The Family Way (Molly Murphy, #12)

“Molly is from Ireland,” Mrs. Sullivan said for me, before I could disclose that I’d come from a peasant’s cottage.

That pretty much put an end to the topic of conversation, since we knew no people in common, and the talk reverted to local matters. I sat and listened as they discussed people and events that meant nothing to me, eating my slice of cake and sipping at my tea. My attention wandered to a pair of mallards on the lake, to a flock of chickadees in the tree above us while unfamiliar names washed over me.

“Don’t tell me they mean to divorce? I know he behaved badly but how shocking that she really plans to divorce him. Rather shortsighted of her, when you consider the fortune he will inherit one day. How tragic for Marjorie. And they are related to the Wetherbys, aren’t they?”

“The Wetherbys? That big brick house on the road to White Plains?”

“You know, Estelle Wetherby. You met her at a dinner party at the Van Horns.”

“Was she the one whose daughter married that Mainwaring fellow?”

I was instantly alert and sat up in my seat.

“Leonard Mainwaring? That’s right. She did. Estelle thought it was a good match at the time, but I’m not so sure personally. Of course he has plenty of money and comes from an important English family but…” The women leaned closer into a tight little group from which I was excluded. Their voices were lowered.

“But he was a bit of a rake, wasn’t he? Got into trouble with gambling debts?”

“And an eye for the ladies, so I heard. Perhaps he’s settled down now he’s married. They often do, don’t they?”

“Do they live nearby?”

“Closer to the river, don’t they? Estelle told me once. Irvington, I think.”

“Big fancy house, so I hear. At least Estelle’s daughter has got something out of it.”

The talk moved on to other people I didn’t know, but my brain was buzzing. Mrs. Mainwaring, of the right social class and with a big enough house to be able to afford more than one parlormaid! I couldn’t believe my luck. Now I had to work out how I could manage to pay a call and find out if they had employed Maureen O’Byrne.

*

I gave myself a stern talking to when we returned home. I was not supposed to be pursuing any kind of work. I should have handed over this case to another detective by now. But it was no good. I was experiencing that familiar feeling, like the hound who picks up the scent of the fox, that we were finally on the trail of the quarry. I was convinced that I’d found the answer and would soon locate Maureen O’Byrne for her relatives. I waited until we were sitting at the supper table before I asked casually, “How far away is Irvington?”

“Irvington? About three miles. Charming little town on the Hudson. Do you know it?”

“I’ve never been there,” I said, “but I’ve been told that it’s very pretty and the river should be delightfully cool in this weather. Is there any kind of transportation that I could take to go there one day?”

“Transportation? You’re not in New York, my dear. We’ve the pony and cart if Jonah is free to drive.”

This was looking promising. I pressed on. “I heard your friends mention a family called Mainwaring. A friend of mine in New York knows some Mainwarings in Westchester County. In fact she’s been to stay with them. I wonder if it’s the same family.”

“It’s an unusual name,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “It probably would be. I’m not personally acquainted with them but I have met Mrs. Mainwaring’s mother, Estelle Wetherby, so it would be acceptable to pay a call upon them if we happen to be taking a trip in that direction.”

Oh, Lord. I hadn’t counted on my mother-in-law wanting to come with me. That would make things rather difficult. But I could hardly ask to borrow her pony trap and go without her.

She seemed quite taken with the idea. “We could take a picnic one day. That sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it, Bridie my dear?”

“To the river? Can I come?” Bridie wriggled excitedly.

“Of course. I’ll arrange it with Jonah.”

“Can Jonah show me how to catch fish? He promised.”

“We’ll see,” Mrs. Sullivan said.