The Villa of Death: A Mystery Featuring Daphne du Maurier (Daphne du Maurier Mysteries) by Challis Joanna

Author:Challis, Joanna [Challis, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2011-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“She’s lucky. The bullet missed the collarbone and went out the other side.”

“Oh, look. She’s waking.”

“Yes. I’ve left something for the pain, Mrs. du Maurier. A little laudanum will help her sleep, too.”

“Is it too early to move her? We’d like her take her home to Cannon Hall,” my father said.

“A slow and steady journey will do no harm.”

I opened my eyes. Familiar faces loomed above me, tender and concerned. “Home,” I murmured. “I don’t want to go home.”

“Just for a little while,” pacified my mother, caressing my hand. “Don’t worry. Ellen’s coming, too.”

“Ellen.” I started and seized by pain, fell into the pillows. My head thundered and my throat was dry. I felt as if I’d collided with a motorcar shoulder first. Under the sheets, I examined my limbs. They all appeared to be intact and in good working order. “How long…?” I winced, touching the sling holding my left arm.

“Have you been abed?” My father’s jolly smile did little to appease me. “Two days. Sleeping like a log. Good for healing.”

“This is serious.” My mother sent him a glare.

“It’s deadly serious,” my father replied. “Where’s that fellow meant to protect her?”

“He was hired to protect Charlotte.” Ellen came into the room, looking as if she hadn’t slept in days. “I should have listened to the major. I should have engaged another man to … to—”

“There, there.” My mother embraced her. “Daphne’s fine.”

“But don’t you see? Daphne was wearing my coat. That bullet was meant for me.”

I saw my father halt with this news. He’d been conversing with the doctor over some need for eye drops. “What’s this about a coat?”

“It was just before the attack. Daphne was cold and I gave her my coat. It’s one I often wear.”

Gazing at my father, my mother frowned before taking my hand in hers.

“You both must come to Cannon Hall,” my father decreed. “I’ll get a man to look into it. Where’s this fellow you hired for Charlotte? I’d like to speak to him. And Harry, too. He’s handy to have around.”

I heard a knock at the door.

“Is she all right?”

It was Alicia Brickley, Charlotte at her side. Bursting past them, Jeanne carried a tray into the room.

“Tea and cucumber sandwiches,” Jeanne announced. “Nelly’s worried. She’s been talking to herself all morning.”

Touched by their concern, I couldn’t help wishing the major was there. If not at Thornleigh, then at least in the country. A trifle piqued, I sipped my tea and ate the sandwiches. I longed for sympathy and not just any sympathy. I longed for his sympathy. Having my parents paw at me wasn’t the same.

“We should let the major know.” Ellen seemed to understand. “The attack could be important.”

On saying this, her glance flew to Charlotte. If they were prepared to strike Ellen, were they prepared to strike a child?

Which left one question.

Who?

* * *

I experienced an overwhelming sadness when the gates to Thornleigh closed. How long until our return? I confess to a love affair with the stately old mansion; I didn’t want to part from it.

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