Read Murder at the Mikado for Free Online Page B

after all, would I do without my Watson?”
    There was a little glint in Nick’s eye as he sat down next to Drew. “That, actually, is what I came to talk to you about. Don’t say anything to Dad.”
    Drew nodded, suddenly grim. “You noticed our visitor earlier, I take it.”
    “The Black Widow. Yes, I did. Who was it? More important, what was it and do you have another case?”
    “No case this time. Well, to be precise, yes, there is a case, but no, I will not be looking into it.”
    “No? What case? And who was the woman?”
    “Did you read about that actor who was murdered last night? Ravenswood?”
    Nick nodded.
    “That’s the case,” Drew said. “And the woman was Mrs. Landis.”
    He quickly filled in the details of the case, Fleur’s involvement in it, and what she had asked of him. When he was done, Nick shook his head.
    “She always was bold. What about Landis?”
    Drew frowned. “I feel rather bad about him. No doubt our chief inspector has already been to see him about the case.”
    “But you’re not going to look into it?”
    “Afraid not, old man. My bride-to-be has expressed her extreme displeasure at the very notion, and to be frank, theidea of being around Fleur again doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.”
    “After what happened in Oxford, no doubt.” Nick gave him a wry grin. “Those bad pennies. Always turning up, eh?”
    Drew shrugged. “So, no, I will not be investigating this case. I will merely enjoy the preparation for my upcoming nuptials, and you can pursue Miss Holland unimpeded.”
    “I rather like that idea. This thing with Barbie’s a bust anyway.”
    “What is it now?” Drew asked. With Barbie it was always something.
    Nick said, “I ought to have known better. She’s one of your crowd, not mine.”
    “Nonsense. You’ve been running with my set most of your life. Barbie’s never minded before.”
    “Well, I suppose she likes me well enough. I mean, for myself.”
    “Of course she does.”
    “But now we’ve gotten down to serious matters,” Nick added, “and I can see it’s never likely to work.”
    “Serious?” Drew hadn’t thought Nick and Barbie were that keen on each other. “You don’t mean . . . ?”
    “Oh, yes, very serious. She’s come to realize I can’t afford to take her to the posh places she likes, not often anyhow, and that I won’t let her pay. Not even under the table.”
    “No,” Drew said. “That simply isn’t done.”
    “Well, when the Right Honorable Sir Giles Nincompoop or Lord Tommyrot ask her to those places without a thought, what’s a chap to do?”
    “Sorry, old man.”
    Drew wouldn’t insult his friend by offering him money either, but it was a rotten spot for Nick to be in.
    Nick shrugged it off. “I expect, to the right girl, it won’t matter, and there’s no use getting tangled up with a wrong one. What’s that Scripture verse? Something about if you take fire into your lap, you can expect to be burnt?”
    “Something like that.”
    Nick was thoughtful for a moment. “You will be careful around Fleur, won’t you?”
    “I’m not eighteen anymore, and if she taught me anything, it was to be wary of women like her.” Drew stood and gave him a friendly swat on the shoulder. “Now, off to work before Denny sees you loitering and reports you to Mr. Padgett.”
    “Don’t think he won’t,” Nick said, standing. “Guess I’d best get at it then.”
    “Unless . . .” Drew gave him the smallest hint of a grin. “Unless you’d care to pop up to Farlinford with me for a moment while Madeline’s busy with her fitting.”
    “To do what?” Nick asked, eyes wary. “To not talk to Landis about the case?”
    Drew nodded. “I suppose I would like to know what the police said to him. Maybe I could give him a few pointers on how to deal with old Birdsong. What do you think?”
    “What about Madeline?”
    “She doesn’t have to know about it at all. It’s not as if I’d actually be looking into