Free A Donation of Murder by Felicity Young

decided to wait the weather out.’
    â€˜Then I expect she has her reasons for staying. A young man, perhaps?’
    Dody nodded, not wishing to divulge anything more about her sister’s private life. Florence had been learning to fly with a pleasant young Scotsman called Harold Lamb, who had been her nerve doctor for a very short time. This had been of some concern to Dody, but not because Florence had once been his patient. They started their friendship after their professional relationship ceased and Florence had been declared ‘sane’. Dody’s concern was more about their mismatch of character. He was sensitive, quiet and bookish. Florence, while just as vulnerable, tended to hide her emotions behind wild and passionate deeds that were often not thought through — like pretending she was insane, for example. Dody could only hope that neither would be badly hurt when the relationship came to its inevitable end.
    â€˜And you?’ Margaret added, bringing her back to the present. ‘I expect walking out with a young man is near impossible for a woman in your position.’
    Dody agreed. ‘My hours are not very sociable.’
    â€˜And I expect most men go running when they discover the nature of your work.’
    â€˜Most, but not all,’ she said, feeling the tug of a smile at the corner of her mouth.
    Margaret raised a sickle eyebrow.
    â€˜I mean,’ Dody stumbled on, ‘there is someone, but it’s, ah, complicated. We work together, and our careers would be jeopardised if word got out.’
    â€˜Ah, I see, he is a doctor like yourself.’
    Before Dody could say no, Margaret had refilled her glass.
    â€˜No, my friend is not a doctor. I can’t really say what he does. But he has an ill-natured superior, you see, an incompetent who holds my, er, my friend over a barrel. I sometimes wonder if there is a future for us at all.’ She lowered her gaze to the diminishing contents of her glass and found the crystal shimmering through an unexpected film of moisture in her eyes.
    When Margaret rubbed her arm Dody succumbed to the need to confide in a sympathetic listener. ‘And then there are my parents. As liberal — radical, some say — as their views are on most issues, they would never be able to reconcile the fact that he works for the pol—’
    Dody stopped herself, knowing she was saying too much. Oh my God, I’m getting drunk. ‘ No more, please,’ she gasped. ‘I’ve had no supper. This is going to my head.’
    â€˜I might not be a doctor, Doctor, but my senses tell me this is the best medicine for both of us at a time such as this,’ Margaret said gently.
    â€˜Dody, please call me Dody. It’s short for Dorothy.’ She downed her last drop of whisky and put the glass under the bed before it could be refilled. ‘I have enjoyed talking to you very much. Perhaps we can continue our chat tomorrow?’
    â€˜Stay for a moment more, please, Dody. I am frightened about where my dreams will take me if I fall asleep now. I will not talk about your chap if it makes you uncomfortable, I promise. We will find something else to talk about . . . I know, my jewels — what do you think of them, are they not exquisite?’
    â€˜I think it quite remarkable that they were not stolen when you were lying unconscious in the alley,’ Dody replied, relieved to hear the steadiness returning to her voice.
    â€˜So do I. All I can think is that the snow must have kept the villains and the bone grubbers away.’
    Margaret stretched over to the bedside table and picked up her necklace and earrings. She held one of the long earrings against Dody’s ear. ‘Marvellous, the deep red of the rubies goes so much better with your hair colour than it does mine. John gave me them and I love them to bits for that reason alone, even though I think in reality they don’t suit me.’
    â€˜I think they