Free Dorothy Eden by Lady of Mallow

floor, were Blane’s and Amalie’s. The door she first opened was obviously Lady Malvina’s, for such a fug of coal smoke and scented cologne and woollen garments came from the room that she withdrew quickly.
    The next door she tried led to the master bedroom. The gas had been left burning low, and she could see the wide bed with its elaborate headboard, the carved ceiling, the glint of mirrors and shine of Amalie’s discarded silk gown. A maid might come at any moment to tidy up, and turn down the bed. Sarah moved swiftly, startled that she possessed such daring. What was she looking for? She didn’t know. Just anything significant that caught her eye which she could add to her magpie hoard of information. Strangely enough there was no sign of masculine occupation of this room. The dressing-table held nothing but Amalie’s possessions, the wardrobes only women’s clothing. But of course here was the communicating door leading to Blane’s room.
    Dare she open it? Sarah held her breath and turned the knob.
    But the door didn’t open. It was locked on the other side.
    It took only a moment to tiptoe quickly down the passage and open the main door which showed that it certainly was Blane’s room. Smaller than the bedroom next door, it yet was a finely proportioned room. The bed was quite narrow, and Blane, at present, obviously occupied it alone.
    Her cheeks hot, Sarah silently closed the door and left. She had stumbled on more than she had bargained for. This, at least, was none of her business, and she was ashamed of herself for discovering it.
    But she must not let herself be deterred. Her real goal was the library. If there were any papers to be discovered, they would be in the desk behind which Blane had sat the other day. There would be plenty of time to make a search while the family was at dinner, and her chances of being disturbed there were much less. If she were, she could make the excuse that she had come to look for a book to read.
    She had to descend the stairs and actually pass the dining-room door. It was almost closed, however, and safely past she could not resist stopping to listen a moment.
    The only person talking was Lady Malvina, and she was doing so with her usual garrulity, and obviously with her mouth full.
    ‘Better than that sly Annie, anyway,’ she was saying. ‘And Titus seems to take to her. She’s as prim as they come, of course.’
    ‘I thought she was remarkably forward and impudent for a person in her position,’ Amalie said coldly.
    ‘Oh, that was just a pose. She obviously desperately needed this position, poor thing. Governesses are two a penny at present. And what else can an educated young woman do, if she’s forced to earn her own living? Anyway, the main thing is, Titus likes her. All that child needs is a little tenderness. You’ve been too hard on him, Blane.’
    ‘I won’t have him spoilt.’ The uncompromising tones were already so familiar that they should not have made Sarah start. ‘If this girl is going to spoil him she’ll have to go, tender heart or not. Pretty face or not.’
    ‘I thought you said you hadn’t noticed her face,’ Amalie said in her cool voice.
    ‘It was Mamma who told me it was pretty. Wasn’t it, Mamma? But naturally it’s a point I shall probably check on. After all, it’s pleasant to have a pretty face around. I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing Miss Mildmay at the dining table tomorrow evening. My love, can I help you to some more chicken?’
    Sarah, her cheeks now flaming, moved on. It served her right. If she deliberately eavesdropped she must hear things she would rather not hear. She must just dismiss them and remember only the facts that mattered. At the moment the important thing was to take a quick look about the library. Not to stand reflecting on remarks made by a man who locked his door against his wife.
    The fire was burning brightly, and the room again had a cosy welcoming appearance. She had to overcome the