Read Online Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online

her, which was stories about horses. The trouble was, she had read Black Beauty not long ago and it made her so sad that now she felt sad whenever
she read about horses.
    Finishing a story, she returned to the view outside the window. The sun had gone in. There were hardly any houses now, just an occasional isolated farm-house and sometimes, right beside the
track, a level-crossing keeper’s cottage. Now and then, in the distance, Belinda glimpsed a dark grey line she guessed must be the sea. The fields and trees were still quite wintry this far
north. She was an awfully long way from home.
    She shivered.
    ‘Are you getting chilly, Belinda? Close the window a bit, or put on your coat. We may yet be glad of the heating.’
    Belinda struggled with the window. As Miss Dalrymple stood up to help her, Mrs. Bretton came in, with Tabitha and the baby.
    ‘It is cooling down a bit at last, isn’t it?’ Mrs. Bretton said, sitting down. ‘Thank heaven. Baby is so fretful when he’s too hot, I’ve had to leave him with
Nanny almost all the way.’
    Baby Alistair whimpered.
    ‘He doesn’t seem frightfully happy now,’ said Miss Dalrymple.
    ‘Nanny thinks he’s teething. I’ll take him back in a minute. I only fetched him because Harold hoped Uncle Albert might take pity on the poor mite.’
    ‘He didn’t?’
    ‘We didn’t go after all, and after I’d walked all the way along the train to fetch him, and Tabitha insisting on coming, too!’
    ‘Why not?’ Miss Dalrymple asked.
    ‘Daddy started creating. He said a bawling baby was as likely to win Uncle Albert over as presenting the fox’s brush to a farmer whose fields have just been trampled by the hunt.
Particularly as Baby was named for Grandfather, not him. He really is the most disagreeable old man. Belinda, dear, will you look after Tabitha for me while I take Baby back to Nanny?’
    ‘Of course, Mrs. Bretton.’
    Belinda was very soon sorry she had agreed. Tabitha was being difficult. She didn’t want to listen to stories, or look at pictures in School Friend , or undress her dolly and dress
it again, or do any of the things Belinda had amused her with before. When Miss Dalrymple said it was time to go to tea with Mr. McGowan, Belinda was actually glad.
    ‘Just tidy your hair, darling. One of your ribbons is coming undone. Here’s a comb. I’ll keep an eye on Tabitha till Mrs. Bretton comes back.’ Miss Dalrymple looked as if
she wished that would be soon! ‘Off you go, then, and I hope he gives you a good tea.’
    Remembering the shouting, Belinda thought she’d better knock on Mr. McGowan’s door. There was no answer – but he might not have heard over the noise of the train, and she had been invited. She opened the door.
    He was lying down. Belinda saw the yellowish, blotchy top of his head with its few strands of hair. His face was turned to the seat back so she couldn’t be sure if he was asleep. He had
said she must be on time, though, because he needed to eat at the right time. Perhaps he wanted her to wake him up? Or should she just sit there till someone brought their tea?
    Stepping into the compartment, she conscientiously closed the door. Something moved on the floor and she bent down to pick up a feather. While she tried to decide what to do, she inspected it.
It was quite a pretty one, curly and speckled white and brown, so she put it into her pocket to show Tabitha.
    Mr. McGowan hadn’t moved. His arm was hanging down off the seat, looking awfully uncomfortable. Granny always woke up with a stiff neck if she fell asleep in a chair in an awkward
position. Belinda decided to make Mr. McGowan more comfy – if he woke up when she moved his arm, she could explain and he wouldn’t be angry.
    She took his hand. It was cold and clammy. His arm seemed very heavy, considering how skinny he was. She folded it across his chest so it wouldn’t fall again.
    He didn’t wake up, didn’t even stir. He must be awfully sound asleep. Leaning