Murder on Eaton Square Read online

  “It turns out that Virginia Peck had a will,” Basil said, “and though she wasn’t in possession of a fortune, she left everything in her name to Mr. Wilding. It’ll give him a step up, if he’s wise with it.”

  “She loved her son, and would do anything to protect him,” Ginger replied with newfound understanding. “She could’ve got away with murder, instead she confessed to the crime even though it surely meant she’d go to the gallows.”

  “I admit, I thought Mrs. Northcott was in on it,” Basil said. “She seemed quite determined to cast suspicion on everyone else.”

  “Except her brother,” Ginger said. “I’m quite convinced she believed him to be guilty.”

  Basil agreed. “I imagine she hoped to keep the waters muddy, so that we couldn’t, in the end, arrest anyone.”

  Later, when they said goodnight and dispersed to make ready for bed, Ginger slipped into Scout’s room. She hovered quietly over the boy’s bed and watched him breathe. She sensed that the time they had left together before he morphed from his angelic childlike state into an awkward young man, was short. Somehow, it mattered not to Ginger, and her desire to care for, protect, and guide this soul into a hopeful future only grew more significant with each day.

  How awful of Mr. and Mrs. Reed to force her to choose between a child and her husband?

  With all that had been going on with the Peck case, they’d hardly had time to discuss the situation—perhaps the truth was, neither wanted to broach the uncomfortable subject. Basil didn’t share the parental feelings Ginger had for Scout; she knew this. Not that he had an ill attitude towards him, just not deep feelings. He accepted Scout’s presence and the part he played in Ginger’s life because he loved Ginger.

  Could she expect him to give up his inheritance for a child he didn’t genuinely love?

  What a beastly situation she found herself in.

  She let out a sorrowful sigh before tiptoeing out of Scout’s room.

  “What’s the matter, my love,” Basil said when Ginger joined him in their bed. She’d changed into a jade silk negligee, but couldn’t shake the melancholy she carried.

  “I feel I’m in the horrible situation of having to choose between two loves. My husband or my son.”

  Basil pulled Ginger close and placed a hand on her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Since we both came into your life at the same time, I can hardly claim seniority.”

  Ginger felt a chill shoot through her. “What are you saying?” He wasn’t about to tell her he was leaving, was he?

  “I’m saying that it would be wrong for me to make you choose, and though I can’t help what my parents decide, my choice was never in question.”

  “What’s your choice?” Ginger whispered.

  “My choice is you, of course. You and Scout.”

  The relief Ginger felt was immense, and she needed a moment to catch her breath.

  “But what about your inheritance?” she finally asked. She couldn’t believe Basil would walk away from a considerable amount of money without a seed of doubt.

  “Have you forgotten our vows already, Mrs. Reed? For richer or for poorer?”

  He sealed his words with a tender kiss, and Ginger couldn’t have loved him more than she did in that instant. Her, Basil, and Scout.

  She whispered softly. “The three of us are a family.”

  Boss jumped on the bed at that moment, and looked at her with his dark perceptive eyes.

  Ginger smiled. “I meant the four of us, Bossy.”

  If you enjoyed reading Murder on Eatons Square please help others enjoy it too.

  Recommend it: Help others find the book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups, discussion boards and by suggesting it to your local library.

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  It’s never too early to think about Christmas!

  Ginger Gold’s Murder by Plum Pudding is part of this multi-author boxed set releasing in October. Preorders are available on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and Amazon. Get your preorder copy for only .99.

  MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING

  There's nothing more fun than a festive holiday dinner party and Ginger Reed, the former Lady Gold, has Hartigan House decorated and the gramophone playing. Dressed in her finest Parisian low-waisted gown, feather-topped tiara, and T-strapped Italian leather shoes, Ginger is ready to host the delectable event.

  It's a jolly good time, until someone chokes on the pudding.

  Is it an accident or is it murder? And can Ginger unravel the mystery before the church bells ring and Christmas Day dawns?

  Introducing LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES!

  Ginger Gold has opened her own private investigation office!

