Rye Royal by Malcolm Saville

Author:Malcolm Saville
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

8. The Widow Vanishes

Although they had expected to be left to amuse them-selves fairly frequently, the twins pretended to take a poor view of the way in which the others went off to Rye Royal for the afternoon.

Jon and Penny left first, but it was obvious that David and Peter had planned to go off together before joining them in Landgate Street later.

"You two don't really mind being on your own, do you?" Peter said. "David wants me to help him do some shopping for his mother and I've still to get my present for Mrs. Warrender."

"Not at all! Not at all!" Dickie replied with a malevolent glare at his brother. "Don't you worry about us. If there's one thing we don't want to do it's to hang about in that musty old shop."

"And it's not for us to suggest who is being really selfish on this holiday," Mary added. "We just love to see you two - and Jon and Penny who are also reunited - enjoying yourselves. What we're not so keen on----"

"Or appreciative of----" the young journalist interrupted.

"----is the way in which the four of you smugly make plans without even consulting us. If we weren't hardened by your selfish treatment of us we should be deeply hurt."

"And another thing," Dickie added triumphantly.

"Just one other impertinent point----"

"Pertinent, brother," David grinned. "Get it right, boy."

"Just one other vital thing, Petronella. You seem to have overlooked the fact that David's mother is also our mother and we might be able to help with advice as to her Christmas gift. But you two go off now and maybe we'll follow you to the shops so that we shall be available if required."

Peter laughed.

"Come and see us off then, and don't get into trouble while we're away. And you might both be thinking up a plan for doing something all together tomorrow. It really is true about shopping, Mary - and after all you do see more of David than I do."

So the twins gave Macbeth a run and walked to the end of Trader's Street with the others. When they were out of sight Dickie said what Mary was thinking.

"They're O.K. We're lucky to have Peter and I don't really blame them for going off like that. I've got an idea, Mary, and I'd rather it was something we tackled by ourselves. Do you know what it is?"

"Mrs. Flowerdew and the secret message, of course. You think we should go and see her and try to help her, don't you? I thought you did. Let's go now."

The door of thirty-nine was unlocked and they walked straight in.

"Mrs. Flowerdew! We've come to see you," Mary called. "Where are you?"

Silence as they stood in the dim, grim hall.

"It's Richard and Mary Morton," Dickie shouted.

The kitchen door at the end of the passage opened suddenly, but the light was behind Mrs. Flowerdew and it was difficult to see her clearly. For a few moments it seemed as if she did not recognize them and then Mary ran to her.

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