by Strauss, Lee
“Thank you.” Ginger desperately missed her father, but seeing Pippins and knowing his devotion to her helped to ease some of the pain.
Ginger glanced at Haley who stood expectantly in her brown tweed suit and sturdy Oxford heels. “Oh, my manners. Pippins, this is my good friend Miss Higgins.”
Pippins bowed. “Madam.”
“How do you do, Mr. Pippins,” Haley said with her noticeable Boston accent. She reached out her hand, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. “I’m a commoner.”
Pippins’ lips twitched in amusement. He accepted her hand with a sturdy shake.
“Miss Higgins was Father’s nurse for the last three years,” Ginger said. “She’s come to London to study at the London School of Medicine for Women.” Ginger linked her arm to Haley’s. “She’s going to be a doctor!”
Pippins nodded agreeably. “How wonderful.”
Ginger swooped up her Boston terrier and patted his black head affectionately. “And this is Boss. Short for Boston.”
“A fine-looking specimen, madam. How was your journey?”
“Quite lovely,” Ginger said. “Apart from a short but fierce storm, the weather was pleasant.” She omitted the news about the murder onboard the SS Rosa and the part she and Haley played in solving it.
Ginger finally had a chance to take in the foyer. Black and white tiled floor, a large chandelier that hung from the height of the second level, windows on either side of the double-panelled front doors that added natural light. The formidable areca palm plants in large ceramic pots hailing from India, once lined up along the base of the stairwell were missing—much to be expected when a house has been shut up for so many years.
“We don’t have a footman, madam,” Pippins said, “but I’d be happy to bring your things in.”
Pippins, a confirmed bachelor, had to be in his seventies now, and Ginger didn’t intend to burden him with such a laborious task. “That’s quite all right, Pips. I’ve arranged for our things to be transported here by motor-van. The driver will be able to manage.”
“Yes, madam.”
Ginger eyed him wistfully. “I don’t suppose you could call me ‘Little Miss’?” Little Miss had been Pippins’ pet name for her when she was a child. He was the only staff member to take time to entertain her. Subtle games like I spy and noughts and crosses (what Haley would call X’s and O’s)—never when her father was around, or in the presence of other staff as that would be unseemly for a member of staff. Her heart squeezed with the nostalgia.
“Little Miss, madam?” His eyes flickered with the memory, and he smiled. “I think not, madam.”
Ginger let out a playful sigh. The pet name didn’t suit a thirty-year-old woman anyway.
“Can I bring you some tea, madam?” Pippins asked. “After the train ride from Liverpool, you must be worn out.”
“Tea sounds marvellous, Pips, but first we must know what your urgent, mysterious message is all about,” she said referring to the telegram. Her curiosity was greater than her desire to put her feet up. Besides, she’d had a good sleep at the inn they’d stayed overnight at in Liverpool, and currently didn’t feel all that tired. “I take it you’ve found something distasteful?”
“I believe he used the word, ghastly,” Haley said. “Such a strong word. I’m dying to know what it is.”
Pippins’ expression turned grave. “It is rather ghastly, so do prepare yourself. Please follow me.” A wide staircase circled up to the second floor, which horseshoed around the foyer giving the entrance its grand high ceiling. At the end of the passage was a door used by the servants to access the second floor. It opened to a small landing with steep steps that went down to the kitchen and up to the attic were the staff sleeping quarters were found. Rooms for women were in the west wing and the men’s rooms to the east.
“I do apologise for bringing you into the servants’ quarters, madam.”
“It’s quite all right, Pips.”
Ginger’s hope was that the problem in the attic was something trivial like dry rot or black mould. She wondered why Pippins hadn’t taken it upon himself to ring for repairs. Perhaps, since he was newly back to Hartigan House and answered now to her instead of her father, he no longer felt he had the authority to make such calls on his own.
“I’m filled with curiosity, Pippins,” Ginger said. “Do give us a clue.”
Pippins hesitated then said. “I’m really at a loss how to describe it.”
“Can we pause for a breather,” Haley said, stopping midway up the step. “I am out of shape.”
“I’m no better,” Ginger said. “Pippins is bringing us to shame.”
Pippins puffed out his chest with pride. “Years of going up and down daily, madam.”
Ginger laughed. “Perhaps we should take rooms up here, Haley.”
Pippins instantly turned serious. “Absolutely not, madam.”
Before Ginger could explain that she wasn’t serious, Pippins marched down the passage in the men’s quarters to the very last room at the end. He removed a key from his pocket. “A skeleton key, madam,” he explained. “Opens all the attic doors.”
The lock clicked and the door swung open.
As Ginger reached the threshold, she couldn’t keep a gasp of horror from escaping her lips.
Oh mercy!
In the middle of the room, lying on the floor, was a decomposed body.
ON AMAZON
Books by Lee Strauss
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The Perception Series (YA dystopian/sci-fi/romance)
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Perception (book 1)
Volition (book 2)
Contrition (book 3)
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Playing with Matches
A Piece of Blue String (companion short story)
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Murder on the SS Rosa (0)
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Acknowledgments
Many thanks go to my editors, Angelika Offenwanger and Robbi Brandt and to my early readers, especially Caroline Andrews for helping me get young Scout’s slang and accent right, and Heather Belleguelle for helping me nab those errant typo gremlins, and stay true to the era and British culture.
A big shout out to my review crew for keeping the reviews coming and to my Facebook reader’s group for reading my books and hanging out with me online.
I don’t know how I did it before Shadi Bleiken came on board as my assistant - hugs and kisses to you!
As always love to my family especially my husband Norm for his unwavering faith in me, and to my “regulars” Lori, Donna, Shawn, and Norine.
Murder on the SS Rosa
By Lee Strauss
Cover by Steven Novak Illustrations
Copyright © 2017
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ISBN: 978-1-988677-01-9
