Death at Gallows Green by Robin Paige

Author:Robin Paige [Paige, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Replace

27

"The rats get upon my nerves, Cousin Ribby," said Tabitba.

—Beatrix Potter The Roly-Poly Pudding

"I should like," Kate said to Bea at breakfast the next morning, "to make an excursion. It is time we talked to Mrs. McGregor.''

"What can she tell us?" Bea asked from the sideboard, where she was serving herself a generous portion of Mrs. Pratt's scrambled eggs and herring from a silver dish.

"She is the sister of Tommy Brock. The mysterious Mr. B." Kate said, spreading marmalade on toast. "She ought to know where he is to be found."

Bea added some stewed apples to her plate and sat down at the table. "But what would we do once we have discovered his whereabouts?" She paused, and after a moment, added, uneasily, "Do you intend that we should actually confront the man?"

Kate added another spoonful of marmalade to her toast. Bea had lived her entire life with a father who oversaw her every move and a mother who continually fretted about her health-and welfare. Seen in that context, her decision to visit Bishop's Keep, alone and without their permission, had been a brave and daring act. Kate did not want to push her to the point where she might regret her adventure. Beryl Bardwell might be all for bearding the elusive Mr. Brock in his den (wherever it was), but Kate had to take her friend's nervousness into account.

"Well, then," Kate replied, "perhaps we could enlist the aid of Sir Charles."

"A capital idea," Bea said more comfortably. "We can discover where to find this Tommy Brock, and Sir Charles can take the matter from there." She looked at Kate. "It isn't that I'm not brave, of course." She laughed a little. "Or is it? You were brave enough to confront a killer." Kate had told her about her encounter with her aunt's murderer. "Perhaps I am simply too timorous."

"No, no," Kate said. "Looking back, I shudder at what I did. It strikes me as incredibly foolhardy now, although at the time it seemed quite necessary." She busied herself with the teapot. "But I have another idea. What would you say to a nocturnal expedition in addition to our morning excursion? Please say no straightaway if you wish," she added hurriedly.

"A nocturnal excursion?" Bea smiled. "Now, that's something to which I am accustomed. My brother Bertram's ferret—quite a fascinating creature, really—had been trained by his previous owner to hunt rats. At night, after Papa and Mama had gone to bed, Bertram and 1 often took Filbert into the alley behind Bolton Gardens so that we might observe his behaviour. Bertram is quite as taken with animals as am I." Her eyes shone with mischief. "Poor Mama. She would have perished with fear had she known that I went ratting with Filbert and Bertram." Her face darkened and she shook her head sadly musing. "Poor Mama indeed. I doubt if she has ever been abroad at night after nine, except to go with Papa to the opera."

Kate felt heartened. Bea was not quite the timid person she might appear.

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