Free 01 - Memories of the Dead by Evelyn James Page B

at Mrs Wilton – no one else had cause or
convenience to commit the crime.
    It was all such a jumble.
Clara gave up trying to rest and went down to dinner.
     
    Annie had just brought a
gammon joint to the table as Clara arrived. Tommy was already at his customary
place at the top of the table.
    “That smells lovely Annie.”
Clara said as she took a seat.
    “Thanks miss.” Annie bobbed a
curtsey and was then scurrying away again.
    “When she comes back ask her
to sit with us.” Tommy glanced at his sister, “I hate thinking of her eating in
that cold kitchen alone.”
    Clara resisted the temptation
to smile and replied.
    “She never listens to me. My
suggestions are never ‘proper’.”
    “Try. Please?”
    “Well, back me up then, she is
far more likely to listen to you.”
    Just then Annie returned with
a dish of slightly over-boiled sprouts.
    “Last in the pantry.” She
announced not noticing Tommy’s nose wrinkling in distaste, “I’ll just get the
potatoes.”
    “Good and then you will sit
and eat with us, won’t you Annie?” Clara said.
    Annie hovered by the table, a
mix of emotions fleetingly crossed her face before she settled on blank
politeness.
    “It would not be proper miss.”
She replied with a hint of remonstration.
    Clara gave a ‘told-you-so’
look to Tommy and he pleaded with his eyes that she keep trying.
    “You should know by now Annie
that I am not a person for doing things the proper way.” Clara tried a
different approach, “Besides I am full of a headache and I doubt I will be much
dinner company for Tommy. There is nothing more miserable than eating a meal
with someone who wants to keep cradling their head in their arms. If you eat
with us you will distract him from my sufferings.”
    Clara ignored the glare her
brother was aiming at her, feeling mildly self-satisfied. Annie still
hesitated.
    “Well miss…”
    “Come on old thing.” Tommy
turned his full smile on the girl, “Indulge a poor crock at his dinner time.”
    “You are not a crock, Tommy.”
Annie said with a spark of emotion that surprised Clara.
    She had thought the
infatuation very much one-sided.
    “I’ll get another plate.”
Annie said quietly with a look about her as if she was doing it as a service.
    “Anything I should know?”
Clara asked her brother as soon as Annie had vanished.
    “Oh there are probably quite a
few things you should know, but I wouldn’t inflict imparting information on you
when you have a headache.” Tommy was grinning.
    Clara felt inclined to leave
behind all her manners and throw a sprout at him.
    Annie returned with the
potatoes and a third plate and for a time everyone was absorbed in the
processes of serving and beginning a meal. The steady click of cutlery
accentuated the silence and the throbbing in Clara’s skull. Clara decided she
better start the conversation.
    “What have you two been up to
today?”
    “Well, I had hoped to return
to the book shop but my nursemaid banned me.” Tommy said with a mischievous
glance at Annie.
    “You complained of a sore
throat yesterday and I wasn’t going to be responsible for letting you catch
pneumonia.” Annie said piously, though a hint of a smile played on her lips.
    “Ah, the ex-detective’s book?”
    “Good guess, Annie collected
it for me.”
    “Yes, when I went for the
gammon and quite an episode it was too.” Annie suddenly became animated as she
relayed her gossip, “That new maid from Mrs Pembroke’s house was in there and
making a fine fuss at not being able to get a map of Brighton for less than 5d.”
    “Still not found her feet in
the town, I imagine.” Tommy said.
    “Most people just ask
directions.” Clara observed.
    “She is a fine one.” Annie
tutted, “You would think she served the queen or some such person, the way she
goes on and always turning her nose up as if Brighton isn’t good enough for
her.”
    “A maid buying a map,
honestly! Mrs Pembroke can’t have her running that far