Herald of Death by Kate Kingsbury

wise. Part of her wanted to heed her husband’s warnings and let P.C. Northcott take care of the murders, as was his duty.
    Cecily leaned back and closed her eyes. She must be getting old, to allow such weakness. This was one of the most interesting cases to come her way. Even if she did succumb to her caution, the intense desire to dig out the details and unravel the puzzle would not let her rest.
    Besides, after all these years, Sam had asked for her help. She could not let this opportunity slip out of her hands. No, she must do what she could to bring this evil man to justice. If needs be, she would ask Madeline to help her. She was confident that her friend would be a match for anyone.
    Thus resolved, she rose and tugged on the bell rope. She would have Samuel ready the carriage right away. With luck, Lester Salt would be able to send her on the right path.

    Pansy picked her way through the snow, wincing as lumps of the cold white stuff found their way over the tops of her boots to sting her ankles.
    On the first day of the storm she’d been excited to see the flakes falling so thick and fast, but now she’d had enough of it. She peered up at the gray sky, praying that the ocean winds would turn warm and bring the thaw.
    Soon the Christmas guests would be arriving, and it wasn’t much fun drying out boots and shoes, cleaning up the mess in the foyer, stoking the fires in the bedrooms, or heating the beds with bed warmers.
    The summer guests were so much easier to take care of, and personally Pansy couldn’t wait for the winter to be over with, Christmas and all.
    She found Samuel in the stables as usual, romping with Tess. The big dog bounded over to her, ears flopping and tail wagging furiously.
    Pansy crouched down to throw her arms around her furry neck. Samuel had found the stray wandering around the courtyard, half-starved, her coat matted and muddy.
    Looking at her now, Pansy thought, as she stroked the silky head, it was like looking at a different dog. Samuel kept her bathed and fed, and she was quite the most beautiful animal Pansy had ever seen.
    “Did you come to see me or my dog?” Samuel asked, his voice teasing as he approached them.
    Pansy smiled up at him. “Both.” She stood, giving Tess a final pat. “Madam wants the carriage readied and at the door as soon as possible.” She tilted her head on one side. “She didn’t say where she was going.”
    Samuel’s face assumed the mask he always wore when she questioned him about his jaunts with madam. “Most likely she wants to do some Christmas shopping.” He opened the gate to one of the stalls and whistled to Tess. “Here, girl. In your kennel. You can stay warm there until I get back.”
    Pansy watched him close the gate, wishing she had somewhere warm and cozy to snuggle up in for a while. The question she wanted to ask him buzzed around in her head, but she didn’t quite know how to ask it.
    He was halfway across the stables before she called out, “I heard Doris is coming for Christmas.”
    She would have liked to have seen his expression when she told him, but he had his back turned toward her. He kept going for another step or two before turning to face her.
    “Coming here to the Pennyfoot?”
    “Yes.” She walked toward him, trying to read his thoughts, but Samuel was very good at hiding them. “Her husband and little girl are coming with her.”
    “That’s nice.”
    Pansy narrowed her eyes. “You still like her, don’t you?”
    “I still like her, yes. We worked together a long time, and she’s a sweet lady. That doesn’t mean I want to be with her. I’ve told you that over and over.” Samuel spun around and marched over to the door, flinging words over his shoulder. “She’s married, Pansy. Stop fretting about her.”
    He disappeared, leaving Pansy to nurse an ache that never quite went away. Samuel loved her, she knew that. He didn’t have to say it, she could tell by the way he kissed her and all the nice things