Read Online Crime at Tattenham Corner by Annie Haynes - Free Book Online

worn out. A little sal volatile and a rest in your favourite chair –”
    She drew one up to the open window as she spoke.
    Her tone was sympathetic, but Clare Dolphin, watching her, saw a look of triumph gleam for a moment in her eyes.
    Sophie lay back in her chair and submitted to her maid’s ministrations without the protest her sister had half expected. Presently she looked up.
    â€œI am all right now, Clare. Forbes will look after me. And then I must be alone. It seems to me that I have not had a moment to think since John –” 
    Mrs. Dolphin did not look quite pleased. “Oh, very well, then, if you don’t want me I will go home. Goodness knows, I have plenty to do. But I didn’t like the idea of your being alone.”
    â€œYou are very kind.” Sophie received her sister’s kisses passively, rather than returned them. “But – but, you see, there is so much that I shall have to do alone now.”
    â€œOh, well, I will come in again some time this evening, just to see how you are.”
    She shut the door with a decided jerk as she went out.
    Sophie sat up. Her languor had momentarily disappeared. “What was that you were looking at when we came in, Forbes?”
    Forbes hesitated.
    â€œWell, I had just found your frock, my lady. The one you wore for dinner on June 2nd. I found it all crushed together at the bottom of the wardrobe. It is in a fearful state, my lady. The front breadth is right out.”
    She shook the dilapidated garment before Sophie’s unwilling eyes as she spoke. One glance was enough to show its hopeless condition – dirty, covered with mud-stains. There were still a few ominous dark stains left on the bodice, and the front breadth hung literally in rags.
    â€œWhat am I to do with it, my lady? I really can hardly touch it.” 
    â€œIt is in a terrible state,” Sophie said, staring at it with fascinated eyes. “I knew it was in a mess, but I had no idea that it was as bad as this. Of course I wore it when I went to Oxley. That, and my purple coat with the beaver collar over it. And of course we did a lot of walking in and out. They – they wanted me to see everything. Earlier in the day it had been raining.”
    â€œYes, of course, my lady.” But the maid was not satisfied. “Just look at the front, my lady, all in rags!”
    Sophie gazed at it in silence for a minute. “It – there are lots of thorn bushes near the stables, and we left the car a little way away. I suppose I got my frock caught on the bushes going back.”
    â€œIt looks as if it had been cut, my lady, as if some one had taken a knife and hacked at it,” the maid objected, holding out one side.
    Lady Burslem sat back and closed her eyes. ’ “Well, I am sure I do not know what has happened to it. Put it in the rag-bag, please, Forbes, or wherever you put such things. I don’t care what becomes of it. I do not suppose I shall ever wear white again. You can take that white and gilt frock of mine that you f liked so much when it came home last week. It will do for you when you go to a dance with your young man.”
    â€œOh, my lady, and you have never had it on. It does seem a shame. I shall love to have it. Not that I shall be going to any dances now. Tom and me, we lost too much over Peep o’ Day.”
    â€œAh! I must have a talk with you about that later on, Forbes.” Lady Burslem’s accession of energy left her suddenly. “I will have some more sal volatile , and – and then I will see you again later.”
    When at last the maid had retired Sophie sat up and looked round her cautiously. Her cheeks were burning now and her eyes were fever bright. She went across to the door and locked it. Then she came slowly back, her eyes fixed on her dressing-case.
    â€œI must!” she whispered to herself. “I must make sure.”
    She opened the case. Everything looked just as