Read Online Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry - Free Book Online Page A

gone to a further affair at the church hall, and since Martha Prebble had a summer cold, it was all the more necessary that it should be well supported by people like Mama, capable of organizing, seeing that those in charge of the catering attended to details, that things were done on time, and all was adequately tidied up afterwards. Again, Charlotte was happy to remain at home, with a quite genuine headache.
    She thought it might be caused by the heavy, stormy weather, and she opened the garden doors to let in the air. It worked surprisingly well, and by nine o’clock she felt much better.
    At ten o’clock she closed the doors as it was now dark. Sitting with the darkness intruding she felt a little vulnerable, remembering that there was nothing between the garden and the street except the rose wall. She had been reading a book her father would not have approved of, but a perfect opportunity since both he and Dominic were also out.
    It was half past ten, and quite dark outside, when Mrs. Dunphy knocked on the withdrawing room door.
    Charlotte looked up.
    “Yes?”
    Mrs. Dunphy came in, her hair a little untidy, her apron screwed up in her fingers.
    Charlotte stared at her in surprise.
    “What is it, Mrs. Dunphy?”
    “Perhaps I shouldn’t ought to bother you, Miss Charlotte, but I don’t rightly know what to do about it!”
    “About what, Mrs. Dunphy? Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”
    “Oh no, Miss Charlotte. It’s Lily.” Mrs. Dunphy looked wretched. “She’s gone out with that Jack Brody again, and she isn’t back. It’s gone half past ten, Miss Charlotte, and she’ll have to be up at six in the morning.”
    “Well don’t you worry about it,” Charlotte said a little sharply. She loathed trying to sort out domestic wrangles. “If she feels terrible tomorrow, perhaps she’ll learn not to stay out too late in future.”
    Mrs. Dunphy caught her breath in exasperation.
    “You don’t understand, Miss Charlotte! It’s half past ten and she hasn’t come home yet! I never did like that Jack Brody. Mr. Maddock has said a number of times he was no good, and Lily ought to tell him to be on his way.”
    Charlotte had noticed that Maddock had a very ready regard for Lily, which would predispose him to disapprove of Jack Brody, or anyone else with whom she stepped out.
    “I wouldn’t take Maddock’s view very seriously, Mrs. Dunphy. He’s probably harmless enough.”
    “Miss Charlotte, it’s nearer eleven than ten, and it’s dark outside and Lily’s out there somewhere with a man that’s no good! Mr. Maddock’s been out to look for her. He’s out there now, but I think you should do something.”
    Charlotte realized for the first time exactly what Mrs. Dunphy was afraid of.
    “Oh, don’t be foolish, Mrs. Dunphy!” she burst out, not because it was foolish, but because she was afraid now too. “She’ll be back presently, and you can send her in here to me. I’ll make it plain to her that if she does this again we shall dismiss her. You’d better tell Maddock when he comes back, and then go to bed yourself. Maddock will wait up.”
    “Yes, Miss Charlotte. Do you—do you think she’ll be all right?”
    “Not if she ever does this again. Now go back to the kitchen and don’t worry about it.”
    “Yes, thank you, Miss,” and Mrs. Dunphy went out, still twisting her apron in one hand.
    It was half an hour later, after eleven, when Maddock came in.
    Charlotte put down her book. She was just about to go to bed herself. There was no point in waiting up for the others. Although they were later than she had expected. Church hall affairs usually finished by ten. Perhaps there was a lot of clearing up to do, and then they would have to find a carriage home. Papa was at his club, and she could not remember where Dominic had said he was going.
    “What is it, Maddock?”
    “It’s after eleven, Miss Charlotte, and Lily still isn’t home. With your permission, I think we should contact the