think Mrs. Andover has come out of the conservatory as yet," Mrs. Barnard replied.

"Then send the maid to the conservatory and tell her we're waiting," he instructed.

"Right away, sir." Mrs. Barnard disappeared.

"Thank you, Father," Ellen said before looking again at Daniel Wheeler. The good reverend was tall, well proportioned, and youthful looking for someone she knew to be forty-one. Brown haired with just a sprinkling of distinguished-looking gray at his temples, he had a lean, attractive face, his complexion was smooth, and his deep-set eyes were a warm brown. She found it difficult to believe that someone as refined, well educated, and intelligent was a blood relative of her very common stepmother. "One hates to be insistent, but we do have guests and we can't keep them waiting for their suppers." She gave Daniel a bright smile as she spoke.

"Please, Ellen, don't be concerned on my account," Daniel said quickly. "I'm sure Aunt Harriet will be here soon and then we can all enjoy a lovely meal together."

"You were late getting home today." Ellen slipped her serviette out of her napkin ring. "Did you find something interesting in your research?"

"I did indeed. There isn't much known about the real life of Saint Matthew, but I find that reading the history of Israel from that time period provides fascinating details on how he must have lived and what he had to endure to be a follower of our Lord."

"Do you enjoy doing research?" Marcella Blakstone asked.

"Very much." He took a sip of water.

"Of course he does," Ellen cut in, annoyed that Marcella was trying to interject herself into their conversation. She shot the attractive, blonde-haired widow a stern frown. "He'd hardly have come here all the way from America if he didn't."

"Well, I, for one, find mucking about in libraries very tedious," Percy said. "I like being outdoors and breathing fresh air."

"As do I." Daniel grinned. "But I also like mucking about in libraries, and the Reading Room of the British Museum is wonderful."

"But I'm sure there must be some wonderful libraries in California." Marcella smiled again. "I've always wanted to visit San Francisco. It sounds like such a colorful city."

Mrs. Barnard reappeared, her broad face creased with concern. "Excuse me, sir, but the conservatory door is locked and there's no answer. I've sent Marlene down to the kitchen to get the other key."

"It isn't like Mrs. Andover to be late for dinner." Jacob rose to his feet and moved toward the hallway. "I'll go and see what's happened. She might have fallen asleep."

"Well, do hurry it up, we're all hungry," Ellen called after him.

Jacob stepped into the hall, his footsteps making no sound on the new, thick carpeting Harriet had just had installed. Mrs. Barnard was right behind him, but he walked so fast, it was hard for her to keep up with him.

They reached the end of the long hall. The conservatory door was directly opposite the servants' stairs leading to the kitchen. Jacob raised his fist and banged lightly against the wood. "Harriet, Harriet, are you alright? Have you fallen asleep?" He paused, listening for a reply, but heard nothing. He banged again, this time hard enough to rattle the sconces halfway down the corridor, and then again before putting his ear to the wood. There was still nothing but silence. "Are you certain she's not upstairs?" he asked the housekeeper.

"I'm certain, sir," Mrs. Barnard replied. "Right before I brought the trolley up with the first course, the upstairs maid told me she'd taken some extra blankets into Mrs. Andover's room and she wasn't there nor was she in her study."

"What about the library or the little drawing room?"

"She isn't in any of those places, sir. I've looked. Oh good, here's Marlene with the key."

The maid bobbed a quick curtsy and then handed the key to the housekeeper. But before she could move, Jacob grabbed it, shoved it into the keyhole, and unlocked the door.

He stepped inside, followed by Mrs. Barnard and the housemaid. Alarmed now, he rushed past the two huge ferns standing either side of the door, irritably brushing a dangling frond out of his way. "Harriet, Harriet, are you in here? For God's sake, we've been waiting for fifteen...