Verity Sparks and the Scarlet Hand by Susan Green

Author:Susan Green [Green, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781925126488
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Published: 2015-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

I was sure I wouldn’t sleep, but I did. Deeply, heavily, for almost an hour. When I woke, my shoulder still ached but I felt better. More like myself. I knew that we faced not a nightmare but a real-life challenge. Did I really have to stay in bed? Doctor’s orders – pooh! I thought. Like many men, Doctor Judd thought females couldn’t cope with excitement or danger. Well, I could tell him a thing or two about both that would curl his hair.

I put my arm into the sling Hannah had made for me from a torn-up sheet, and went to find Papa.

He was sitting with Harold and Mr Leviny in the Indian room.

“Oh, ma pauvre petite! Look what they did to her, Ernö.”

Mr Leviny nodded sympathetically.

“Why are you not in bed?” said Papa. “You should be resting.”

“I had a sleep, Papa. Now I feel quite well again.” There must have been something convincing in my voice, for after a feeble attempt to make me lie on the sofa, Papa gave up fussing and began to tell me what was happening.

“Ernö came at once, as you can see,” said Papa. “We are discussing how to proceed.”

“I have power of attorney over Nicky’s affairs,” said Mr Leviny. “This is good, because it means we will be able to get the money for the ransom.”

Money? I hadn’t thought that far ahead. The kidnappers would demand money before they returned Helen and Drucilla.

“Mr Leviny and Uncle both think that we mustn’t involve the police at this stage,” said Harold. I could tell he disagreed.

“And we will keep this a secret among ourselves. I will tell Mrs Leviny that Miss Deane was suddenly called away,” said Mr Leviny.

“Won’t she suspect something?” I said. “After all, Drucilla’s things are still at your house.”

“No, no, she won’t even think about it. You see, Doctor Judd has confirmed that Kate has the measles and no doubt soon all the others will have it too.”

“And it is good that Poppy and Connie are with Judith,” said Papa. “We will be able to keep this to ourselves for a while longer.”

“Indeed,” said Mr Leviny.

“So we can do nothing?” asked Harold. Like me, he wanted to take action.

Mr Leviny nodded. “We must be patient.” He took a sip of sherry and settled back into his armchair. “Did you know, Pierre, that I was bailed up once? It was twenty years ago. The goldfields were rough and dangerous in those days. Why, when I left London one of my friends, thinking I would need to protect myself, gave me a pair of duelling pistols.” Mr Leviny stroked his silvery beard. “He said they once belonged to Admiral Nelson.”

“Astonishing!” said Papa.

Were they going to sit there, patting their beards and telling tales? I shifted restlessly in my seat.

“But when I needed those pistols, of course I did not have them. You’ve seen my design for the presentation cup – an emu egg mounted in silver? Judge Collins had me make it for the Bishop of Sandhurst.

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