Madam by Phoebe Wynne

Author:Phoebe Wynne [Phoebe Wynne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Feminism, Women Sleuths, Suspense
ISBN: 9781529408720
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2022-02-16T23:00:00+00:00

That weekend Rose found herself pulled down the drive again. The walk was barer than ever as any little patches of yellow and pink flowers had blown away with the winter, but the gorse bushes still shook with the wind. The school building was dark grey against the pearly January light; its windows like a thousand eyes staring out at her accusingly.

Rose refused to be trapped inside like the girls were. Out here was Poseidon’s dominion, Zeus’s air – even if she was alone.

She’d stopped by Anthony’s office on Friday to see if he wanted to go for a walk together over the weekend. It was a brave move in the face of the girls’ gossip, hidden under a simple gesture. Anthony’s colleague in History, Ashley, thankfully wasn’t there, but a girl was in his place, sitting on Anthony’s desk and looking down at him in his chair. The two looked surprisingly intimate, and when the girl turned around Rose saw it was Clarissa.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry for interrupting,’ Rose said, flustered, before adding, ‘Sir.’

‘Not at all.’ Anthony’s brow was deep with concern; he dropped Clarissa’s hand as he stood up. Clarissa glowered at Rose as she muttered, ‘Thank you, Sir.’ Collecting her textbook, she fitted some papers in between the pages, and meandered out of the room.

Anthony gave an awkward shrug. ‘Clarissa. I’m her tutor, you see. She … it’s difficult. She tends to have crushes, and this term it’s on me.’

‘I’m sure it’s very common here.’ Rose was annoyed to find that she minded. ‘I’m always anxious about that sort of thing. They really drummed it into us during training – do not touch the children.’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘But it must be difficult for a man in a girls’ school …’ Rose wished she would stop talking; her cheeks were starting to burn. She knew that the girls adored Anthony – how her Fifths gushed about him, finding any excuse to bring him up in conversation; how many girls’ eyes dragged towards his loping walk down the corridors. How her own eyes followed theirs, too.

‘Well, Rose, how can I help you?’ He reached forward and gave her fingers a squeeze, his hazel eyes warm. She focused on her hand instead, seemingly disembodied by his, which had clasped Clarissa’s just a moment before.

‘Nothing, it’s not important.’ Rose said, shaking her head. ‘Have a good afternoon.’

At the far end of the drive Rose stopped at the gates. Bolted closed, as usual. The heavy wrought iron froze to the touch as she pulled her fingers out from her sleeve.

‘Madam?’ The groundsman called out, in a voice less frantic than last time.

‘Hello.’

‘You all right?’ He stayed near his doorway, his questioning eyes peering at her between his beanie and his beard. It was a different man, Rose realised.

‘No, I just … fancied a walk. All the cabs were busy, and the porters wouldn’t take me.’

The groundsman didn’t answer. Rose turned back to look at the monster of the school building as he approached her.

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