Murder With Manners

MURDER WITH MANNERS BLYTHE BAKER Copyright © 2023 by Blythe Baker All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. CONTENTS Description Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 About the Author * * * A visit to relatives in Newport is supposed to give Sylvia time to rest and consider the latest revelation about Miles’ past. But when a picnic hosted by the local yacht club ends with a mysterious death, Sylvia is drawn into a dangerous investigation. * * * 1 Dear Elizabeth, I hope this letter finds you well. I must apologize that it has been some time since our last correspondence, as life around here has been rather…interesting. Between the stock market downturn and other familial events that have transpired, I fear I have had little time for such luxuries as writing letters, which is a great shame because there is so much that I wish to tell you. Perhaps the most important development is that I have taken up a hobby, as some might say. I might say that it was thrust upon me and I had little choice in the matter. Regardless, mysteries have found their way to me and I have taken the liberty of solving them. I will not bore you with the details, but I have managed to unravel many criminal matters that had left the real authorities perplexed. In other news, I know that you will ask, and no, there is no one important enough to speak of yet in my life. Not without my mother trying, mind you. And I have an aunt that I am to visit soon who has taken it personally that I am not yet married. I imagine she intends to remedy that. I might allow her the chance to surprise me, but I have no expectation of being swept off my feet. How about you? How has your engagement with Mr. Walton been? Your wedding is this spring, is it not? I wish that I could be there for it. You will be a beautiful bride and I know that you and Mr. Walton will make one another happy. There is one last thing that I would like to ask you, and I suppose you could say that it has something to do with this newfound interest of mine. You are in a unique place, and I would not be entirely truthful if I didn’t admit that this letter was in some small part due to this question that I have for you. I am looking into an unfortunate tragedy that occurred in London, not terribly long ago. Apparently, a woman was found murdered in Hyde Park, and the assailant was supposedly her husband. I have very little information about the matter, but if you have heard anything about it or could send anything for me to look at, I would be grateful. All that aside, I have recently been going through some of my old things cleaning out my room, and I stumbled upon some of the stories that you and I wrote up for my sister Joan’s plays when we were in school together. To say they were rough would be an understatement, but I had a laugh and it brought me such joy to remember. Take care, my friend. And please be sure to give your parents my love. Oh, and happy belated birthday! I hope you spent it doing something you love. All my best, Sylvia “Sylvia! Are you ready?” “Almost,” I said, quickly sweeping my gaze over the letter one last time to make sure there were no mistakes. When I was confident that it read clearly, I hastily folded it up just as Joan pushed the door to my bedroom open. My sister had already dressed in her traveling clothes, which included a thick wool coat, gloves, and a knitted scarf done by our grandmother some years before that was a rather odd shade of yellow. She tossed it over her shoulder. “You don’t look ready,” she said, eyeing me. “What were you doing up here?” I held up the letter before turning to slide it into an envelope. I really did not want her seeing what was written inside. “I was just finishing this,” I said as I picked up the pen to begin scrawling Elizabeth’s full address onto the front. Joan walked up beside me. “Now?” she asked. “What was so urgent that you couldn’t wait to write that after you arrive?” “I have been putting it off for too long, and I thought it would be best to get it sent off,” I said. “I will have enough to worry about when I am there.” Joan crossed her arms, eyeing me warily. “Are you sure you’re all right with this trip?” “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, adding our own address. As it was heading overseas, there needed to be a little bit of extra information to ensure that it would reach its destination. Joan started, eyes widening. “It’s a trip all about you. I think you’re lying.” I sighed, picking up the letter. “What would you have me say?” I asked. “I couldn’t very well turn Aunt Rachel down.” “Well, no, but it just surprises me that you were willing to go along with it,” she said with a shrug. “I know she’s grateful that you helped clear Michael’s name, and it even makes sense that she would invite you for a visit…but you must realize she’s planning to introduce you to all sorts of eligible men?” I shrugged. “Yes, well…” “Well, what?” Joan asked. “I suppose, sooner or later, I may want