Read Online A Fatal Freedom by Janet Laurence - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janet Laurence
Ads: Link
friends. Instead, he had tried to involve her in the sordid investigation he was carrying out for a despicable man.
However, it was through Jackman that she had met Rachel Fentiman. ‘You were so brave,’ Ursula told her honestly. ‘You could see your sister was in trouble and needed help. And the way you got everyone’s attention was inspirational. I, well, I thought an additional distraction was needed.’
Miss Fentiman smiled happily and squeezed Ursula’s arm. ‘It was all we needed to make an escape. The moment I saw that man with his camera, I knew it was something to do with Alice. Several days before we went to the menagerie, she mentioned having an odd feeling of being watched and Joshua is just the sort of man to hire a detective to follow his wife. Can you imagine a worse act? So to distrust your wife?’
Ursula was silent and after a moment Rachel said ruefully, ‘I know, she was spending far too much time with Daniel but, even so,’ she added robustly, ‘wouldn’t you have thought Joshua would try harder to succeed in her affections?’
An image of Daniel Rokeby’s charmingly informal looks swam insistently into Ursula’s mind, followed swiftly by a picture of Mr Peters as he had appeared that afternoon. Then she remembered her glimpse of Thomas Jackman. Was he actually following Rachel now, expecting her to lead him to her sister? If so, she must warn the girl.
Why on earth had Jackman got himself involved with that unpleasant man and his marriage difficulties? Then Ursula wondered. It had only been the swiftest of glimpses; could she have been mistaken?
Rachel was continuing. ‘Alice is the sweetest of souls but you have to understand, Miss Grandison, that she is happiest surrounded by those who love her. It was such a tragedy …’ she broke off, disentangled her arm from Ursula’s, stopped and, pulling at her white cotton gloves in a nervous gesture, said, ‘All Alice’s life I have tried to look after her. She is such an innocent, and she does not think ahead. That is why she allowed herself to be given in marriage to that … that quite appalling man. Oh, if she has left him, despite the scandal that will follow, I shall be so pleased! But why didn’t she tell me where she was going? Let us hurry on, Miss Grandison. Maybe I will find a note waiting for me.’
She seemed to assume that her companion would come home with her.
Ursula allowed herself to be swept along the busy street. Workers were going home and several times she found herself jostled by hurrying passers-by. The question as to whether or not it was Jackman she had seen had to be answered. She glanced behind but it was impossible to make out whether he was following them or not.
‘Miss Fentiman,’ Ursula pointed to a small general store on the corner of a street. ‘Do you mind if I obtain something for this evening?’ Without waiting for a response, she pulled the girl in with her, then pretended to be studying a display of tinned meats next to the window. She had a clear view up the street.
‘Are you not supplied with an evening meal where you are living?’
‘Oh, yes, but I was late the other night and missed it. I need to guard against having to starve for a second time.’ Ursula picked up the first tin her hand found. ‘This will do,’ she said, took it to the counter and apologised to the assistant for helping herself.
‘Oysters!’ exclaimed Rachel. ‘You have strange tastes, Miss Grandison, if that is how you sup.’
‘They bring back a happy time I spent on Chesapeake Bay,’ Ursula said brightly, wondering how she was going to make them into a meal if the need ever arose. But she had not seen any sign of Thomas Jackman. Feeling her heart suddenly lighter, she led the way out of the shop, clutching a paper-wrapped parcel.
Rachel Fentiman lived near the Embankment, in an elongated square with a church at one end. The sides were lined with terraced houses, tall, with classical columns at the
However, it was through Jackman that she had met Rachel Fentiman. ‘You were so brave,’ Ursula told her honestly. ‘You could see your sister was in trouble and needed help. And the way you got everyone’s attention was inspirational. I, well, I thought an additional distraction was needed.’
Miss Fentiman smiled happily and squeezed Ursula’s arm. ‘It was all we needed to make an escape. The moment I saw that man with his camera, I knew it was something to do with Alice. Several days before we went to the menagerie, she mentioned having an odd feeling of being watched and Joshua is just the sort of man to hire a detective to follow his wife. Can you imagine a worse act? So to distrust your wife?’
Ursula was silent and after a moment Rachel said ruefully, ‘I know, she was spending far too much time with Daniel but, even so,’ she added robustly, ‘wouldn’t you have thought Joshua would try harder to succeed in her affections?’
An image of Daniel Rokeby’s charmingly informal looks swam insistently into Ursula’s mind, followed swiftly by a picture of Mr Peters as he had appeared that afternoon. Then she remembered her glimpse of Thomas Jackman. Was he actually following Rachel now, expecting her to lead him to her sister? If so, she must warn the girl.
Why on earth had Jackman got himself involved with that unpleasant man and his marriage difficulties? Then Ursula wondered. It had only been the swiftest of glimpses; could she have been mistaken?
Rachel was continuing. ‘Alice is the sweetest of souls but you have to understand, Miss Grandison, that she is happiest surrounded by those who love her. It was such a tragedy …’ she broke off, disentangled her arm from Ursula’s, stopped and, pulling at her white cotton gloves in a nervous gesture, said, ‘All Alice’s life I have tried to look after her. She is such an innocent, and she does not think ahead. That is why she allowed herself to be given in marriage to that … that quite appalling man. Oh, if she has left him, despite the scandal that will follow, I shall be so pleased! But why didn’t she tell me where she was going? Let us hurry on, Miss Grandison. Maybe I will find a note waiting for me.’
She seemed to assume that her companion would come home with her.
Ursula allowed herself to be swept along the busy street. Workers were going home and several times she found herself jostled by hurrying passers-by. The question as to whether or not it was Jackman she had seen had to be answered. She glanced behind but it was impossible to make out whether he was following them or not.
‘Miss Fentiman,’ Ursula pointed to a small general store on the corner of a street. ‘Do you mind if I obtain something for this evening?’ Without waiting for a response, she pulled the girl in with her, then pretended to be studying a display of tinned meats next to the window. She had a clear view up the street.
‘Are you not supplied with an evening meal where you are living?’
‘Oh, yes, but I was late the other night and missed it. I need to guard against having to starve for a second time.’ Ursula picked up the first tin her hand found. ‘This will do,’ she said, took it to the counter and apologised to the assistant for helping herself.
‘Oysters!’ exclaimed Rachel. ‘You have strange tastes, Miss Grandison, if that is how you sup.’
‘They bring back a happy time I spent on Chesapeake Bay,’ Ursula said brightly, wondering how she was going to make them into a meal if the need ever arose. But she had not seen any sign of Thomas Jackman. Feeling her heart suddenly lighter, she led the way out of the shop, clutching a paper-wrapped parcel.
Rachel Fentiman lived near the Embankment, in an elongated square with a church at one end. The sides were lined with terraced houses, tall, with classical columns at the
Similar Books
