Read 'Til Death Do Us Part for Free Online

admit she was not what I had expected.”
    â€œInteresting?” Eudora looked startled. Then her eyes narrowed a little. “I think I understand. You find her
interesting
because she did not allow you to intimidate her.”
    â€œI doubt that a medium-sized army could intimidate Miss Langley. But that only makes me all the more cautious about both her and the way she makes her living.”
    â€œI am not going to stop attending her salons, Trent—not unless she strikes me off her guest list. And if she does, I will know that you are to blame.”
    â€œAre these gatherings really so important to you?”
    â€œYes. Trent, please try to understand. I find the salons stimulating. There are so many new people to meet and the lectures are always on intriguing topics. Last week Professor MacPherson gave a talk about the Roman antiquities that can be found right here in Britain. The week before, Mr. Harper discussed his travels in the American West. The next salon will feature a lecture on the latest advances in photography.”
    â€œTell me, has Miss Langley introduced you to any man in particular?”
    Eudora stiffened. “A guest is introduced to everyone at the salons. That is the purpose of the gatherings.”
    â€œLet me be more specific. Have any of Miss Langley’s male clients made an attempt to deepen his acquaintance with you?”
    Eudora’s jaw tightened in a stubborn line. “None of the gentlemen to whom I have been introduced has behaved in any way that could be termed improper or objectionable. But I can tell that nothing I say will convince you of that. Why don’t you see for yourself?”
    â€œThat was exactly what I attempted to do today, if you will recall.”
    â€œI’m not talking about your failed effort to intimidate Miss Langley.” Eudora smiled a brittle smile. “I suggest that you apply to become one of her clients.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous.”
    â€œI realize that after today she may not be disposed to add you to her guest list, but I might be able to prevail upon her to take you on a trial basis. After all, she is a fan of your novels. Perhaps I can persuade her to allow you to attend a couple of salons with me and form your own conclusions about her business.”
    â€œAre you serious?”
    â€œGive it some consideration, dear brother.” Eudora spun around and went toward the door. “Because I assure you, I have every intention of continuing to accept her invitations.”
    She let herself out into the hall and closed the door with considerably more force than was necessary.
    Trent lowered himself into the chair. For a time he contemplated his private realm. His study was the one place where he could be assured of being alone and uninterrupted. The entire household understood that when the door was closed he was not to be disturbed except in case of fire or the end of the world.
    He should get back to his writing, he thought. The visit to Calista Langley had been a disaster, not to mention a waste of time. In any event, the next installment of
Clive Stone and the Affair of the Missing Bride
was due to the editor of the
Flying Intelligencer
.
    But he pondered the closed door for a long time. He was quite sure now that one of Calista’s male clients had, indeed, taken a particular interest in Eudora. It did not require the devious mind of an author of mystery novels to deduce that Eudora returned that interest.
    He had always hoped that Eudora would encounter a good man whom she could love, one who would appreciate her clever mind and organizational talents. A man who could give her what she needed most—a home of her own to manage.
    In the past few years it had become increasingly evident that might not happen.
    His intelligent, lovely little sister had become a spinster. That would not have been such a bad fate if she had been happy. But he was quite sure that was not the case. For some