‘For as long as I am needed,’ the lady said enigmatically.
Henry smiled at his sister with what looked like real affection. ‘Jane has come up from Chawton to assist us in our time of need.’
‘Indeed, no one is aware I am from home,’ said the lady with a complaisant smile. ‘These summer colds can keep you indoors for weeks, do you not find?’ She addressed the question to Dora.
Having to earn her own living, Dora rarely spent a day in bed ill, let alone with something as trifling as a cold. ‘I suppose it might.’
‘There is no one better than Jane in a crisis,’ said Henry, crunching on a biscuit and chewing it with resolution.
Eliza offered Dora a plate of shortbread. ‘Jane is quite the most intelligent of the Austens– we all agree on that.’
‘While you are the most charming,’ Jane replied.
Eliza laughed. ‘Oh, Jane, I’m so glad you are here.’
‘But Jane also has the advantage that she is not as well known in town as either my wife or I.’
‘I am entirely unremarkable,’ said Jane acerbically.
Henry smiled indulgently. ‘Hardly, but if she is seen with you, no one will make the connection to us.’
Now it was beginning to make sense. Henry was delegating to his sister the job of keeping abreast of what she and Jacob discovered, rather than coming to and fro from their office himself and risking someone asking questions as to what business he had with them. Spinster sisters were frequently employed on the tasks the married ladies and gentlemen considered they did not have time to do, it being a truth generally acknowledged that sisters and aunts were at everyone’s disposal.
‘We will certainly write reports when there is anything to learn and send them to Miss Austen,’ said Jacob, evidently thinking along the same lines as Dora. ‘There’s no need for her to come all the way into the West End to Bruton Mews.’
‘No, no,’ said Eliza. ‘Dear Jane has our complete confidence and will prove an invaluable helpmate– she will be going with you as you investigate.’
‘Indeed, she has as much at stake in this as we do and her powers of observation are unsurpassed,’ said Henry firmly.
‘Only because most of the world goes around with their eyes closed,’ said Miss Austen.
‘Indubitably an asset,’ said Eliza. ‘Would anyone like a second cup?’
Dora and Jacob emerged onto Sloane Street and turned back towards the city. By common consent, they did not discuss the case until they had left Knightsbridge and were unlikely to be overheard by anyone from the Austen household.
‘What just happened?’ asked Dora, unable to suppress her indignation any longer. ‘Did Mr and Mrs Austen just foist on us their country mouse sister to help in a case of double murder with a seasoning of espionage, or am I in some fever dream?’
‘They did,’ said Jacob gruffly.
‘Why? I mean to say, I know they don’t know us like Captain Austen knows you, so they may not trust us, but don’t they realise how foolish this is? I’m all for valuing my fellow women, but in this case, she will only get in the way. It’s not fair on her to throw her into a situation for which she is not equipped.’ That was what really had lit the fuse on Dora’s temper– the fact that Henry and Eliza were risking their sister while staying safe themselves. ‘Tell me, Jacob, what would she do if we came across a dangerous situation– and you have to admit we’ve faced too many of those recently to discount the possibility? What will Miss Jane Austen from Chawton do? Throw her bonnet at the villains? Give them a good telling off?’
Jacob allowed her to pace off some of her fury. He had to be sharing it. Unfortunately, the contract had been signed beforethis was sprung on them, so he was left trying to make the best of it. ‘Is it really so foolish? Remember, the villain of this piece is already dead. We are charged to find the motive, not find more ne’er-do-wells.’
Dora snorted. ‘Balderdash! If we do dig up scandal on a French count and countess, what’s the betting it is going to be a very dirty business, tarnishing everyone who gets close?’ Her confusion cleared. ‘You know what? I think Miss Jane Austen is being sent as their man– by which I mean woman– in our investigation.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘When I met him in the office, I warned Henry Austen we wouldn’t make anything up, and he said he had a sister who would do that for him. I didn’t understand what he meant then, but now I do. Jacob, we can’t let her into our investigation: she’ll twist everything we learn to make it into the pretty fiction her brother wants!’
Jacob frowned, not liking that one bit. He was even more of a stickler for the truth than she was. ‘But the client demands her participation.’
‘Can’t we tell the client to go hang?’ Dora was more than ready to throw over this investigation, no matter how interesting it had sounded at first. The conditions had become unacceptable and, besides, they didn’t stand to earn very much. ‘Really, it would be no sacrifice to let it drop.’
‘But I owe Frank. My honour is involved. I will understand if you wish to keep out of it.’
Dora briefly glimpsed the exit from her predicament, then groaned. ‘I can’t, can I? Miss Austen will be expecting another female to chaperone her when out and about with you.’
‘She’s hardly of an age…’ He let it hang delicately, but he meant that Miss Austen was long past her last prayers in the ridiculous husband hunt of the ton.
