Salt Redux

by Lucinda Brant

  ~ THE END ~

  Continue reading to further explore behind-the-scenes of Salt Redux or skip ahead to preview Deadly Engagement, a mystery set in the same Georgian world as Salt Redux, in which career diplomat and amateur sleuth Alec Halsey is embroiled in country house murder and mayhem.

  The Salt Hendon books come to life in audio—details at lucindabrant.com

  Continue on to explore behind-the-scenes of Salt Bride.

  BEHIND-THE-SCENES

  Go behind-the-scenes of Salt Redux—explore the places, objects, and history in the book on Pinterest

  DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

  Sir Antony Hugh Templestowe

  First cousin of the Earl of Salt Hendon and younger brother of Diana, Lady St. John. A diplomat, Sir Antony was Envoy-Extraordinary to the Russian Imperial Court at St. Petersburg but returns to London upon learning his sister Diana has escaped her castle prison. After four years away, he arrives home a changed man, physically and emotionally, aware of his demons and how to control them. He is deeply in love with Lady Caroline Aldershot and hopes she will forgive him his past reprehensible conduct.

  Diana, Lady St. John

  Widowed sister of Sir Antony Templestowe and first cousin of the Earl of Salt Hendon. Mother of twins Ron and Merry. Of unsound mind, yet cunning enough to hide her evil intentions, she is obsessed with the Earl of Salt Hendon to the point of mania. She greatly underestimates her younger brother Antony’s intellect, and his determination to thwart her plans to harm the Salt Hendon family.

  Jane, Countess of Salt Hendon

  Quiet and unflappable, Jane is a devoted wife to the Earl and mother to their three young children, Ned, Beth and Sam, the youngest a newborn. She is the glue that binds the Salt Hendon family. Her secret wish is to see her husband Salt reconciled with his cousin Sir Antony, and Caroline and Antony married. When she learns of Diana’s escape from her Castle prison she rightly fears for the safety of her children.

  Salt; Magnus, Earl of Salt Hendon

  Since marrying Jane Despard four years ago, Salt’s life has been perfect. He adores his wife and three children and is on the cusp of returning to the forefront of political life in London. Yet, the specter of his deranged cousin Diana haunts his dreams. Nor has he forgiven his former best friend and cousin Sir Antony for his deplorable conduct four years ago and blames him for his sister Caroline’s misfortunes. In all matters of the heart and family, he is happy to defer to Jane’s common sense and understanding.

  Lady Caroline Helena Aldershot

  Salt’s much younger, widowed sister. Her husband, Stephen Aldershot died over a year ago after less than two years of marriage. Caroline is still very much in love with her girlhood crush Sir Antony Templestowe. Passionate about the welfare of animals, she keeps a menagerie of pets. Caroline spends her time with Aunt Alice and her sister-in-law Kitty Aldershot. No one is more surprised when Sir Antony returns to London.

  Semper; Ralph Semper

  Sir Antony’s devoted valet and majordomo; placid and unruffled. He has been in Sir Antony’s service for seven years. He falls in love with and marries a Russian needlewoman, Nina. He has the running of Sir Antony’s household and the management of his master’s contingent of Russian servants.

  Aunt Alice; Lady Reanay

  In her 60s, she is aunt to Sir Antony, Salt, Lady Caroline and Diana. She is grandmother to twins Ron and Merry. She ran off with Sir Tobias Reanay, marrying Sir Tobias upon her husband’s death. For her conduct, she spent years living as an exile on the Continent estranged from her family. She returned to live with the Salt Hendon family upon Jane’s invitation.

  Ned; Edward Aubrey Sinclair; Viscount Lacey

  Eldest son and heir to the Earldom of Salt Hendon. Turning four in the Autumn. He is a precocious little boy advanced for his years. Ned greatly resembles his papa with golden ringlets and a cheeky smile. His constant companion is a cloth monkey made for him by his Aunt Caroline called Mr. Monkey Mischievous, known by all as Monkey.

  Beth; Elizabeth Jane Honoria Sinclair; Lady Elizabeth

  Only daughter and second child of the Earl and Countess of Salt Hendon. Just turned two years old. With a head of black curls and rosy cheeks, she resembles her beautiful mamma.

