In Like Flynn (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #4)

“Nevertheless, that’s the way it is done in the better house-holds,” he said smoothly.

“While I'm here, I intend to cheer her up,” I said. “Will you ask one of the servants to carry down the doll’s pram at three o'clock sharp? Ill be taking Miss Eileen and her dolls for a walk.”

With that I walked toward my room. I waited until Soames had disappeared, then I sprinted down the hallway and discovered the back stairs off a side passage. They were narrow and uncarpeted and I crept down, holding my breath, half expecting Soames to be waiting for me at the bottom. Instead, the stairs ended in a similar side hall with the kitchen door at one end and various closet doors on either side. If anyone had carried Brendan down the back stairs, he'd still have had to make his exit through the kitchen or risk the entire length of the house and the front door. I hoped that lunch would be outstandingly good today because I needed an excuse to pay a visit to the cook.





Sixteen

I was in luck. It was Friday and Cook served a really delicious steamed turbot with parsley sauce for lunch, followed by an apple crumble and custard. Theresa remained in bed and initially just Clara, Belinda and I sat down at the long mahogany table. The men entered when we were halfway through ourfish, did not apologize for their lateness and continued a conversation that had begun in Barney’s study. It seemed to be a list of people Bamey could count on to sway the voters in particular parts of the state. The notion of swaying voters had been quite new to me when I arrived in New York, but I had already witnessed such swaying, in one case amounting to kidnapping and threats of bodily harm if the voter didn't put his X in the right place. Since I was a female, and hence couldn't vote, I ignored them and they me.

“I am dying of boredom,” Belinda announced, pushing her plate away with the fish half eaten. “After Paris and Florence I thought I'd welcome the chance to do nothing, but I'm too used to the whirl of high society. Do you know in London we dined with different people every single night, and went to theaters too. There’s absolutely nothing to do here.”

“We could play croquet,” Clara suggested and got a withering stare in return.

“Clara, we always play croquet. I suppose I could go out for a bicycle ride. Would you like to join me, Molly? We couldridein the direction of the military academy and see if the young men are practicing any interesting maneuvers.”

“Really, Belinda, I'm sure your sister wouldn't approve,” Qara said. “Don't be such an old fuddy-duddy, Clara,” Belinda said, giving me a grin. “How about it, Molly?”

“I'm afraid I've never tried to ride a bicycle,” I said, “and I don't have the proper clothing.”

“It’s not hard to ride a bicycle. I'm sure you'd master it quickly and you'd find it fun. And it’s an excuse to wear bloomers.”

Clara gasped and put her hand to her mouth. You would never consider leaving the estate in those things, Belinda? And possibly being seen by the young men at the academy?”

“Of course. What else does one wear to ride a bicycle? Skirts get caught up in the chain.”

“I'm afraid I don't possess bloomers either,” I said.

“I'm sure Theresa possesses bloomers she would lend you,” Belinda said. “She owns bicycles, so she must have the right clothing. Ill ask her maid for you.”

“Belinda, as your older cousin, I must forbid it.”

“Fiddlesticks, Clara, you're such an old stick-in-the-mud. This is now the twentieth century. I'm going to leam to drive an auto-mobile when I get home.”

“Speak to her, Bamey,” Clara insisted.

Bamey looked up from his conversation. “About what?”

“Belinda insists on riding a bicycle, wearing bloomers, in the direction of the military academy.”

A grin crossed Barney’s face. “Asking for trouble, eh, Belinda? Going to drive the young soldiers wild with a show of leg?”

Belinda flushed. “Of course not. Just healthy exercise, dear cousin. And I'm trying to persuade Molly to come with me.”

“But I don't know how to ride a bicycle,” I added. “And I promised Eileen that I'd take her for a walk this afternoon.”

“So tell her she can't go out alone, Barney,” Clara said.

Bamey glanced at Clara, then smiled again. “I'm sure you'll be just fine, Belinda. And you'll never make it as far as the military academy on a bicycle. It’s all up and down, you know. Ill wager youll only get as far as the Van Gelders, but perhaps it’s Roland you're secretly hoping to visit.”

“That oaf? Good heavens, no. Whatever gave you that idea?” Belinda said, but her cheeks had turned red and I realized that her secret motive might be to pay a call on one of the Van Gelders' visitors. I was glad I hadn't agreed to accompany her.