The Ghost and Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell

Author:Emily Brightwell [Brightwell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101644843
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 1993-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

“I do believe, sir, that I really should get you a headache powder,” Mrs. Jeffries said to the inspector. The poor man looked positively dreadful. He’d come home with his shoulders slumped and rain pouring off the rim of his hat. She’d immediately ushered him into the drawing room, put him in his favorite chair and poured a nice glass of sherry. She’d then sat down and listened to his tale of woe.

“That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Jeffries. As soon as I’ve had a bite to eat, I’m sure I’ll feel much better.” He took another sip of his drink. “It’s just, well, one gets embarrassed when one’s been made to look a fool.”

“Now, sir. Don’t be ridiculous. How could you possibly have been made to look foolish?” She clucked her tongue. “It’s hardly your fault that someone forged your signature onto a note.”

“It’s good of you to say so, but that’s not the only reason I feel badly,” he confessed. He stared morosely at his sherry. “I think perhaps I should have listened to Constable Barnes. He wanted to bring Mr. Vogel into the station for questioning and I didn’t think we had sufficient evidence.”

Mrs. Jeffries clucked her tongue again. “Now, now, sir. I’m sure you made the right decision. Why don’t you tell me everything that happened today. It’ll do you good to get it off your chest.”

She straightened as she heard a harsh, muffled rumble that sounded like it was coming from belowstairs. The inspector heard it too.

“I say, did you hear that?” he asked.

“Yes. It was probably something falling off the back of a cart.” She didn’t care what the sound was. Unless the house was on fire, she wanted nothing to distract the inspector from telling her what had transpired that day.

“Thought it sounded like a dog,” he murmured. Then he took a deep breath and told his dear housekeeper all about his utterly dreadful day.

Mrs. Jeffries listened very carefully.

The inspector retired early that night. Mrs. Jeffries waited until he’d disappeared up the stairs and she heard his bedroom door close before she hurried down to the kitchen.

For once, everyone was there. Even Luty Belle had managed to come.

“Hatchet said he’ll be back fer me in an hour,” Luty said, referring to her butler. “His nose is out of joint on account of havin’ to go out in the wet, but he’ll git over it. I couldn’t wait till tomorrow. I’ve found out some information that’s gonna set your hair on fire.”

There was another muffled rumble sound and everyone started in surprise.

“What was that?” Betsy asked.

“Sounded like a dog,” Mrs. Goodge replied.

“I heard the same sound a while ago,” Mrs. Jeffries said.

“It’s thunder,” Wiggins put in.

“Thunder?” Smythe exclaimed. “It weren’t a bit like thunder. You’d better get the muck out of yer ears, boy.”

“And I’d better get them sausages,” Mrs. Goodge said as she stood up and bustled down the hallway towards the cooling pantry. “Don’t anyone start until I get back.”

They all waited patiently, sipping at the cocoa the cook had put in a pot on the table.

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