Read Online A Gilded Grave by Shelley Freydont - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shelley Freydont
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didn’t know whether to smile or be serious. Will was a large-boned man, handsome in a rugged way, like one of the frontiersmen portrayed in dime novels. Today he was dressed in a regular morning suit, not a uniform. Normally, she would be glad to see him, but she wasn’t sure how to greet him this morning. There wasn’t a rule in the etiquette books, as far as she knew, on how to deal with a man of the law.
She could hear her mother’s voice as her parents moved from the breakfast room to the library, where they would receive Will.
Deanna swallowed. She’d really hoped her mother wouldn’t have to be present. She wouldn’t approve of anything that Deanna would have to say. She’d be rude to Will, outraged that the authorities would dare to besiege her home, and let everyone know about it.
Will looked just as uncomfortable as Deanna, only today, as policeman and witness, they couldn’t laugh together and break the tension. She’d never been a witness before—not that she had actually witnessed anything last night—and she didn’t know how to act.
Dickerson returned and showed Will into the library, then stood just outside the door.
As Deanna watched him, he held a finger to his lips. When he at last moved away from the door, he said, “I took the liberty of not saying that you were waiting here.”
“Thank you, Dickerson.”
“Chin up, Miss Deanna. They’re ready for you now.”
She steeled herself and followed him to the library door. Dickerson gave her a second to compose herself, then opened the door. She stepped inside. “You sent for me, Papa?”
“Yes, dear.”
He and Will were both standing. Her mother was seated. The message clear: Mrs. Randolph wasn’t leaving.
Her father turned his attention to Deanna. “You remember Sergeant Hennessey?”
“Of course. How do you do?” She risked a glance at Will. His eyes were kind, sympathetic, and a little amused.
“Have a seat, Deanna.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Chin up
, she told herself. She crossed the room to sit down; her skirt caught the leg of a chair and she almoststumbled. Her cheeks flushed red. Two signs of guilt. When confronted, the villains in the novels always gave themselves away by their nerves.
She managed to get to the chair near Will—Sergeant Hennessey—and sat down.
The gentlemen sat.
“The sergeant has a few questions to ask you about last night.”
Deanna glanced at her mother. She hadn’t told her that she had been outside on the lawn or even on the terrace. Deanna looked at her father.
“The sergeant has already informed us that you were among those who discovered the body of that poor girl,” he said.
Deanna cringed. Now her mother would never let her stay with Cassie. At least her papa hadn’t been the one who’d told on her.
Will Hennessey took a black notebook and a pencil stub from his pocket and looked at Deanna attentively. His mouth twitched, his apology for letting the cat out of the bag. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She straightened in her seat.
“That’s correct. Several of us were strolling on the path since the ballroom was unbearably close.” She risked a small smile at Will, but her eyes were trying to telegraph to him that she didn’t want to talk in front of her parents. Which was useless; it was too late to go back now. Besides, they would never let her talk to him alone.
The door opened. Dickerson stepped in, and Cassie swept past him. Now they’d really be in trouble.
“Sorry to interrupt. But, Mrs. Randolph, Adelaide seems awfully sick and I couldn’t find her maid.”
Jeannette Randolph’s mouth tightened, clearly torn betweenher duties. “I’ll see to her.” She rose and the gentlemen rose with her. After casting a glance first at her husband, then at the sergeant, she left the room. Cassie lingered long enough to wink at Deanna before she followed Deanna’s mother out.
And Deanna almost laughed out loud.
The room seemed to exhale as the door closed.
Deanna turned
She could hear her mother’s voice as her parents moved from the breakfast room to the library, where they would receive Will.
Deanna swallowed. She’d really hoped her mother wouldn’t have to be present. She wouldn’t approve of anything that Deanna would have to say. She’d be rude to Will, outraged that the authorities would dare to besiege her home, and let everyone know about it.
Will looked just as uncomfortable as Deanna, only today, as policeman and witness, they couldn’t laugh together and break the tension. She’d never been a witness before—not that she had actually witnessed anything last night—and she didn’t know how to act.
Dickerson returned and showed Will into the library, then stood just outside the door.
As Deanna watched him, he held a finger to his lips. When he at last moved away from the door, he said, “I took the liberty of not saying that you were waiting here.”
“Thank you, Dickerson.”
“Chin up, Miss Deanna. They’re ready for you now.”
She steeled herself and followed him to the library door. Dickerson gave her a second to compose herself, then opened the door. She stepped inside. “You sent for me, Papa?”
“Yes, dear.”
He and Will were both standing. Her mother was seated. The message clear: Mrs. Randolph wasn’t leaving.
Her father turned his attention to Deanna. “You remember Sergeant Hennessey?”
“Of course. How do you do?” She risked a glance at Will. His eyes were kind, sympathetic, and a little amused.
“Have a seat, Deanna.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Chin up
, she told herself. She crossed the room to sit down; her skirt caught the leg of a chair and she almoststumbled. Her cheeks flushed red. Two signs of guilt. When confronted, the villains in the novels always gave themselves away by their nerves.
She managed to get to the chair near Will—Sergeant Hennessey—and sat down.
The gentlemen sat.
“The sergeant has a few questions to ask you about last night.”
Deanna glanced at her mother. She hadn’t told her that she had been outside on the lawn or even on the terrace. Deanna looked at her father.
“The sergeant has already informed us that you were among those who discovered the body of that poor girl,” he said.
Deanna cringed. Now her mother would never let her stay with Cassie. At least her papa hadn’t been the one who’d told on her.
Will Hennessey took a black notebook and a pencil stub from his pocket and looked at Deanna attentively. His mouth twitched, his apology for letting the cat out of the bag. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She straightened in her seat.
“That’s correct. Several of us were strolling on the path since the ballroom was unbearably close.” She risked a small smile at Will, but her eyes were trying to telegraph to him that she didn’t want to talk in front of her parents. Which was useless; it was too late to go back now. Besides, they would never let her talk to him alone.
The door opened. Dickerson stepped in, and Cassie swept past him. Now they’d really be in trouble.
“Sorry to interrupt. But, Mrs. Randolph, Adelaide seems awfully sick and I couldn’t find her maid.”
Jeannette Randolph’s mouth tightened, clearly torn betweenher duties. “I’ll see to her.” She rose and the gentlemen rose with her. After casting a glance first at her husband, then at the sergeant, she left the room. Cassie lingered long enough to wink at Deanna before she followed Deanna’s mother out.
And Deanna almost laughed out loud.
The room seemed to exhale as the door closed.
Deanna turned
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