  This short story companion series to Ginger Gold Mysteries has the clever Mrs. Ginger Reed, aka Lady Gold, and her adventurous sister-in-law Felicia taking on clients who've got all sorts of troubles. This first volume consists of The Case of the Wayward Wife, and The Case of the Boy who Vanished.

  A companion series to Ginger Gold Mysteries, each volume is approximately 20 thousand words or 90 pages. A bite size read perfect for a transit commute home, time spent waiting at an appointment, or to settle into sleep at night. Get your coffee, tea or glass of wine and snuggle in!

  ON AMAZON

  Check out Volume 2 with The Case of the Missing Recipe and The Case of the Museum Heist

  On Amazon

  READ ON FOR AN EXCERPT OF The Case of the Vanishing Boy

  Did you know that Ginger kept a Journal?

  Sign up for Lee’s newsletter to get access to this exclusive content. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!

  Read on to learn more!

  Join GINGER GOLD’S BOOK CLUBJoin GINGER GOLD’S BOOK CLUB

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  for more info.

  Love the fashions of the 1920s? Check out Ginger Gold’s Pinterest Board!

  Join my Facebook readers group for fun discussions and first-to-know exclusives!

  Ginger Gold’s Journal

  Sign up for Lee’s readers list and gain access to Ginger Gold’s private Journal. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!

  It begins: July 31, 1912

  How fabulous that I found this Journal today, hidden in the bottom of my wardrobe. Good old Pippins, our English butler in London, gave it to me as a parting gift when Father whisked me away on our American adventure so he could marry Sally. Pips said it was for me to record my new adventures. I’m ashamed I never even penned one word before today. I think I was just too sad.

  This old leather-bound journal takes me back to that emotional time. I had shed enough tears to fill the ocean and I remember telling Father dramatically that I was certain to cause flooding to match God’s. At eight years old I was well-trained in my biblical studies, though, in retro-spect, I would say that I had probably bordered on heresy with my little tantrum.

  The first week of my “adventure” was spent with a tummy ache and a number of embarrassing sessions that involved a bucket and Father holding back my long hair so I wouldn’t soil it with vomit.

  I certainly felt that I was being punished for some reason. Hartigan House—though large and sometimes lonely—was my home and Pips was my good friend. He often helped me to pass the time with games of I Spy and Xs an
d Os.

  “Very good, Little Miss,” he’d say with a twinkle in his blue eyes when I won, which I did often. I suspect now that our good butler wasn’t beyond letting me win even when unmerited.

  Father had got it into his silly head that I needed a mother, but I think the truth was he wanted a wife. Sally, a woman half my father’s age, turned out to be a sufficient wife in the end, but I could never claim her as a mother.

  Well, Pips, I’m sure you’d be happy to know that things turned out all right here in America.

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  About the Author

  Lee Strauss is the bestselling author of the Ginger Gold Mysteries series and the Higgins & Hawke Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), a Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery, sci-fi, young adult), the Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery), the Light & Love series (sweet romance) and young adult historical fiction. When she’s not writing or reading, she likes to cycle, hike, and kayak. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.

  Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Lee Strauss.

  For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!

  Did you know you can follow your favourite authors on Bookbub? If you subscribe to Bookbub — (and if you don’t, why don’t you? - They’ll send you daily emails alerting you to sales and new releases on just the kind of books you like to read!) — follow me to make sure you don’t miss the next Ginger Gold Mystery!

  www.leestraussbooks.com

  [email protected]

  Books by Lee Strauss

  On AMAZON

  Ginger Gold Mysteries (cozy 1920s historical)

  Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!

  Murder on the SS Rosa

  Murder at Hartigan House

  Murder at Bray Manor

  Murder at Feathers & Flair

  Murder at the Mortuary

  Murder at Kensington Gardens

  Murder at St. Georges Church

  Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman

  Murder at the Boat Club

  Murder on Eaton Square

  Lady Gold Investigates (Ginger Gold companion short stories)

  Volume 1

  Volume 2

  Higgins & Hawke Mysteries (cozy 1930s historical)

  The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.

  Death at the Tavern

  Death on the Tower

  A Nursery Rhyme Mystery (mystery/sci fi)

  Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?

