“I have it all thought out,” Minerva said. “I will bring this and have a tasteful sign made to put by our door. A small brass one. Then I’ll order cards for all of us. I’m going to call on Mrs. Drable and ask her to recommend us to others who might have need of our services. However, we already have our first client.”

“Who might that be?” Beth asked.

“Me.”

* * *

“The door to the past has been opened, as you said, Beth. There is some risk to me now, I know. I spent the night after Radnor was here in panic, remembering how it felt to live with a noose hanging over one’s life.” Even now, as she spoke of it, the chill of dread wanted to conquer her once more. “However, I have decided I am not going to hide my whole life. I will meet the risk with action, not running away. Not fear.”

They had moved to the library. Beth and Jeremy sat on the divan. She stood near the fireplace.

“Brave words, for whatever they mean,” Beth said.

“They mean that the best way to get rid of the risk is to prove I had nothing to do with the duke’s death. And the best way to do that is to prove that someone else did it. However, I would make this inquiry even if the legacy held no danger to me. This duke was a great benefactor to me. If someone pushed him off that roof, I want to know who. I also want to know why he chose to give me this money.” She paced while she explained her thinking and decision. “Don’t you want to know all of that too?”

“Of course,” Beth said.

“Then, as of today, Hepplewhite’s Office of Discreet Inquiries is a real enterprise, and finding those answers is our first endeavor. As to establishing ourselves—we will need to find others to help us. On occasion as we get started, but hopefully on regular wages soon. We will require a young woman, for example. Younger than me. More a girl. They can be very useful to inquiries.”

“A fellow who can look like a gentleman would be helpful too,” Jeremy said. “When we were setting things up to catch Mr. Finley the way we did, the lack of such a man caused some delays.”

Minerva nodded her agreement. “You will have to wait on the carriage and a pair until I have money in hand, Jeremy. Until then we will use hired coaches. And new garments need to be ordered soon.” She eyed Jeremy’s long hair. “A visit to a hairdresser for you, as well. Soon. Although not for your first assignment.”

“Do you plan to stay in this house, or let a better one?” Beth asked. “Not that I’m complaining, but my chamber is drafty.”