Desperate Acts
Unholy Alliance
Minor Corruption
Governing Passion
Available from Bev Editions
Coming Soon in the Marc Edwards Mystery Series:
The Widow’s Demise
Excerpt From The Widow’s Demise
ONE
September 1841
“Hold still, please, Mrs. Edwards, or I’m gonna stick you with the needle.”
This warning was delivered by Etta Hogg, the live-in, all-purpose servant at Briar Cottage.
“It’s only a small tear,” Beth Edwards said, twisting about to get a frontal image from the mirror that Marc had set up in the parlour to aid the fitting of the ball gown. “Nobody’ll notice.”
“You don’t sound all that enthusiastic,” Marc said from his chair by the fireplace.
“You know what I think of fancy-dress balls,” Beth said. “Ouch!”
“Sorry, Mrs. Edwards, but I did warn you.”
“Please, call me Beth, as I’ve asked you a dozen times.”
“Yes, Mrs. Edwards.”
“Remember that we’re doing this for charity,” Marc said. “Look on it as a personal sacrifice or a form of penance.”
“I know the proceeds all go to the Hospital Fund,” Beth said, “or else I wouldn’t’ve agreed to go.”
Each couple at the Charity Ball at Rosewood, Humphrey Cardiff’s palatial home on Front Street, had to contribute to the Hospital Fund, an annual rite that drew the largest crowd of the season. Old money and new, the established and the hopeful – all attended the Attorney-General’s extravaganza.
“Just a lot of stuffed shirts and ladies in evenin’ gowns they have to be squeezed into,” Beth said, only half-seriously. “A lot of old Tories, too.”
“Robert and Francis will be there,” Marc pointed out reasonably.
Robert was Robert Baldwin, a leading Reformer, colleague and good friend of the Edwards. Francis was Francis Hincks, another political associate and editor of the left-wing paper, the Constitution.
“Then we’ll have people to talk to,” Beth said, nodding her thanks to Etta, who had finished her repair work.
“And Louis will be there, too, remember.”
Louis LaFontaine was the leader of the rouge party, the Reform group in Quebec, who had joined in an alliance with their Canada West counterparts. He had been defeated in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne in the April elections, but was about to run in a by-election in the fourth riding of York. Robert Baldwin had won seats in both that riding and one in the eastern part of the province. He had conveniently resigned the York constituency in order to make way for Louis’ second attempt at securing a seat in the new united Parliament that had opened in Kingston in May.
“And his shadow, too,” Beth said, laughing.
“Yes, I’m sure Gilles will be there.”
Gilles Gagnon was Louis’ secretary and constant companion. They had come to Toronto from Montreal a week ago to prepare for the nomination meeting and the subsequent by-election. They were staying with Robert at Baldwin House on Bay Street.
“There’s gonna be a shortage of ladies,” Beth said.
“Then you’ll get to dance the whole night through,” Marc said.
“As long as you don’t get to talkin’ politics.”
“No politics,” Marc said. “Not a single word.”
“Oh, don’t you look lovely,” Etta enthused as Beth twirled in front of the mirror.
“I look like a farm girl in a duchess’s dress,” Beth said.
“There’s many a duchess who would like to look like you,” Marc said.
Beth smiled, accepting the compliment.
“Now I gotta see to the little ones,” Etta said, and started for the hall and the children’s bedroom, where one-and-a-half-year-old Marcus Junior and two-and-a-half-year-old Maggie were supposed to be asleep. She paused at the window and said, “Donald has the horse and buggy ready for you.”
Donald Meigs was a neighbour lad who came once or twice a day to cut wood, haul water and take care of the Edwards’ horse. Beth herself insisted on taking care of her garden, despite spending three days a week at Smallman’s, her ladies dress shop and seamstress’s business on King Street near Bay. She was a farm girl at heart, having run a farm by herself for several years down near Cobourg.
“Well, I guess we can’t put it off any longer,” Marc said, getting up and placing a shawl around Beth’s bare shoulders. It was cool but pleasant September evening.
Beth leaned back against him. “Let’s go and do some dancin’,” she said.
***
Governing Passion Page 17
