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Title: Millstone of Doubt: Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries (Book 2)
Series: Thorndyke and Swann Regency Mysteries
Author: Erica Vetsch
Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction
Publisher: Kregel Publications (September 20, 2022)
Length: (304) pages
Format: Trade paperback & eBook
ISBN: 978-0825447143
A Bow Street Runner and a debutante in London Society use their skills to find the killer of a wealthy businessman, but the killer’s secrets aren’t the only ones they will uncover.
Caught in the explosion of the Hammersmith Mill in London, Bow Street runner Daniel Swann rushes to help any survivors only to find the mill's owner dead of an apparent gunshot--but no sign of the killer.
Even though the owner's daughter, Agatha Montgomery, mourns his death, she may be the only one. It seems there are more than a few people with motive for murder. But Daniel can't take this investigation slow and steady. Instead, he must dig through all the suspects as quickly as he can because the clock is ticking until his mysterious patronage--and his job as a runner--comes to an abrupt and painful end. It seems to Daniel that, like his earthly father, his heavenly Father has abandoned him.
Lady Juliette Thorndike is Agatha's bosom friend and has the inside knowledge of the wealthy London ton to be invaluable to Daniel. She should be in a perfect position to help with the case. But when her trusted instructor in the art of spy craft orders her to stay out of the investigation, Lady Juliette obeys. That is, until circumstances intervene, and she drops right into the middle of the deadly pursuit.
When a dreadful accident ends in another death on the mill floor, Daniel discovers a connection to his murder case--and to his own secret past. Now he and Juliette are in a race to find the killer before his time runs out.
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS
ADVANCE PRAISE
“An artfully told story that will have you wondering at the outcome until the final pages are read.” —Ruth Logan Herne, USA Today best-selling author
“…a fully satisfying mystery. I can’t wait to read the next one!” —Jocelyn Green, Christy Award–winning author of Drawn by the Current
“I am sure fans of the first book in this series will revel in the deepening relationship between Daniel Swann and Juliette Thorndike.” —Alissa Baxter, author of The Viscount’s Lady Novelist
“Millstone of Doubt captivated me from the first sentence and kept me guessing the entire novel…Erica Vetsch is the master of all things Regency.” —Lorri Dudley, author of The Duke’s Refuge
“5 Stars. Millstone of Doubt is a compelling Regency mystery with plenty of romance. Michelle Griep fans (or any Regency fan in general) will love this novel.”— Jennifer Purcell, ChristianBooks.com
Excerpt Millstone of Doubt
The earl changed the conversation, and after what Daniel considered much too long a time spent over a meal, they pushed back their chairs and rose.
“If you ladies will join me,” Countess Thorndike said, “I would love to show you some of the new plantings in the conservatory, and the gardener has created bouquets for each of you to take when you depart. Gentlemen, we’ll rejoin you shortly.” She led the way, and the ladies followed like bright birds.
At the door, Miss Agatha Montgomery paused, her face troubled. She returned for a whispered conversation with Lord Thorndike, and he eventually nodded and beckoned to Daniel, who had risen with the rest of the gentlemen when the ladies did and now stood with his hands on the back of his chair.
“Mr. Swann, Miss Montgomery is quite concerned that her father has failed to appear at today’s party. If I have the carriage sent round, would you accompany the lady to her father’s place of business? With a proper chaperone, of course.”
“Of course, milord.” Daniel bowed to Miss Montgomery. With her red hair piled high, she was nearly as tall as him.
“Lady Juliette will accompany you as well.” The earl nodded to his daughter.
“I’ll go.” Viscount Coatsworth approached. “There’s no need for the Bow Street runner.”
Daniel gritted his teeth. It seemed beyond Coatsworth’s ability to pass by an opportunity to cut him down to size. He turned to the earl to await his decision.
“Perhaps you should all go. It’s a pleasant day, and I have no doubt you young people will have a more enjoyable time in the carriage than sitting in the house listening to your elders discuss things in which you have little interest.”
“Thank you, Father. Perhaps we will return in time to bid our guests farewell,” Lady Juliette said.
How did she feel about being part of the excursion? Would she rather stay with the German duke? And if the viscount was willing to accompany the ladies, why did the earl want Daniel to go?
“If not, your mother and I will make your excuses. That’s settled, then. Miss Montgomery is certain he’s at the mill in Hammersmith. At least that was where he was headed before he was supposed to come here. I would suggest you start there.” Thorndike opened his watch. “The party here will go for another hour at least, but perhaps two. And I would like to speak to Montgomery, so even if it’s later, ask him to call round.”
