The Woman in the Veil by Laura Joh Rowland

Author:Laura Joh Rowland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

CHAPTER 19

“It’s my night off,” Barrett says. “I came to see you.”

“You don’t take nights off.” I know he usually works late.

Barrett looks past me, into the house. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

I step back, but with a stern look. “You’re curious about Maude.”

“I want to make sure you’re safe.” He gives me a quick, furtive kiss before he enters the foyer and looks around. “This is like walking into ancient Rome. So—what’ve you found out?”

“Maude’s memory is coming back.” I explain why she’s keeping her face bandaged and tell him the story about the Egyptian lepers.

“That’s pretty convincing.” It’s taken the wind out of his hunch that Maude is really Jenny Legrand.

I’m debating with myself whether to mention what Venetia just told me, when Hugh calls, “Sarah, is that Barrett? Why don’t you bring him in here?”

I take Barrett to the dining room. It’s decorated in medieval style, with exposed beams on the ceiling and fake candles in the gas chandelier. Maude, Venetia, Caroline, and my friends are gathered there. Golden sunlight brightens the antique leaded-glass windows.

“Detective Barrett, how nice to see you,” Maude says in a friendly tone.

“Can he stay for dinner, Aunt Caro?” Venetia says.

“Of course. Please do,” Caroline says without enthusiasm.

We sit in the heavy carved chairs around a trestle table set with floral china and a vase of roses. Dinner is a tasty summer picnic of cold ham, bread, cheese, salad, strawberry tarts, and lemonade, served by the maid. Everyone eats with relish, except Caroline. Ill at ease, she rearranges the scant food on her plate. Barrett watches Maude. She nibbles carefully, so as not to get food on the bandages around her mouth.

“If the weather’s fine tomorrow, we could all go to the zoo in Regent’s Park,” Hugh says.

Venetia bounces in her chair and asks Maude, “Can we?”

Maude hesitates, then says to Hugh, “I would be happy for Venetia to go, but I’m not ready to leave the house.”

I suppose she would be self-conscious about going out in public.

“I understand,” Hugh says with quick sympathy.

“I know I’ll have to go out eventually,” Maude says. She must be thinking that when the bandages come off, her scarred face will draw stares of curiosity, pity, and repugnance. “I can’t stay here forever.” She turns to Caroline. “I don’t want to impose on your hospitality.”

Caroline gives her an affectionate smile. “Dear Maude, you and Venetia are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“Will you go back to Egypt?” Barrett says.

“Perhaps.” Maude sounds sad, as if she realizes that since she’s lost her husband, and unless she regains her ability to write books, there’s no point in returning to Egypt. “I’m not ready to make decisions about the future.” She smoothes Venetia’s tousled curls. “I’m enjoying living one day at a time.”

“Have you gotten in touch with your other relatives?” Barrett says.

“I’ve been told that my parents and grandparents died years ago, and I don’t have brothers or sisters. Except for Caroline and Venetia, I’m quite alone in the world.

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