Read Online PH02 - Do Not Disturb by Kate Kingsbury - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Kingsbury
Ads: Link
and hoped that all the fishing boats had made it to safe harbor.
Two boats had been lost in winter storms early that year, and a freighter carrying goods from the West Indies had gone aground on the sandbank during the spring tides.
The lighthouse was sorely needed, especially in weather like this. Yet it seemed as if the project had brought trouble to the quiet little village of Badgers End.
Strangers had invaded the calm peace of the countryside, and it would be many weeks before the lighthouse was completed. Lying in the darkness while the storm raged outside, Cecily hoped with all her heart that neither Madeline nor Ian was involved in the death of Colin Bickley.
She hoped even more that there would be no more trouble at the George and Dragon. As Baxter had said so often, sometimes progress brings unwelcome changes. It would be a sad day indeed if the face of Badgers End, and inevitably the Pennyfoot Hotel itself, were to be lost in the never-ending quest for modernization.
Impatient with herself for her morbid thoughts, Cecily plumped up her feather pillow. The winds of change had been blowing ever since the death of Queen Victoria, and she welcomed them with open arms. Progress was good, for the people, for the country, for the world. She just hoped it wouldn’t come too soon to Badgers End.
She left early for Dolly’s Tea Shop the next morning. The wind had blown itself out during the night, leaving a carpet of dead leaves along the High Street and fluffy white clouds scudding across a pale blue sky.
The clean salty air carried a sharp chill to it, reminding Cecily that winter was just around the corner. As the trap bumped along the Esplanade, she could see the huge bonfire being built on the beach. On the night of November thefifth, the entire area would be lit up with the leaping flames, and the crackle and hiss of fireworks would fill the air.
The villagers would gather around the warmth of the fire and cook potatoes in the glowing embers, while waiting for the flames to consume the straw-filled effigy of Guy Fawkes.
A sudden stab of nostalgia caught her unawares, and she hastily turned her thoughts to a more pressing situation. The sudden and unexplained death of Colin Bickley. She could only hope that Madeline would be able to set her fears at rest.
She dismissed the trap with instructions for Samuel to pick her up in two hours. As she reached the door of the shop, two small boys confronted her. They held up grubby hands with a chorus of “Penny for the guy! Penny for the guy!”
Cecily dug into her handbag and found her coin purse. Taking out two large, shiny copper pennies, she pressed one into each small palm. “Don’t spend it on sweets,” she told them, smiling at their delighted faces.
Shouting their thanks, they sped off down the street in search of new prospects. Cecily watched them go, half amused at their excitement and half appalled at a custom that encouraged the children to beg for money.
A stirring of the cool breeze sent a shiver through her, and she pushed open the door of the tea shop to the welcome jangling of the bell and the fragrance of freshly baked bread.
She was enjoying her second cup of tea when Madeline arrived, breathless and apologetic, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling.
What an attractive woman she was, Cecily thought, watching the long, dark hair swing into place as Madeline sat down at the table. It was such a shame she couldn’t find a man to love. Although she didn’t know the full extent of Madeline’s background, Cecily knew enough to understand why her friend had so much difficulty in forming a relationship.
Madeline had been fourteen, selling cut flowers on thestreets of London, when she’d been rescued from starvation by an elderly benefactor. The gentleman had taken the young girl into his home, and Cecily could only guess at what it had cost Madeline for her security.
Eventually, her “guardian” had died, leaving her penniless once more.
Two boats had been lost in winter storms early that year, and a freighter carrying goods from the West Indies had gone aground on the sandbank during the spring tides.
The lighthouse was sorely needed, especially in weather like this. Yet it seemed as if the project had brought trouble to the quiet little village of Badgers End.
Strangers had invaded the calm peace of the countryside, and it would be many weeks before the lighthouse was completed. Lying in the darkness while the storm raged outside, Cecily hoped with all her heart that neither Madeline nor Ian was involved in the death of Colin Bickley.
She hoped even more that there would be no more trouble at the George and Dragon. As Baxter had said so often, sometimes progress brings unwelcome changes. It would be a sad day indeed if the face of Badgers End, and inevitably the Pennyfoot Hotel itself, were to be lost in the never-ending quest for modernization.
Impatient with herself for her morbid thoughts, Cecily plumped up her feather pillow. The winds of change had been blowing ever since the death of Queen Victoria, and she welcomed them with open arms. Progress was good, for the people, for the country, for the world. She just hoped it wouldn’t come too soon to Badgers End.
She left early for Dolly’s Tea Shop the next morning. The wind had blown itself out during the night, leaving a carpet of dead leaves along the High Street and fluffy white clouds scudding across a pale blue sky.
The clean salty air carried a sharp chill to it, reminding Cecily that winter was just around the corner. As the trap bumped along the Esplanade, she could see the huge bonfire being built on the beach. On the night of November thefifth, the entire area would be lit up with the leaping flames, and the crackle and hiss of fireworks would fill the air.
The villagers would gather around the warmth of the fire and cook potatoes in the glowing embers, while waiting for the flames to consume the straw-filled effigy of Guy Fawkes.
A sudden stab of nostalgia caught her unawares, and she hastily turned her thoughts to a more pressing situation. The sudden and unexplained death of Colin Bickley. She could only hope that Madeline would be able to set her fears at rest.
She dismissed the trap with instructions for Samuel to pick her up in two hours. As she reached the door of the shop, two small boys confronted her. They held up grubby hands with a chorus of “Penny for the guy! Penny for the guy!”
Cecily dug into her handbag and found her coin purse. Taking out two large, shiny copper pennies, she pressed one into each small palm. “Don’t spend it on sweets,” she told them, smiling at their delighted faces.
Shouting their thanks, they sped off down the street in search of new prospects. Cecily watched them go, half amused at their excitement and half appalled at a custom that encouraged the children to beg for money.
A stirring of the cool breeze sent a shiver through her, and she pushed open the door of the tea shop to the welcome jangling of the bell and the fragrance of freshly baked bread.
She was enjoying her second cup of tea when Madeline arrived, breathless and apologetic, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling.
What an attractive woman she was, Cecily thought, watching the long, dark hair swing into place as Madeline sat down at the table. It was such a shame she couldn’t find a man to love. Although she didn’t know the full extent of Madeline’s background, Cecily knew enough to understand why her friend had so much difficulty in forming a relationship.
Madeline had been fourteen, selling cut flowers on thestreets of London, when she’d been rescued from starvation by an elderly benefactor. The gentleman had taken the young girl into his home, and Cecily could only guess at what it had cost Madeline for her security.
Eventually, her “guardian” had died, leaving her penniless once more.
Similar Books
