The Secrets of Roscarbury Hall by Ann O'Loughlin

Author:Ann O'Loughlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2016-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Debbie was already in the kitchen eating breakfast when Ella made it downstairs the next morning.

‘You look as if you need a strong coffee. My dad swore by it after a bad night.’

‘Did he drink?’

‘There were bad nights, I guess, when he couldn’t get my mother out of his head.’

‘I think I will have that coffee after all.’

Ella took out her mixing bowl and took down the self-raising flour.

‘I have booked the flight.’

Ella, who had been tying up her apron strings, stopped, her hands suspended behind her back.

‘Maybe we could go to see Sister Consuelo first.’

‘I don’t want to, Ella. I had a long think about it last night. I want to end the search. It’s time to concentrate on what’s next.’

She pushed a mug towards Ella.

‘I don’t feel up to the coffee. It is a waste after you went to the bother to make it.’ Ella shovelled her hand into the bag of flour and took out a huge scoop. She let some of the flour drift over her fingers as she watched it slip into the baking bowl.

Debbie switched on the ovens; the low humming sound filled the kitchen.

‘I was thinking of a different cake for every day of the week.’

‘You should have an Internet presence.’

‘What we are doing is more than enough.’

‘Do you know that many cake recipes?’

‘Variations on a theme, I suppose.’

‘I’ve upset you. I didn’t mean to.’

Ella would have told her she had not, but Iris burst in the back door, letting a cold breeze whip at the tablecloth and around their ankles.

‘Ella, I have to go. The solicitor rang. He gets the impression that bastard husband of mine is going to give in, so I have to hightail it to Gorey.’

‘But it is likely to be busy this morning.’

‘I have to go, Ella; I have got to get him to agree to a settlement before he changes his mind. Seemingly he has hammered out something with his brother and the bank. I could get my house back.’

‘But—’

‘Ella, you might be getting rid of me. Don’t tell me you don’t want that.’

Ella smiled. ‘Give it a few days and it will be just myself and the quiet sister again,’ she said tightly, standing up and reaching for the white bag of sugar.

Iris did not answer but ran off to change into her good clothes. Debbie went out the front to set the outside tables. She was hauling two chairs at a time across the grass, wet with dew, when her phone rang.

‘Miss Kading, it is Mother Assumpta from the Order of Divine Sisters, Ballygally Convent. I hope I am not disturbing you.’

‘No, not at all.’

‘Miss Kading, I know how pressing your situation is and I wonder could we meet in private. Would tomorrow suit?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘Two p.m. If you don’t mind, could we meet somewhere other than the convent? I was thinking maybe the Valley Hotel on the N11.’

‘That sounds good.’

Ella was standing at the front door, beckoning to her.

Debbie put away her phone. For

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