A Cozy Little Murder: A Violet Carlyle Cozy Historical Mystery (The Violet Carlyle Mysteries Book 24

muttered, “Today is a day for aspirin before I’ve overindulged.”
Kate leaned past Victor and asked, “You are all right?”
“Of course we are,” Vi said merrily. “No tears hiding, no nightmares ahead. All is well.”
“For you,” Denny crowed. “I’m sure Jack and Ham have plans for Smith.”
“Smith can handle it,” Rita replied and then asked, “Is Isolde coming?”
Rita knew Vi’s little sister wasn’t coming. She’d said that Tomas was having a hard time with his shellshock and they were thinking of a long sail somewhere with a set of their friends. Vi shook her head and then further changed the subject by commenting on the singer.
The long, low wail of jazz was just what they needed and dinner proceeded more smoothly once Victor got his jibes in. Vi didn’t miss the dark looks between Jack and Ham, and she guessed that Smith would be getting a visit in the next day or two. The good news, however, was that Smith could more than take care of himself.
When the meal was finished, they decided to find their way to the park rather than dancing. Rita twirled under the stars, enjoying the drizzle the way only someone who almost worshiped the rain could.
Vi took hold of Jack’s hand, and pulled him into a dance with her. It didn’t matter that there was no music, she spun with him and he laughed enough that she knew she was forgiven, and he believed she was all right. That was all she needed.
When the late evening evolved into the depth of the night, they split up and returned to their homes. Then, Vi slipped into sleep with ease despite the fact that Jack’s fingers trailed, ever so gently, over the bruise on her arm.

Chapter 4
“Wake up, then,” Jack said with a low voice that was probably intended to be a gentle way to wake up, but her body immediately rejected the notion of rising to awareness.
His hand was gentle on her shoulder, and she grunted, trying to turn away.
“Vi—” he whispered low.
She shook her head against the pillow, refusing to open her eyes. They’d spent much of the evening dancing in the park and then they’d decided to indulge in cocoa and biscuits when they returned home. The late night by the fire had been fun at the time, now however, Vi thought less of it. She cracked her lids and found Jack staring down at her, those too-aware eyes of his moving over her face with a wealth of emotion behind them.
She started to speak, croaked and then tried again. “Why?”
“We’ve an appointment.”
Vi yawned and turned onto her stomach, curling into the bed and pillows. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have an appointment.” She closed her eyes, pulling the blanket over her head. “You could not have an appointment too.”
Jack, however, tugged the blankets back. “If you’re going to get in trouble, darling Vi, I should prefer you do so with me.”
Vi pushed up until she was sitting and scowled at him. His eyes didn’t have nearly the humor she expected. Jack was already dressed and the cup of coffee he was holding in front of her was not apology enough for getting dressed and then stealing her blankets because he didn’t trust her to stay out of trouble.
“It’s more than the appointment, Vi. Are you awake?”
There was something in his tone that made her focus on him. What was wrong? Her eyes roved over his face, but his expression was too closed to tell her anything.
“Rita has a doctor appointment, Vi.”
Vi’s mind snapped to awareness. “But she didn’t have an appointment yesterday.”
“Yes, I know. Since Ham is staying with Rita, I need you. Mrs. Meyers is a timid woman.”
Vi scowled at him. “Don’t sidestep.” The worry in his gaze was so evident now that Vi took the coffee and would have drained it except for the heat radiating from the cup. She yawned against her will and then shot him a look that demanded more information.
“Ham called this morning,” Jack said carefully. “Rita isn’t feeling well.”
Vi paused, knowing the worry in Jack’s gaze was from more than sicking up. “Is Rita all right?”
“She tripped on the stairs, Vi, and is cramping in her mid-section. They’re worried that—”
Vi gasped, throwing back her blankets and spilling the coffee on the bed, barely missing her leg. “Then let’s go to her!”
Jack caught her before she could dash off and pulled her down next to him to sit on the bed. “They called Kate and Victor last night, begging for Nanny Jane to come because of her nursing experience. The doctor is on his way as well as a woman who has been working as a midwife for over twenty years. Rita asked that we not come.”
“That we not come?” Vi pressed her hand against her chest, surprised by the fierce hurt.
Jack pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, “She doesn’t want to have to be brave in front of us, and she’s hating herself for falling. Ham says that…well, Rita—”
Vi took in a shattering breath, holding her chest as she did. She could well imagine how Rita might be feeling. The rush of terror and thrill of escape the day before, the dancing late into the night, the fall, all a risk to the baby, and Vi could see how Rita—especially an exhausted Rita—was blaming herself. Vi could imagine the guilt and the tears and knew she’d feel the same.
In fact, Vi wanted to blame herself for the incident the day before, but she knew that Rita had been fine. It was Vi who had been manhandled. Rita hadn’t been. What happened to Rita wasn’t what they’d done, and even if it were somehow linked, Vi wasn’t responsible for Rita’s decisions, Rita wasn’t responsible for Vi’s, and neither of their husbands were involved.
Vi stopped arguing with herself and got dressed and then telephoned Victor. “Have you heard anything from Nanny?” she asked without any sort of preamble.
“Yes,” he said, “she thinks it’ll be all