Read Online PH02 - Do Not Disturb by Kate Kingsbury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Kingsbury
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then?”
“Frequently,” Cecily answered dryly. She almost added that she very often did just that. But that was between her and Baxter, and it seemed disloyal to laugh about it behind his back.
Madeline’s expression changed to curiosity. “Does he have a Christian name? All I’ve ever heard him called is Baxter. I assume that’s his surname?”
Cecily nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Then what is his Christian name?”
Cecily felt uncomfortable. For some reason she felt reluctant to reveal that, though she had no idea why. To her relief, she was saved from answering by the sudden appearance of Louise, who had arrived at the table to clear away their plates.
“Thank you, Louise,” Cecily said, smiling up at the dour-looking woman. “That was delicious as usual.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Louise stacked the plates and reached for the hot-water pot. “Will you be needing more hot water, ma’am?”
Cecily cocked an eyebrow at Madeline, who shook her head. “I don’t think so, Louise, thank you. We would like the bill now, if you please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Louise hurried away with the dishes, and Madeline leaned forward.
“She’s not a very happy person, is she?” she whispered.
“She most likely doesn’t have much to be happy about, since she has to work for a living.”
“You and I work for a living, yet I would not say we were unhappy about it.”
Cecily smiled. “I don’t consider what I do in the Pennyfoot as work. It’s more like taking care of a very large house. And Baxter takes care of the more troublesome duties.”
“Speaking of whom—” Madeline said, then frowned as Louise returned with the bill.
“I wanted to thank you again, Mrs. Sinclair,” Louise said, “for telling me about the cottage in Hawthorne Lane. I will be taking a look at it at the end of the week, on my day off.”
Cecily graciously nodded. “I’m pleased to have been of help, Louise. I do hope you find the cottage satisfactory for your needs. It’s a very pleasant lane and no more than a half-hour walk from here.”
Louise managed a slight smile, then hurried off again.
“She’s moving into Colin’s cottage?” Madeline said, looking aghast. With her finger she sketched a cross in the air in front of her and mumbled something Cecily didn’t catch.
“Is there a reason why she shouldn’t?” Cecily asked, wondering if Madeline knew something she didn’t.
“Well, of course there is.” Madeline leaned forward again and hissed, “Spirits. Evil ones. They will be there for seven weeks after a death. Seven times seven nights. That woman is taking a severe risk if she moves in before they leave.”
“Perhaps you can sell her something to ward them off,” Cecily suggested, wondering why on earth she continued to humor Madeline’s strange fantasies.
Madeline sat up with a look that said the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “Well, I suppose I could.” She gave Cecily a long look from beneath her lowered lashes. “That’s if you are quite sure my remedy won’t cause her more harm than good.”
“Piffle!” Cecily picked up the bill with a flourish. “You know very well I never for one moment entertained the thought that you could have been responsible for that poor man’s death. Now let’s leave here before I give in to the temptation to take just one more tea cake.”
She rose and led the way to the front of the shop, her mind already grappling with how best to help Ian if necessary.
“You don’t look too well,” Mrs. Chubb observed when Gertie staggered into the kitchen. “Perhaps I should give you one of my powders. Set you right on your feet, that will.”
“Gawd Almighty, don’t give me nothing else.” Gertie uttered a loud moan and sank onto a kitchen chair. Her face was the color of sour milk, and she had black half-moons under her eyes.
“Well, you don’t look well at all.” Mrs. Chubb bustled over to have a closer look. She was feeling decidedly guiltyfor causing
“Frequently,” Cecily answered dryly. She almost added that she very often did just that. But that was between her and Baxter, and it seemed disloyal to laugh about it behind his back.
Madeline’s expression changed to curiosity. “Does he have a Christian name? All I’ve ever heard him called is Baxter. I assume that’s his surname?”
Cecily nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Then what is his Christian name?”
Cecily felt uncomfortable. For some reason she felt reluctant to reveal that, though she had no idea why. To her relief, she was saved from answering by the sudden appearance of Louise, who had arrived at the table to clear away their plates.
“Thank you, Louise,” Cecily said, smiling up at the dour-looking woman. “That was delicious as usual.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Louise stacked the plates and reached for the hot-water pot. “Will you be needing more hot water, ma’am?”
Cecily cocked an eyebrow at Madeline, who shook her head. “I don’t think so, Louise, thank you. We would like the bill now, if you please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Louise hurried away with the dishes, and Madeline leaned forward.
“She’s not a very happy person, is she?” she whispered.
“She most likely doesn’t have much to be happy about, since she has to work for a living.”
“You and I work for a living, yet I would not say we were unhappy about it.”
Cecily smiled. “I don’t consider what I do in the Pennyfoot as work. It’s more like taking care of a very large house. And Baxter takes care of the more troublesome duties.”
“Speaking of whom—” Madeline said, then frowned as Louise returned with the bill.
“I wanted to thank you again, Mrs. Sinclair,” Louise said, “for telling me about the cottage in Hawthorne Lane. I will be taking a look at it at the end of the week, on my day off.”
Cecily graciously nodded. “I’m pleased to have been of help, Louise. I do hope you find the cottage satisfactory for your needs. It’s a very pleasant lane and no more than a half-hour walk from here.”
Louise managed a slight smile, then hurried off again.
“She’s moving into Colin’s cottage?” Madeline said, looking aghast. With her finger she sketched a cross in the air in front of her and mumbled something Cecily didn’t catch.
“Is there a reason why she shouldn’t?” Cecily asked, wondering if Madeline knew something she didn’t.
“Well, of course there is.” Madeline leaned forward again and hissed, “Spirits. Evil ones. They will be there for seven weeks after a death. Seven times seven nights. That woman is taking a severe risk if she moves in before they leave.”
“Perhaps you can sell her something to ward them off,” Cecily suggested, wondering why on earth she continued to humor Madeline’s strange fantasies.
Madeline sat up with a look that said the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “Well, I suppose I could.” She gave Cecily a long look from beneath her lowered lashes. “That’s if you are quite sure my remedy won’t cause her more harm than good.”
“Piffle!” Cecily picked up the bill with a flourish. “You know very well I never for one moment entertained the thought that you could have been responsible for that poor man’s death. Now let’s leave here before I give in to the temptation to take just one more tea cake.”
She rose and led the way to the front of the shop, her mind already grappling with how best to help Ian if necessary.
“You don’t look too well,” Mrs. Chubb observed when Gertie staggered into the kitchen. “Perhaps I should give you one of my powders. Set you right on your feet, that will.”
“Gawd Almighty, don’t give me nothing else.” Gertie uttered a loud moan and sank onto a kitchen chair. Her face was the color of sour milk, and she had black half-moons under her eyes.
“Well, you don’t look well at all.” Mrs. Chubb bustled over to have a closer look. She was feeling decidedly guiltyfor causing
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