  Sam; Samuel Antony Hugh Sinclair

  Newborn son of the Earl and Countess of Salt Hendon. He is just six weeks old when his parents return to their London house in Grosvenor Square. He is a sturdy baby, big for his age. He is doted on by his mother, and his new nurse Betsy Smith. Named for his godfather, Sir Antony Hugh Templestowe.

  Ron; Aubrey Vernon Sinclair St. John

  Only son of Lord St. John (deceased) and Diana, Lady St. John. Twin to Merry. Turning thirteen years old, he is keen to be off to Eton, to be amongst boys his own age. He loves his cousin the Earl like a father, whom he calls Uncle Salt. Lady Reanay is his grandmother.

  Merry; Magna Diana Sinclair St. John

  Ron’s twin and the more outgoing of the pair. Only daughter of Lord St. John (deceased) and Diana, Lady St. John. She loves clothes and dreams one day of being married in a creation of her own devising. She is a gifted drawer and amateur watercolorist, and is an animal lover. Sir Antony is her favorite uncle, though she would never voice this for fear of upsetting her Uncle Salt, whom she loves, too. She adores her Aunt Jane and Cousin Caroline. Lady Reanay is her grandmother.

  Kitty; Miss Katherine Aldershot

  Lady Caroline’s sister-in-law. Her brother Stephen was married to Lady Caroline. Orphaned and left destitute upon her brother’s death, she lives with the Salt Hendon family at the Earl’s largesse. A good friend to Caroline, she is young and a very pretty blonde. She dreams of one day marrying, and has her heart set on Tom Allenby, though she has not told a soul of her wishes.

  Mr. Rufus Willis

  Steward of Salt Hendon. Loyal and devoted. Willis is apprised of Diana St. John’s wickedness and shares the Earl’s burden regarding Diana’s secret incarceration at Harlech Castle.

  Betsy Smith

  Newly employed nursery maid in the Salt Hendon household. Still in her teens, Betsy comes from a Birmingham family of fourteen brothers and sisters. With her mother always pregnant and then dying in childbirth, Betsy has spent her life rearing children. Her father is in debtors’ prison, and to help pay his debt and see her siblings fed, she agrees to spy on the noble household. She becomes Sam’s nurse and grows attached to the infant and his family.

  Mrs. Smith

  Diana St. John’s companion maid. Under Diana St. John’s spell, Mrs. Smith believes every lie she is told and is only too willing to be part of Diana’s diabolical plans. Immoral and dull. Despite having the same surname she is not related to Betsy Smith, but a family friend of long standing.

  Dacre; The Honorable Mr. Dacre Wraxton

  Rakish gentleman Member of Parliament for Hendon. He shares a secret past with Lady Caroline Aldershot. Diana St. John knows about this, and Dacre’s other secrets. Elder brother of Hilary Wraxton the poet, whom he despises.

  Hilary Wraxton Esquire

  Eccentric gentleman poet. Given to wearing absurd and often outlandish wigs, and for writing poetry about the mudane. He will often declaim at the oddest and most inappropriate moments. Friend of Sir Antony Templestowe and tolerably welcomed by the Salt Hendon family.

  Tom; Mr. Tom Allenby

  Jane’s younger stepbrother and favored uncle to Ned, Beth and Sam. Wealthy landowner and merchant. He is one of only seven people who know the truth about Diana St. John. He is half in love with Kitty Aldershot. Corresponded with Sir Antony while the diplomat was stationed in Russia.

  Misha; Prince Mikhail Ivan Knyazhevy-Yusupov

  Russian nobility, brother of Katya and friend and mentor to Sir Antony while he is in St. Petersburg.

  Katya; Princess Ekaterina Knyazhevy-Yusupova

  Russian nobility, Misha’s sister, and Sir Antony’s mistress while he is in St. Petersburg. She gifts Sir Antony fifty serfs for Christmas.

  Nik
olas and the Russian contingent

  Serfs and now freed servants in the employ of Sir Antony gifted to him by the Princess Ekaterina whilst in St. Petersburg. Five speak fluent French. All wear beards. Nikolas trains to be Sir Antony’s valet.

  Mr. T

  Thief-taker employed by Sir Antony to spy on his sister Diana’s movements. He reports to Semper.

  Lady Porter

  Long time friend of Diana St. John. Loves to gather gossip from her peers and servants alike.

  Lady Dalrymple

  Friend of Diana St. John and cast off mistress of Dacre Wraxton. Taken in by Diana St. John, she is a sad figure and pines for her lover.

