Free Make No Mistake by Carolyn Keene Page A

In response to her cousin’s questioning look, she said, “The first piece I had wasn’t very big.”
    Nancy and George chuckled, but Nancy noticed that Mrs. Adams didn’t even crack a smile as she expertly cut slices for George and Bess, slid them onto two plates, and passed them over. The housekeeper’s hands were trembling.
    Nancy was about to ask Mrs. Adams what was wrong but stopped herself when she heard Matt’s voice, just outside the kitchen.
    â€œHey, everyone,” he was calling. “The radio says this is a blizzard!”
    Matt entered the kitchen like a comet and turned a big smile on Nancy and George. “I’m so glad you’re both here,” he said, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “I was thinking we could go for a sleigh ride.”
    â€œBut there aren’t horses at Glover’s Corners anymore,” George pointed out between bites of chocolate cake. The estate stables had once held two or three horses, but after Matt’s disappearance Mr. Glover had sold them off, Nancy remembered.
    â€œThere’s a stable a short walk from here, though,” Matt said. “Thurston’s. They rent sleighs along with the horses. I just called to check it out. Come on, now. You have to come— it’s all set up.”
    â€œIn a blizzard?” Bess inquired nervously.
    â€œIt’s supposed to let up before long,” answered Matt. “And we have plenty of spare scarves and gloves and stuff to bundle up with.”
    Bess still looked dubious, but she said, “Well, okay.”
    â€œLet’s do it!” said George.
    â€œIt’ll be fun,” Nancy agreed. She was glad for a chance to see more of Matt. When they came back, maybe she’d be able to check out Mrs. Adams’s room and find out if what was bothering her had anything to do with Matt.
    â€œGreat. I better get to the stable before we’recompletely snowed in.” Before he left the kitchen, Matt looked over at Mrs. Adams. “Have a piece of cake, Addie,” he said warmly. “I got it especially for you.”
    Mrs. Adams began to cry as soon as Matt left the room. Nancy put one arm around her shoulders. “What is it, Mrs. Adams?” she asked.
    The housekeeper reached for a paper napkin and rubbed at her eyes. “It’s really nothing, dear, nothing for you to worry about. I have the most terrible headache—it just won’t go away.”
    â€œCan I get you some aspirin?” George offered.
    Mrs. Adams shook her head. “No, thank you, dear. I think I’ll just lie down for a while.”
    â€œI’ll help you to your room,” Nancy said.
    â€œI don’t know what’s the matter with me,” Mrs. Adams said as Nancy led her up the stairs. “I should be so happy, under the circumstances. . . .” Her voice trailed off.
    Nancy wanted to find out what was upsetting Mrs. Adams, but she was afraid any questions would only upset her more. Nancy kept her arm firmly around the older woman’s shoulders until they reached her third-floor room.
    It was large and comfortable—everything was neat as a pin. The windows had a gorgeous view of the back garden and the pond, even though it was distorted by the thick sheets of heavily falling snow.
    Mrs. Adams sat on the edge of her bed and let her head fall into her hands. Moving over to her,Nancy noticed that there were three photographs on the bedside table. One was of Matt as a little boy, sitting on a pony. Another was of Clayton Glover, and the third was of Mrs. Adams and Matt sitting side by side on one of the benches that circled the pond.
    She knew she shouldn’t let her emotions get in the way of the case, but she just couldn’t imagine that Mrs. Adams would do anything to deceive the Glover family, even after Mr. Glover’s death. Obviously, they had been the most important people in her life.
    Gently, Nancy helped Mrs. Adams to