The Sign of Death by Callie Hutton (children's books read aloud .TXT) 📗

Whistling an unnamed tune, he grabbed an umbrella from the stand next to the door and hurried down the steps to his waiting carriage. The night was a typical English evening, with mist and a slight drizzle, and the chilly January air supported his decision to wear his heavy coat.

He stepped into the back room at Atkinson & Tucker for the meeting and immediately spotted the one person who had occupied his mind a short time ago. She could easily rearrange his perfect life.

Then perhaps it wasn’t so perfect and could use some rearranging.

Amy stood across the room, waving her arms at something she was saying to the group around her.

“Good evening. It looks like you are in a deep discussion. The Sign of the Four, I assume?” William joined the small group and took his position next to Amy.

“We were commenting on Holmes disguising himself as a sailor and fooling even Watson,” Amy said. “We were considering whether it was really possible for him to disguise himself so thoroughly that even his best friend and roommate wouldn’t know him.”

“I contend it is impossible for someone so close to the individual not to recognize the man, no matter how well disguised,” Lord Temple said.

Amy opened her mouth to speak, then glanced over William’s shoulder, and her eyes widened. He turned to see Miss Gertrude and Miss Penelope O’Neill hesitantly enter the room. He looked back at Amy. “They did come after all.”

She continued to watch them. “I still don’t understand why they want to join a mystery book club.”

He frowned. “They do know we read mysteries? And some of them”—he cleared his throat—“especially those by E. D. Burton, are quite, shall we say, intense?”

She elbowed him in his ribs.

“Hello, Lady Amy. Oh, and Lord Wethington.” Miss Gertrude hurried to their little group with her sister right behind her.

“Good evening, ladies,” William said with a slight bow. “I am pleased you have decided to join us.”

“Yes,” Miss Penelope gushed, looking around the room. “Sister and I are so excited to join the group.” She leaned in close to William and said softly, “Not many people know that we love to read murder stories.”

Nothing could have surprised him more. These two older ladies, stalwarts of the church, enjoyed murder mystery books? He shook his head, thinking that one never knew what surprises awaited one when dealing with members of the human race.

Before they could continue their conversation, Mr. Colbert, who acted as moderator for the group, suggested that they begin to take their seats.

While they waited for all the members to settle in, William flipped through the pages of Keene’s Bath Journal, the local newspaper for Bath. Amy scanned the pages of The Sign of the Four.

“Listen to this.” William turned to her and glanced back at the newspaper. “An unidentified man’s body was found floating in the River Avon early yesterday morning. Attempts are being made to identify the man so his family may be notified.”

Amy shuddered. “That’s terrible. I wonder who the poor unfortunate man is.”

The last few members began to filter in, and William closed his newspaper and tucked it into his satchel. Amy closed her book and gave her attention to Mr. Colbert.

“It is time to begin our meeting.” Mr. Colbert stood at the front of the room. He smiled at the members; then his eyes shifted to the doorway, and he frowned. Amy turned, and an unfamiliar man stood there, looking around the room.

“May I help you, sir?” Mr. Colbert asked.

“I’m looking for a Lord Wethington.”

William stood and waved the man over. The man held out a folded paper to William. “This is for you, my lord.”

William thanked him and returned to his seat.

“What is that?” Amy pointed at the paper.

He shrugged and opened it, his eyes scanning the missive. After a few moments, he inhaled deeply and looked over at her, his face pale. “The police have identified the man found floating in the river.”

“And they notified you?”

“Yes. He is Mr. James Harding. My man of business.”

“How terrible!”

William flicked the paper with his finger. “And strange, too, since we had a meeting set up for Saturday last that he canceled since he claimed he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Claimed? Did you not believe him?”

“I’m not sure. I had reason to believe recently that there was something very odd going on with my finances.” He tucked the note into his pocket. “They want me to come to the morgue and confirm their findings.”

Before Amy could comment on that statement, Eloise Spencer came racing through the door, waving her arm. “I’m here!”

Amy rolled her eyes at William. Mr. Davidson glowered at the young woman.

Davidson had been a member of the club since it was formed a few years before. He was not one of William’s favorite people, as the man’s regard for women was not at all what William thought acceptable. At one meeting when they were discussing A Study in Scarlet, he’d suggested that the idea of working with a woman was ludicrous because the only thing women were good for was wiping children’s noses and gossiping.

After all the women in the room reacted with shock and sputtering protests, William had taken him to task and was later applauded for his efforts by Amy, a staunch women’s rights advocate.

“Must you always rush into the room as if your heels were on fire?” Davidson grumbled.

“How do you know they are not?” Eloise said smugly, as she took the chair on the other side of Amy.

Much to William’s delight, Davidson looked at Eloise’s feet, bringing a few titters from the group.

Mr. Colbert cleared this throat. “Before we begin our discussion this evening, I would like to introduce to the group two new members, Miss Gertrude O’Neill and her lovely sister, Miss Penelope O’Neill.”

The two ladies tittered and giggled as they were greeted with warm welcomes. William still could not understand their desire to join the club. Although he thought most women were too