  Nanny; Nanny Browne

  In charge of the Salt Hendon nursery and its nursery maids.

  Mrs. McIntyre

  Jane, Lady Salt’s housekeeper.

  Sukie

  A nursery maid who befriends Betsy Smith.

  Boyle

  The rake-thin butler of Sir Antony’s South Audley Street townhouse.

  Miller

  Pompous butler of Salt House, the Grosvenor Square mansion of the Earl and Countess of Salt Hendon.

  Stephen Aldershot

  Deceased husband of Lady Caroline Aldershot. Elder brother of Katherine (Kitty) Aldershot. Died in a riding accident.

  Lord Amherst; Field Marshal Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst

  Amherst is best known as one of the victors of the French and Indian War. A friend and correspondent of Diana, Lady St. John. More on Lord Amherst and the smallpox question.

  Prince Ivan Alexis Knyazhevy-Yusupov

  Russian minister for agriculture and trade. A cousin of Prince Mikhail and Princess Ekaterina. He visits London with a trade delegation, and to present Sir Antony with the Order of St. Anna.

  FAMILY TREE

  If your eReader does not support enlarging this image, view the Salt Redux family tree at lucindabrant.com

  BONUS PREVIEW

  A GEORGIAN HISTORICAL MYSTERY

  Alec Halsey Mystery Series—Book 1

  CAREER DIPLOMAT Alec Halsey returns to London to the shocking news his estranged brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but is engaged to the woman Alec hoped to marry. The dead man’s mother wants Alec to investigate, so he reluctantly attends a weekend house party celebrating the engagement. Houseguests get more than they bargained for when a lady’s maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead. Uncovering a connection between these sinister acts and his brother’s duel, Alec confronts a cruel twist of fate and why his brother will go to any lengths to ruin him in Polite Society.

  LONDON, AUTUMN, 1763

  ALEC HALSEY strode into the cool of the wide marble hall of St. Neots House, home of his godmother the Duchess of Romney-St. Neots, and hastily struggled out of greatcoat, leather riding gloves, sash and sword. He pressed these on an attending footman then went up the curved marble staircase two steps at a time. On the first landing he paused, as if remembering his manners, and leaned over the mahogany balustrade.

  “Neave?” he called out to the butler, “Tell the Duchess I’ll be with her shortly!”

  “Her Grace has guests to nuncheon, sir!” Neave called up into the dome of the cavernous entrance foyer. “And Miss Emily is—” Alec Halsey’s head of black curls disappeared from view, and the butler spun around, saw two footmen juggling the visitor’s belongings between them and pointed a finger at the youngest, a freckle-faced youth with a mop of red hair. “Go after him! He’s not to disturb Miss Emily. Your job on it, boy.”

  Alec was in the passageway that led to the rooms occupied by the Duchess’s granddaughter when quick breathing at his back made him turn. A young footman came scrambling towards him much in the fashion of a puppy not grown into its long legs.

  From behind a set of double doors came the sounds of female chatter and laughter.

  “Sir? Please, sir. No!” the young footman pleaded, coming to a dead stop in front of the tall, loose-limbed gentleman. “You can’t go in there! Mr. Neave will have m’job if you do!”

  Alec paused, long fingers curled about the door handle, and stared down at the freckle-faced youth, who respectfully lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet. Something about the boy was oddly familiar and made him pause.

  “What’s your name?”

  The footman gave a start. The pleasant drawling voice wasn’t angry, just curious and it made him glance up warily to wonder what was the intent behind the gentleman’s question. But there was no hint of insolence in the kind, friendly blue eyes that crinkled at the corners; no fancy airs and affected voice like so many of the visitors to St. Neots House. Even the clothes this gentleman wore were not out of the ordinary—no silver lacings, no frothy lace at his wrists, no diamond buckles in the tongues of his leather shoes—just good dark cloth, a plain linen cravat, and shoes without high heels. Perhaps he could reason with him and not have his ears boxed for doing his job. He swallowed hard and let his gaze wander to the door.

  “Beggin’ pardon, sir. Thomas Fisher was what I was christened, but most call me Tam, sir.”

  “Thomas Fisher,” stated Alec, racking his brain for a memory; he made no immediate connection. He followed the boy’s gaze to the double doors. “Well, Thomas Fisher: Tam, I’m going in there with or without your approval. Think me presentable enough to announce?”

