Free Murder Has No Class by Rebecca Kent

reduce her to the ridiculous antics of a giddy adolescent.
    She had been in the company of too many young women for far too long, she chided herself. This simply would not do. She must strive to have more control over her emotions, and stop behaving like one of her misguided students.
    Upset with herself, she ate very little of her meal, and retired to her room early without bothering to give Essie or Felicity an explanation. A good night’s rest would refresh her, she assured herself, and had barely settled into her bed before drifting off to sleep.
    Much to her surprise and relief, she awoke the next morning, having been undisturbed by a visit from the ghost of Lord Stalham.
    Having decided on a course of action, she was anxious to tell Felicity and Essie about her intentions. She had no doubt they would try to dissuade her from her plans, but she was resolved now to follow through with her intent to find out more about the murder, and she needed the cooperation of her friends if she was to have any success at all.
    She would simply have to persuade them to accept her decision and trust they would understand why she felt compelled to come to the aid of a convicted murderer.
    All she could hope was that Hamilton didn’t hear of her investigation. She had enough problems with him as it was, and certainly didn’t need any further complications in her association with him. Dealing with her unfortunate and ridiculous infatuation for him was more than enough to keep her on her toes.

Chapter 7

    As soon as Meredith entered the teacher’s lounge, Essie practically leapt at her. “Well? Did you see him again?”
    A quick glance around satisfied Meredith that Sylvia was not in the room. Felicity sat by the window, and although she affected a look of indifference, Meredith could tell that she had her ears pinned back in anticipation of an answer.
    “Yes,” Meredith said, in as nonchalant a voice as she could manage, “I did. He sent for me right before dinner.”
    The look on Essie’s face was almost comical. Her eyebrows arched in surprise, and her eyes opened so wide the irises looked startlingly blue. “How did he do that?”
    Meredith frowned. “He sent a student to tell me he was in the library.”
    Essie sat down heavily on the chair behind her. “Other people can see him and hear him? Oh, my!”
    “Of course they can.” Only too well, Meredith added inwardly. “Whatever is the matter with you, Essie?”
    Across the room, Felicity chuckled. “She’s talking about the ghost, Meredith.”
    “Oh!” Feeling foolish, Meredith took her seat by the fire.
    Apparently her meeting with Hamilton still weighed heavily on her mind. If she wasn’t careful, Felicity’s shrewd gaze would eventually detect that Bellehaven’s owner had more than a casual effect on Meredith’s composure, and she’d never hear the last of it.
    Rumors could easily arise and reach the ears of Hamilton himself, and that would be utter disaster. She would never be able to face him again.
    Doing her best to ignore Felicity’s knowing look, Meredith smiled at Essie. “I’m happy to say, Lord Stalham did not put in an appearance last night.”
    Essie appeared disappointed at the news. “Really? Do you think he has given up on eliciting your help?”
    “I certainly hope so. He’s not a pleasant fellow at all. Then again, if he has been hanged for a crime he did not commit, I can hardly blame him for being a tad testy.”
    Felicity groaned. “Don’t tell me, Meredith, that you believe James Stalham did not kill his father after all.”
    “I’m not sure what I believe.” Meredith paused, then added in a rush, “I would, however, like to get to the real truth of that matter.”
    “The real truth is that James has been convicted and hanged for the murder. There’s little you can do about it now.”
    Hearing a warning in Felicity’s voice, Meredith frowned. “I can certainly look into it. If someone else killed Howard Stalham, he should