Read Online Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) by Danielle Rose-West - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Danielle Rose-West
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heavily
patterned wallpaper from the room and replaced it with light, neutral colours.
Once the heavy curtains disappeared
from the large windows, the gorgeous view of the rambling fields would draw
every guest’s eyes. She could vividly visualise laminate flooring gracing the
ground instead of the dirty carpet. It would lift everything into a new
dimension and could be kept clean far easier.
She mentally replaced the old
fashioned tables and chairs, the sideboard that held various cold breakfast
choices, and removed entirely the many paintings and memorabilia that dotted
the room. She absently reached for her sketch pad before she remembered that
she’d left it in her room. Callie rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The side door opened with a bang. A
large, round woman bustled into the room, carrying two plates of greasy egg and
bacon. She spotted Callie and called over. “Did you find the wash room okay?”
“Yes, thanks Beth.”
Callie smiled at the woman. She’d met
her in the hallway earlier while she’d been exploring before breakfast. Beth
had a rather brisk and boisterous manner. She was somewhat larger than life and
that wasn’t just her waistline. Beth reminded Callie of a drill Sergeant in a
boot camp. She could easily see the woman bossing everyone around and not
taking nonsense from anyone.
Beth slapped the plates in her hands
onto a nearby table in front of an elderly couple and came over to Callie. She
wiped her hands on her pinstripe apron.
“Take a seat anywhere you like. Did
you want a fry up?” Her loud voice vibrated around the room. Callie’s eyes
drifted to the breakfast the elderly couple were starting to eat. Her stomach
churned at the sight of the greasy food. There was no way she could put
something like that in her stomach. She’d heave.
“No, thanks.” Callie resisted the
urge to shudder. “Just some coffee and toast would be fine.”
“You sure? It’s no trouble to do a
full English if you want one.” Beth planted her hands on her generous hips and
peered at Callie with a stern expression on her face.
“I’m sure.”
“Huh! No wonder you’re so skinny, if
that’s all you eat of a morning. Not enough flesh on you to keep a bird alive!”
Beth’s gaze wandered over Callie’s trim form. “Well, go seat yourself. I’ll
bring it out.” She charged out of the door.
Callie sat herself at a small table
that was snuggled into the corner of the breakfast room. She unfolded the
napkin on her place setting and draped it over her knees. Her gaze flicked
around the room and she settled back into her seat. She let her mind wander as
she absorbed her surroundings. Callie enjoyed time by herself. She’d never
understood people that needed constant companionship. The solitude often gave
her the chance to be creative and she thrived on it.
Beth soon arrived back at her side
with a pot of coffee and a rack of toast. She slapped both items onto the table
with all the finesse of a bull.
“If you want any condiments, they’re
out on the side.” Beth pointed to the battered old sideboard. “I meant to check
earlier; did you get the message that was left for you last night?”
“No.” Callie frowned, puzzled. Who
would leave her a message? She’d texted Jade the previous evening to let her
know she’d arrived safely. There was nobody she could think of that would
contact her here.
“A gentleman came here while you were
out to dinner last night. I wrote down the message myself and left it at
reception for you. He said to let you know he’d call round this morning.” Beth
sniffed, disapproval written all over her face.
“Did he give a name?” Callie couldn’t
imagine who the man could be.
“No. He just said it was important
that he see you early today.”
“Thanks,” Callie replied faintly.
Beth gave a small nod and wandered
off. Callie poured herself some coffee and buttered a piece of toast. She bit
into her breakfast as her mind churned over the news. Her heart
patterned wallpaper from the room and replaced it with light, neutral colours.
Once the heavy curtains disappeared
from the large windows, the gorgeous view of the rambling fields would draw
every guest’s eyes. She could vividly visualise laminate flooring gracing the
ground instead of the dirty carpet. It would lift everything into a new
dimension and could be kept clean far easier.
She mentally replaced the old
fashioned tables and chairs, the sideboard that held various cold breakfast
choices, and removed entirely the many paintings and memorabilia that dotted
the room. She absently reached for her sketch pad before she remembered that
she’d left it in her room. Callie rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The side door opened with a bang. A
large, round woman bustled into the room, carrying two plates of greasy egg and
bacon. She spotted Callie and called over. “Did you find the wash room okay?”
“Yes, thanks Beth.”
Callie smiled at the woman. She’d met
her in the hallway earlier while she’d been exploring before breakfast. Beth
had a rather brisk and boisterous manner. She was somewhat larger than life and
that wasn’t just her waistline. Beth reminded Callie of a drill Sergeant in a
boot camp. She could easily see the woman bossing everyone around and not
taking nonsense from anyone.
Beth slapped the plates in her hands
onto a nearby table in front of an elderly couple and came over to Callie. She
wiped her hands on her pinstripe apron.
“Take a seat anywhere you like. Did
you want a fry up?” Her loud voice vibrated around the room. Callie’s eyes
drifted to the breakfast the elderly couple were starting to eat. Her stomach
churned at the sight of the greasy food. There was no way she could put
something like that in her stomach. She’d heave.
“No, thanks.” Callie resisted the
urge to shudder. “Just some coffee and toast would be fine.”
“You sure? It’s no trouble to do a
full English if you want one.” Beth planted her hands on her generous hips and
peered at Callie with a stern expression on her face.
“I’m sure.”
“Huh! No wonder you’re so skinny, if
that’s all you eat of a morning. Not enough flesh on you to keep a bird alive!”
Beth’s gaze wandered over Callie’s trim form. “Well, go seat yourself. I’ll
bring it out.” She charged out of the door.
Callie sat herself at a small table
that was snuggled into the corner of the breakfast room. She unfolded the
napkin on her place setting and draped it over her knees. Her gaze flicked
around the room and she settled back into her seat. She let her mind wander as
she absorbed her surroundings. Callie enjoyed time by herself. She’d never
understood people that needed constant companionship. The solitude often gave
her the chance to be creative and she thrived on it.
Beth soon arrived back at her side
with a pot of coffee and a rack of toast. She slapped both items onto the table
with all the finesse of a bull.
“If you want any condiments, they’re
out on the side.” Beth pointed to the battered old sideboard. “I meant to check
earlier; did you get the message that was left for you last night?”
“No.” Callie frowned, puzzled. Who
would leave her a message? She’d texted Jade the previous evening to let her
know she’d arrived safely. There was nobody she could think of that would
contact her here.
“A gentleman came here while you were
out to dinner last night. I wrote down the message myself and left it at
reception for you. He said to let you know he’d call round this morning.” Beth
sniffed, disapproval written all over her face.
“Did he give a name?” Callie couldn’t
imagine who the man could be.
“No. He just said it was important
that he see you early today.”
“Thanks,” Callie replied faintly.
Beth gave a small nod and wandered
off. Callie poured herself some coffee and buttered a piece of toast. She bit
into her breakfast as her mind churned over the news. Her heart
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