The Patchwork Girls by Elaine Everest

Author:Elaine Everest
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

11

Richard stood on the doorstep of The Maples, stamping his feet to keep his circulation moving. Even wearing his RAF uniform and greatcoat, he felt cold. Hopefully Helen would invite him in; then again, when she’d heard what he had to say, she might slam the door in his face.

He looked up as the door opened and Helen’s mother stood before him. ‘Good afternoon, Mrs Davis. May I have a word with your daughter, please?’

‘My daughter is moving out of the house. Goodness knows when, as she never tells me anything these days.’

‘Would you be able to give me her new address, and I’ll pay her a visit there? I have some news about the investigation into her husband’s death that I feel she should know. I’d especially like her to hear it before the information gets into the newspapers.’

Mrs Davis raised her eyebrows, showing interest. ‘You may as well come in, as I don’t like discussing business on the doorstep. I’m not sure what the neighbours would say.’

He followed her inside, wondering, when the house was a distance from any other property, how anyone would notice. Even if he’d been spotted pulling up in his vehicle, the neighbours would only have seen an RAF officer paying a visit. It never ceased to amaze him how some people’s minds worked.

‘Please take a seat and warm yourself. I will give my housekeeper a call to bring up a hot drink; it is almost teatime,’ she said, making it sound like an accusation. He declined the offer, but even so she rang a rather large bell on the sideboard and seconds later a harassed-looking woman appeared. Richard recognized her from his last visit here. ‘Can I help you, Mrs Davis?’ she asked, drying her hands on her apron.

‘Would you bring tea, and call my husband in. I feel he should hear whatever this man has to say.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Effie said, hurrying away.

Richard wasn’t sure he wanted to tell Helen’s parents the news without her being present. Although he wasn’t giving any secrets away, it didn’t feel quite right. ‘I wonder, would you give me her address?’ he asked for a second time.

Hillary Davis dismissed his question with a wave of the hand. ‘It seems my housekeeper knows, as she is moving away with her tomorrow. Goodness knows how I am going to cope,’ she said. ‘All the applicants so far have been unsuitable. Trust my daughter to not think things through properly. If these final applicants aren’t suitable, Effie will just have to stay here. If she insists on going, she will leave without references; that’ll show her,’ she sniffed.

Richard decided not to comment. He already knew that Helen wasn’t happy at home; good luck to her if she’d found somewhere else. However, she had been requested to keep the police informed if she should spend time away from this address. Hopefully he could get the housekeeper to give him an idea before he left.

‘Please help yourself to a sandwich,’ Mrs Davis said, after Effie placed a tray on an occasional table and bobbed a curtsy to her mistress.

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