Murder and a Christmas Gift by Sonia Parin

Author:Sonia Parin [Parin, Sonia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 49944122
Published: 2019-12-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“My dear Mrs. Barton,” Lady Audrey exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and concern. She looked at her husband as if seeking guidance but he looked equally stunned by the widow’s sudden appearance and outburst.

The bohemian, Elsbeth, acted with swift promptness and rushed toward the recently widowed woman, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Eleanor. I thought you said you didn’t wish to participate in the seance. Did you change your mind?”

Evie strained to hear the woman’s response but her soft voice didn’t travel across the room. Only moments before she had barged in with the fierceness of a lioness and now she appeared to have lost her bravado. Her eyes widened and she looked about the drawing room as if only now noticing the other people in there.

“Mrs. Barton is clearly upset. That should tell you something. This is wrong. We shouldn’t be dabbling with things that don’t concern us.”

One by one, everyone turned toward Mrs. Rupert. Determined to voice her objections, she continued, “It’s plain wrong. You should all be ashamed of yourselves, having fun at someone else’s expense.”

“My dear Mrs. Rupert, I can assure you we had no such intention.” Lady Audrey turned to the widow, her hands pressed together in supplication. “I am so sorry if this has distressed you, Mrs. Barton. We don’t even know if it will work. After all, there is quite a distance between our houses.”

“Distance has no bearing on such matters, Lady Audrey.” Elsbeth guided Mrs. Barton to a chair and signaled to Simmons who didn’t need further prompting to deliver a glass of whisky.

“You are in shock,” Elsbeth said. “You know this will bring you closure. It’s only been a day. Think about it. How will you feel if you miss out? In a day or two, you will come to regret it.” Elsbeth looked up at Lady Audrey. “As a matter of fact, Lady Audrey, we can only benefit from Eleanor Barton’s presence. Miles Barton loved her a great deal and has no doubt followed her here.”

Evie shivered.

“Do you really think so?” Lady Audrey asked.

“Of course, he has,” Sir Kenneth’s voice boomed across the drawing room. “The man understood his obligations. He might have been a recluse and took no interest in the sporting life, shunning shooting and horse riding, but I’m sure he would do everything in his power to offer his wife some sort of comfort. No doubt he wishes to impart some final words to his beloved. So, just as well you came, Mrs. Barton. Without your presence, he might have been reluctant to appear to us.”

Evie studied the woman. If she engaged her in conversation, Mrs. Barton would need to stand on her toes to reach Evie’s shoulders. She had honey-blonde locks peeking out from under a prim hat, large brown eyes and a wide mouth.

When she’d burst into the drawing room, her eyes had been hard, but as Elsbeth offered her some comforting words, they softened.

“I’d like to know how she managed to trek out here,” Evie murmured.

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