“Yes, milord.” Daniel inclined his head to the earl.
Coatsworth said nothing to Daniel, behaving as if he were invisible while they waited for the ladies to prepare for the short journey. When they assembled in front of the house, the carriage was brought round and Coatsworth took charge. “Lady Juliette, sit with Miss Montgomery and me on this side. We’ll let the servants sit opposite.”
Servant?
The maid in her white cap and woolen shawl was already aboard, and Miss Montgomery took the bench across from her, facing the rear of the carriage.
Lady Juliette tugged on her gloves, then took the viscount’s hand to allow him to assist her. Daniel resisted the urge to swat him away and do the job himself. He might not be a titled gentleman, but he was no tramp either. Coatsworth snubbed him as if afraid his company would tarnish the group.
“Thank you, but no,” Juliette said. “I don’t enjoy sitting backward in a carriage. I’ll sit beside Miss Brown. You take the place beside Agatha. Mr. Swann can share our bench.” She sent an apologetic look Daniel’s way, and he relaxed his fists.
When they were all seated, Daniel had no complaints. He was quite close to Lady Juliette, so close he could smell her perfume. Her gown flowed and whispered in that mysterious way ladies’ clothes had that never failed to catch a man’s attention. Even now a fold of the silky cloth lay on his knee, and he resisted the urge to touch it.
Opposite, the viscount’s mouth puckered as if he’d licked up a spoonful of vinegar, and he studiously avoided acknowledging Daniel’s existence. Coatsworth patted Miss Montgomery’s hands gripped together in her lap.
Hmm, very familiar. There must be something brewing between them of a serious nature for him to be so bold.
“I don’t know if I am worried or vexed. It is like Father to be late to every function, but not to fail to appear entirely.” Miss Montgomery gnawed her lip. “He can be most exasperating at times.” Her voice had a tinge of fondness, but her eyes held the tightness of anxiety.
“I’m sure he’s fine. Just caught up in something at the mill. You said he is overseeing extensive renovations.” Lady Juliette smoothed her skirt off Daniel’s trouser leg, putting her hand between their limbs as if guarding her leg from brushing his.
Did she think his company odious? In their several encounters, she’d never treated him anything but cordially—or at least civilly. But perhaps Coatsworth’s attitude had rubbed off? Did she see herself as superior to others the way the viscount did?
Again he wished himself away from these feelings of inadequacy and doubt, of not being quite good enough to be in the company of those who considered themselves his “betters.” In the detectives’ room at Bow Street Magistrate’s Court, he was among his peers, respected and accepted though having the least experience. It was where he fit best, not the dining rooms, salons, or carriages of the beau monde. Perhaps he was inferior to the gentry because he would rather share a costermonger’s meat pie with his partner, Ed Beck, than consommé with the peerage.
They left the more densely packed part of the city and headed into the open countryside. Hammersmith was less than ten miles from Berkley Square, and the road was good.
When they reached the village that bordered the Thames, they turned a bit south toward the river and pulled to a stop several houses up the lane from the mill. Daniel noted sounds of splashing water in the distance as he wrenched the carriage door open and leapt to the cobbles, eager to escape the confines of the closed space and get out first so as to be the one who helped the ladies.
The smell of the river mingled with the smell of grain, and even from this distance the thumping and bumping of machinery said the mill was in production. The narrow lane between the houses, which led down to the mill, was currently blocked by a wagon piled high with sacks of grain. That explained why the driver hadn’t stopped closer to the mill before decanting his passengers.
The mill stood sentinel above the houses, a stone tower with a hefty presence to it. Like a mother hen with chicks gathered near, the dwell- ings huddled around the base of the mill. How long had it stood here, grinding grain into flour, feeding England one wagonload at a time? A hundred years? Two?
And if what the anarchist Jasper Finch said was true, it was due for an overhaul and refitting to bring it into this modern age.
Lady Juliette emerged from the carriage and took Daniel’s waiting hand, her shoe peeping from beneath her skirts to find the iron step. A buzz of bees’ wings under his skin began the moment her fingers made contact with his, and he took a fortifying breath. She was so proper and beautiful, yet beneath the facade, he also knew her to be brave and determined. A heady combination.
The instant her foot hit the cobbles, a flash of light, followed by a
whump, rocketed down the narrow lane, and the world exploded.
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