Chapter EightGavin arrived back at the boarding house to find Laura pacing nervously in the parlor. “Good morning, ma'am,” he called to her. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” she replied cheerfully. “Don't mind me. I suffer from a deplorable excess of energy. Everything is clean, and tonight's stew is simmering. The children are at school. There's nothing for me to do at the moment, and I don't tolerate that well, but I'll survive. This has always been the case with me.”
“I understand,” he replied. “I have a bit of that myself, but let me ask you; have you seen my wife?”
“Annabelle? No, why? I would have guessed she was with you.”
“She went…” he paused, searching for the right words. “She went out for a walk. I had to go deal with the sheriff and the inquest after yesterday's fire, and
