AN UNSOLVABLE CRIME by Fiona Grace

Author:Fiona Grace [Grace, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-04T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

When she realized who was walking into the private rooms, Mary knew her situation wasn’t just precarious. It was as risky as it could be.

She recognized the soft, distinctive throat clearing of Lady Hardwick herself.

If Lady Hardwick turned right, into the study, then Mary was doomed, because the lady would see her immediately. She would be discovered, and she didn’t want to think what the consequences would be. Most likely, Lady Hardwick would immediately call Constable Higgins, and demand her arrest.

After all, she was not working today. She had no reason whatsoever to be in these rooms. Her presence here was going to incriminate her.

But if the lady turned left into the bedroom, then Mary had a chance to get away.

She could scramble from behind the desk, sprint along the corridor, and be out of the private suite before Lady Hardwick had realized she was there at all.

Holding her breath, Mary willed her, with all the force of her mind, to turn left, left, left.

Go to the bedroom, please!

Lady Hardwick paused between the two doors, as if deciding which way she should go.

Feeling as if her life was now flashing before her eyes, Mary tried not to breathe, willing the lady’s thoughts and eyes to pass over her.

For once, her pleas were answered, because after waiting for a long, agonizing moment, Lady Hardwick muttered something to herself, and turned left.

Mary crawled out from under the desk, feeling as if every limb was trembling. Still in a crouched position and ready to duck back under cover if she needed to, she peeked around the desk.

There was Lady Hardwick. She’d stopped by the large, white painted wardrobe at the back of the bedroom, and had the door open. Looking for something inside? That might be as good as Mary was going to get. She couldn’t wait any longer. It would be better to run now, while she could.

Standing up, she rushed on silent feet toward the passageway that led to the suite’s main doors.

Footfall by footfall, she got closer to safety, and Mary was just starting to think that she’d made it out unnoticed, when she heard a harsh, angry cry behind her.

“Who’s that? Who are you? Did you come in here just now?”

She glanced around – something that she realized instantly she shouldn’t have done. Lady Hardwick was staring directly at her, her face taut with fury.

“It’s you! You nasty, suspicious young lady! Were you hiding away in the study?”

The lady had spent only a moment in the bedroom. The study was now where she was heading, and on the way across the passage, she’d noticed Mary’s fleeing figure heading out of the suite.

Mary hated to lie, and she knew she wasn’t a good liar, either. But right now, making up a reason seemed the only way to avoid an explosion.

“I came in to look for you, my lady,” Mary said.

“Looking for me? You were quite obviously running away!”

“I reconsidered, and thought I should rather find you later.” Mary wished she wasn’t turning bright red.

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