Free A Gilded Grave by Shelley Freydont Page B

arrogant manner, realized she was acting like her mother, and finished off with her mother’s dismissive smile. “Then I’ll say good day.” She nodded to her father. “I’ll have Elspeth pack my things to remove to Cassie’s. Good day.”
    And carefully avoiding chair legs and footstools, she swept from the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, she whirled around and stuck out her tongue at the men on the other side.
    Cassie and Elspeth were both waiting for her when Deanna came upstairs.
    “What did he say? What kind of questions did he ask? Is he coming to my house next?” Cassie’s questions tumbled out.
    Elspeth just looked wary.
    Deanna collapsed onto her bed. “He just wanted me to tell him what I saw. I did. And there’s an end to it.”
    “An end to it?” Cassie exclaimed. “Lord David said he wouldn’t be surprised if there was a full-blown investigation.”
    Deanna frowned at her friend. Had she been up here frightening Elspeth the whole time Deanna had been gone?
    “Is Adelaide really ailing?” she asked Cassie.
    “I think so. Elspeth and I heard her maid coming in and out of her room.” Cassie pursed her lips and widened her eyesinnocently. “I was certain your mother would want to attend to her. Am I the cleverest?”
    Deanna laughed. “Yes. Thank you. I was afraid she wouldn’t leave and then we’d all be in for it. I’m sure she’ll have plenty to say as it is.”
    “Adelaide
is
very sickly this morning,” Elspeth confirmed. “Matilda says she’s worse than usual—can’t bear the light and can’t hold a thing in her stomach, not even water.”
    “Poor dear,” Deanna said. “I wish they would figure out what’s wrong with her. I hope I never get those headaches. A selfish thought, I know. Maybe this new doctor will find something to prevent them.”
    “I can’t believe your mama is willing to take Adelaide away even for a few days.”
    “Cassie, Adelaide obviously can’t go through the season like this. I just hope I don’t have to go with them.”
    “Go with them?” Elspeth blurted out, and immediately apologized.
    “Oh, I’m sorry Elspeth. She wants to take both of us with them to Boston for Adelaide to see the doctor. We’ve asked her to let me stay with Cassie’s family instead of going. That way you can stay here in town to be with Orrin.”
    “Oh, thank you, miss. I do appreciate it.”
    “We’re not out of the woods yet. Now father is saying that it might be better if I went with them.”
    “Oh no,” Cassie whined.
    “I refused to go.”
    Elspeth and Cassie stared at her.
    “Well, I
sort of
refused. We’ll just have to trust in my father to persuade my mother. Now, I’m afraid you must dress me for tennis. Elspeth?”
    “Yes, miss. The blue jaconet?”
    “Yes, but Elspeth, please don’t think I want to show disrespect to the dead.”
    “No, miss, I know you don’t. It’s what life is.”
    She went away to find Deanna’s blue serge tennis frock.
    Deanna sank into a chair. “I feel bad.”
    “It’s not our fault Daisy died. Now get dressed and come to the Casino. Elspeth understands. She said so.”
    Deanna gave Cassie a half smile. Elspeth was right. It
was the way things were
. Not that it was right.
    Elspeth returned with her blue tennis dress and helped her into it.
    “You know, Dee, that dress just isn’t . . . modern.”
    “Mama says it’s appropriate to the game.”
    “Your mama would.”
    Deanna sucked in her breath as Elspeth cinched the belt at her waist. “Ugh. You’ve made it too tight. It’s bad enough having to drag around heavy skirts and long sleeves in the heat just to get a little exercise.” She wiggled until Elspeth sighed and released the belt by two notches. “Actually, I saw a tennis dress in
Harper’s
over at Gran Gwen’s house that looked ever so much better. This one was designed for annoyance.”
    “I saw it, too, but you’ll never manage to get that dress past your mother. Besides, we’re