  Gingerbread Man

  Life Is but a Dream

  Hickory Dickory Dock

  Twinkle Little Star

  The Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery)

  Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?

  Perception

  Volition

  Contrition

  Light & Love (sweet romance)

  Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.

  Sing me a Love Song

  Your Love is Sweet

  In Light of Us

  Lying in Starlight

  Playing with Matches (WW2 history/romance)

  A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young Germany boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.

  As Elle Lee Strauss

  The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance)

  Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

  Clockwise

  Clockwiser

  Like Clockwork

  Counter Clockwise

  Clockwork Crazy

  Standalones

  Seaweed

  Love, Tink

  The Case of the Vanishing Boy - chapter 1

  The black and cream cradle telephone that sat on the counter of Ginger’s Regent Street dress shop rang just as Ginger stepped inside. Madame Roux, her efficient shop manager, was busy with a customer—a tall, aristocratic-looking lady with a penchant for Schiaparelli.

  She removed her gloves and placed them and her handbag behind the counter, then picked up the receiver and sang into it, “Good morning, Feathers and Flair. How may I help you?”

  “Ginger?”

  “Oliver!” She immediately recognised the voice of her friend Reverend, Oliver Hill.

  “Yes. It’s so good to hear your voice. I hope you’re well.”

  “I’m doing quite well, thank you.” Ginger was genuinely pleased to hear from the gentle vicar, though she was rather curious as to why he would seek her out at her shop. “I hope things are well with you too. Do tell me how things are at the church?”

  One of the joys in Ginger’s life was the Child Wellness Project that she had initiated with Oliver. The charity’s main focus was feeding nutritious meals to street children twice a week, at the hall of St. George’s Church.

  “Everything is running as smoothly as can be expected. Numbers are up, and so are donations. We continue to have sufficient volunteers to help serve and cook the meals for the project, and lately there have even been some food donations from bakeries and grocers. I am quite encouraged.”

  “Oh, that is wonderful!”

  “However, I have a concern that perhaps you can help with.”

  “Of course.” Ginger retrieved a pencil and paper from under the counter. Finally, to the mystery behind Oliver’s call.

  “There is a young boy named Eddie, nine years old. I don’t know his last name but he has been coming for meals for a quite a while now.”

  “The blond lad with the chipped front tooth?” Ginger asked. “Such an adorable youngster. I have had several amusing conversations with him. Boss just simply adores him. In fact they have become good friends.” The child reminded her of Scout, her ward who had once lived on the streets. Scout was now a much-loved member of her household at Hartigan House, and though it had initially taken some adjustment for everyone, taking him in was something she had never come to regret. It was always inspiring to her how many of these young street children had such bright personalities and charm despite their sad circumstances in life. It broke Ginger’s heart to see their innocence eroded much too early by the harshness of their existence.

  “Yes, that’s the one,” Oliver replied. “Quite a bright young lad and very friendly. Some of the ladies who serve food are rather taken with him and have got to know him a little.”

  Ginger’s heart pinched with worry. “Has something happened to Eddie?”

  “It seems that he has gone missing.”

  “Oh mercy. Can you meet me right away at my office at Lady Gold Investigations? I want to give this my full attention until we find him again.”

  Oliver’s answer was resolute. “I can be there in half an hour.”

  Get it on Amazon!

  Copyright © 2019 by Lee Strauss

  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.

>   Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Title: Murder on Eaton Square: a cozy historical 1920s mystery / Lee Strauss. Names: Strauss, Lee (Novelist), author. Series: Strauss, Lee (Novelist). Ginger Gold mystery ; 10. Description: Series statement: A Ginger Gold mystery ; 10 Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190131799 | Canadiana (ebook) 20190131802 | ISBN 9781774090374 (softcover) | ISBN 9781774090381 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781774090398 (IngramSpark softcover) | ISBN 9781774090299 (Kindle) | ISBN 9781774090367 (Epub) Classification: LCC PS8637.T739 M88 2019 | DDC C813/.6—dc23

  Acknowledgments

  Special thanks to Heather Belleguelle for her insights on family history research during turn of the century London, and for being an awesome person to work with, always willing to go the extra mile.