Swallow Hall Murder by Noreen Wainwright

Author:Noreen Wainwright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: whodunit, cozy mystery, women sleuths, english mystery, cosy mystery, british mystery, 1930s mystery, post word war one, post ww1
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing

Chapter Sixteen

Serena’s face was white, and the muscles in her neck, taut. She clasped the teacup so hard, Edith feared she would break it.

What timing though. Today, Archie had to be her priority. However, it was impossible to leave someone who was in extreme distress. It would seem that having plucked up all her courage or plumbed the depths of despair, she’d be left high and dry. Maybe Edith should have stopped the other woman in her tracks before she started. Don’t be stupid. She was capable of tact. There was a clock on the wall behind the counter. It was almost twenty minutes since she’d left Archie and she’d have to allow herself a few minutes to get back to the ward.

“Would you like to meet me back in Ellbeck, say this afternoon? About two. I’ll have my brother back home and settled by then. But, the offer of a lift still stands, by the way.”

Thankfully, this had the effect of switching Serena away from her own despair to concentrate on somebody else. “I’m so sorry. I’m rambling on about my own problems. You need to collect your brother… Are you sure? You have enough on your plate by the sounds of it.”

“No, it’s fine, Serena. I’ll settle my brother by the fire with the newspaper and meet you. Do you know the Old Schoolhouse?”

She nodded and as Edith stood up to go she was heartened to see the hint of colour back in Serena’s cheeks.

* * *

Last night had been beyond strange. When Greene arrived back, all had seemed normal. Actually, that was a frightening thought. There was nothing normal about this situation, and he was doomed if he began to see this as his life now. How amazingly quickly humans could adapt to changed circumstances.

“I’ve made some supper—a shepherd’s pie.”

“Thank you.” He took a breath and weighed up the wisdom of starting again. He was compelled to talk to her about their situation as though by sheer willpower and persistence, he could make her see their situation as he did. But, had last night changed everything? Or could he somehow reverse it? Maybe. He’d come through the door tonight, his stomach leaden with dread. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting; that she’d try to resume last night’s intimacy? Not that it was intimacy. It was sex and had been a massive mistake.

One thing you had to hand Bet. She rarely failed to surprise. She made no overtures and no reference to the previous night. In a way, that was more disconcerting. Whatever he’d been expecting, it wasn’t this.

She put the food in front of him.

“Aren’t you eating or have you had yours?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Are you not feeling well?” Why couldn’t he just leave it alone? Be glad that she wasn’t chattering pointlessly or playing happy couples like she had been doing. Because the way she was being was really throwing him, that was why.

An idea came to him, and it was like it had been sent by an angel.

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