  Tam wondered if he was being roasted. There was a look in those blue eyes he could not make out. If Neave discovered him in conversation with a visitor, he’d be out on the streets again. And gentlemen callers, if they were gentlemen, did not enter a lady’s private apartments; they certainly didn’t canvass the opinions of footmen. He set his jaw hard and put just enough insolence into his voice to make the gentleman know his place.

  “Presentable, sir?”

  Alec lifted a hand. “I’m not fragile. Out with it. It’s the hair, isn’t it?” he said, gathering the shoulder length hair tidily at the nape and retying the ribbon that held it in place. “Not enough wax and no powder. Can’t abide either.”

  In spite of himself, Tam grinned. “It’s just as you say, sir. Your shoes will pass inspection. Females don’t care a whisker for dust on y’shoes, yet they like a gentleman to be neat. Least that’s what Jenny says. She can’t abide an ill-fitting wig or one with not enough powder. Says it ain’t right. But your hair—”

  “—is my own. Yes. It’s my one concession to vanity,” said Alec with a wink, and slipped behind the door before the footman could stop him.

  Tam cursed under his breath and dashed after him, saying as he crossed into the decidedly feminine sitting room, “Please, sir! Miss Emily is with her dressmaker. She ain’t receiving visitors and I doubt—”

  “Don’t worry, Tam, I’ll vouch for you with Neave.”

  “—she’ll notice your boots or your hair on account of the celebrations.”

  This brought Alec Halsey up short and he turned and stared at him, puzzled. “Celebrations?”

  Tam stepped up to him. “The engagement celebrations, sir. There’s to be a weekend party here. Here at St. Neots House.”

  “Engagement celebrations? Here?”

  Tam saw the gentleman’s look of total confusion. It was clear these tidings were new to him. “Yes, sir. Haven’t you been told, sir?”

  “I returned yesterday from the Continent. I’ve been away eight months. An engagement celebration you say. Whose?”

  “Miss Emily’s, sir.”

  “No!”

  “Yes, sir. Miss Emily is engaged to be married.”

  “When?”

  “Pardon, sir?”

  “When. When did this happen?”

  “Jenny, she’s Miss Emily’s maid—”

  “I know who Jenny is!”

  Tam lowered his eyes. He’d never seen a face turn as white as a sheet. He’d heard the expression. The housekeeper used it quite a bit. He was witness to it now. Alec Halsey’s angular face had not only drained of natural color, b
ut under his linen cravat his throat had constricted. He suddenly looked ill. Tam wondered if he should fetch up a brandy.

  Alec swallowed. “I didn’t mean… It’s just—”

  “No need to explain, sir,” Tam said quickly, averting his gaze and shuffling his feet, feeling the gentleman’s embarrassment.

  He wished he could help him in some way. He didn’t care for Miss Emily’s betrothed, despite Jenny’s opinion that the Earl of Delvin was the handsomest nobleman in the kingdom. Lord Delvin certainly presented well, dressed in the latest fashionable powdered wig, tight-shouldered frock coat of elaborately embroidered silk, diamonds in his shoe-buckles, and yards of frothy lace gathered up at his wrists and throat, but there was something about the nobleman that would not wash. Tam wished he had tangible evidence for this feeling, particularly when Jenny continually sang the Earl’s praises.

  “Jenny told me, sir,” he added glumly. “Miss Emily became engaged three days ago.”

  “Three days…”

  Tam winced at the wretchedness in the deep voice. “I’m—I’m sorry, sir.”

  There was a long silence. It was broken by Jenny who rushed out of her mistress’s bedchamber, saying something over her shoulder, and ran straight into Tam. She fell back a pace and put a hand to her hair.

  “Tam? What are you doing—Oh!” She saw Alec and dropped a respectful curtsy. “Mr.—Mr. Halsey? Sir!” Her eyes went very round and she glanced at Tam, who kept his eyes lowered and his hands behind his back.

  There was a rush of silk petticoats behind her, one or two voices raised in protest, and then Emily stood there in all her fair loveliness, straw-blonde curls caught up off her shoulders with a couple of long pins. She had on a new gown of patterned silk that was held together with tacking and needed alteration at the bodice, for it was cut far too low for the Duchess’s liking.