Under the Dragon’s Tail

She was eager to help but had nothing to contribute, although she tried hard. Every time Murdoch asked a question she opened her fan, waved it vigorously while she gave the matter the serious consideration it deserved, then snapped it shut to answer. Unfortunately, she did not know anybody by the name of Dolly Shaw, although she had known a Doris Shawcross who had passed away three years ago. No, she had no acquaintance with Annie Brogan and was not aware she had visited Mrs. Pedlow on Saturday afternoon. Madam had not mentioned she was having callers. She, Miss Kenny, had been upstairs tending to the mistress’s gowns the whole day.

“She only buys the absolute best, imported for the most part from Paris, France, so we do have to take very good care of them.”

Murdoch had the feeling that Miss Kenny wanted to tell him something but didn’t know how to get started. He decided to let loose a lure and see what happened.

“If I may say so, Miss Kenny, I feel sorry for the lady. She would be a handsome woman except for the…”

He waved his hand over his cheek.

Miss Kenny sighed. “That is so true. And money won’t compensate, will it?”

He shook his head soberly. “Fortunately she has her little ward. Children don’t notice these defects, do they?”

“Not when they’re young, but the child remarked on it the other day. ‘Can you scrub it off, Auntie?’ she asks her. I could see that the mistress was upset, but she didn’t give the child any reprimand as she probably should have. But then she never does. It’s murder for the nursemaids, I can tell you. They can’t offer one correction or scold to that girl or they’ll be sacked on the spot. Fortunately for all of us, Miss Sarah is a sweet-natured child and not difficult to manage.”

“How long have you been in Mrs. Pedlow’s employ?”

“Seven and one half years. She had just returned from England. The poor little orphan was barely six months old at the time.” She tilted her head, speaking confidentially. “Her own mother was Mrs. Pedlow’s cousin and died in childbirth. The husband had already been taken off by the influenza. What a tragedy. His lordship wasn’t overjoyed at the idea of a ward, but he couldn’t do much with the infant on the doorstep, could he?”

Murdoch bent towards her. He could see that Miss Kenny used face powder on her rather broad nose, and Nature could not have tinted her cheeks with such an even blush.

“Between you and me, Miss Kenny, I am sometimes at a loss as to why certain folks ever get married. His lordship and Mrs. Pedlow seem as different as chalk and cheese.”

She smiled. “How right you are. But perhaps for her…” Like Murdoch she fluttered her hand in the area of her right cheek. “I would never do that, myself. My mother always said I was as particular as a princess because I turned down suitor after suitor.”

“Perhaps that was not such a good comparison. The royal princesses don’t really have much choice in husbands, do they?”

She looked at him, trying to determine the intent of his comment. “I suppose not.”

He had meant nothing by the remark but he had hurt her feelings in some obscure way he couldn’t quite fathom. “As you were saying, Miss Kenny?”

“Just that I was a foolish girl and thought youth would last forever. I am much mellowed now, having seen too much of life to expect perfection. Even Lord Byron had his faults.”

Murdoch wasn’t entirely sure who the imperfect lord was but there was no mistaking the wistfulness in Miss Kenny’s voice. She was in the market for a husband. He sat back abruptly in his chair. She was affected, plain, and in his opinion had a terrible taste in clothes, but there was something about her that moved him. Perhaps because he could sense her aching loneliness and that he understood.

He considered briefly, then he said, “I have no desire to place you in an untenable position but I am interested in your opinion. I tell you frankly that your mistress has not been absolutely candid with me. Not big things as far as I can determine, but me being the suspicious man that I am, I’m always bothered if I’m handed even small lies.”

“Such as?”

“The young woman I mentioned, Annie Brogan, came here to call on Saturday and stayed for almost an hour. Mrs. Pedlow at first denied all knowledge of the girl but when it became apparent I would find out, she pretended it was the most brief and casual of visits. John Meredith felt there was something odd about the meeting between Miss Brogan and Mrs. Pedlow. He wondered if they had met before.”

“I’d swear not while I’ve been in Mrs. Pedlow’s service.”

“She strikes me as a highly strung woman. What is your impression, Miss Kenny? Is there anything distressing her?”

Murdoch knew he was taking a risk, that Louise Kenny might be affronted in her loyalties to her mistress. She stared at him for a moment then put the fan at rest in her lap.

“In my opinion she was upset when Mr. Henry Pedlow, his lordship’s nephew, showed up from India. Nobody expected him. In he waltzes as if he’d just come back from a swim at Sunnyside. I don’t think she can abide the man. She’s so flustered and jumpy whenever he’s around.”