Elona Holmes's First Season

1. The Case Begins

The office was quiet without the sound of the ladies doing their mock fighting outside the door. It was getting late and the last class had left hours ago. Elona was still working at an anagram her mother had posted in the  London Journal. She was so absorbed in what she was doing that she didn't see the man before he lightly tapped on the window. Quickly stowing the puzzle away, Elona beckoned the man in.

"Are you Miss Holmes, the lady detective?"

"I am. How can I help you sir?" The man clutched his grey cap tightly to his chest as if afraid to lose it. 

"Her Grace wishes to engage your services. She'd like you to call upon her at Fenton Hall tomorrow at noon."

"Was there any other message? I don't usually make house calls, Mr.?"

"My apologies, miss. My name is John Butler. There was no other message. Her Grace is the Duchess of Devonshire "

"Nice to meet you Mr. Butler. Of course I'll make a trip to see her Grace tomorrow."

"Thank you" John disappeared as quickly as he appeared. Elona, stared unseeingly at the spot that he had previously occupied. She was well read in the latest news and gossip of the ton from the various periodicals she subscribed to, but couldn't fathom a guess as to the nature of the request. Tomorrow would be interesting.  This was the first time she was to be engaged by the landed gentry.

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Elona awoke and dressed quickly. It was already getting chilly with the approaching Autumn. Tewksbury would be returning to London soon with his family. They had summered like all great families at their estate in the country, Basilwether Hall. They hadn't had a chance to spend much time together since they revealed the corruption at the matchbox factory. And since they revealed their mutual love.

Tewksbury had written and invited her to Basilwether Hall to visit at the beginning of the summer but she had, at the time, had her hands full with an influx of new cases. She was sure that he understood, at least this time, she had written back to explain that she could not get away from London for the summer. But she hadn't heard anything since then from him.

Elona splashed water on her face to rid herself of the unease at Tewksbury's silence. He would be back once the sessions at Parliament started again and she knew she was very much looked forward to seeing him again and breakfasting in the park again as she watched him walk past on the way to the House of the Lords.

She wore her nicest pale green day dress. It may be a few years old and very reminiscent of her ball gown, but it was clean, and she thought it worked very well to brighten her complexion.

She haled the handsome in the street and gave the address of Fenton hall. It was one of the great houses of the ton and the driver needed no further instructions. The journey took her past Hyde Park, and she watched the early morning ladies and gentlemen flirt demurely. She didn't need to hold back her eye roll. How would these ladies and gentlemen get to know each other by the dropping of a fan and a flutter of an eyelash in brief glimpses on a park walk? How would they know if they were compatible? She honestly thought this was why there were so many sorrowful marriages. Instead of getting further annoyed, she took a nap as the handsome rolled on.

"We're arriving" the driver banged on top of the carriage, rousing Elona.

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Fenton Hall was sprawling, even more so then Basilwether Hall was. It just kept going on in both directions. Elona was helped down by the footman. A maid was already waiting on the entrance steps to escort her in.