A Golden Cage by Shelley Freydont Read Free Book Online Page B

involved.”
    Deanna, who was just drifting off to sleep, sat up. “Yes, I thought maybe that was the case. Did she tell you?”
    â€œDidn’t have to. Always is with actresses.” And on that pronouncement, she tucked Deanna in and went off to seek her own rest.
    When Deanna woke next, it was light outside and there was a bustle in the hallway. It must really be late. But when she turned to look at the clock, she saw that it was only six o’clock. She’d barely been asleep two hours.
    She scooted back down under the covers and had just closed her eyes again when Elspeth burst into the room.
    â€œMiss, miss! There’s a body in the conservatory.”

Chapter
4
    D eanna’s first thought was that whomever Amabelle was afraid of had found her and killed her. Then she had a worse thought. One of the Ballards? She threw back the covers and practically fell out of bed.
    â€œWho is it?” she asked, groping for the sleeve of the robe that Elspeth held out for her while her feet slid into her slippers.
    â€œI don’t know, miss. A stranger. The parlor maid went in to clean and found him. Been screeching ever since. Not making no sense at all. Thought you’d want to come see.”
    A well-brought-up young lady would stay cringing and simpering in her bedroom, holding smelling salts to her nose, and would remain there until the excitement was over and the gossip had started.
    Deanna was well brought up. Too well. But she had no intention of missing the excitement. And she bet neither did any of the Ballards.
    She managed to get the second arm in her dressing gown. “Bring my salts,” she ordered Elspeth.
    Elspeth frowned at her.
    â€œI do have some, don’t I?”
    â€œYes, miss, but why?”
    â€œWell, you need an excuse to come see, don’t you?”
    â€œYes, miss.” She rummaged in the dressing table drawer, snatched up the never-used bottle of smelling salts, and hurried after Deanna.
    She met Gran Gwen and Laurette at the head of the stairs, Laurette was already dressed except for her hair, which was hanging down her back in long tresses. Gran Gwen was still in her nightclothes, covered by a heavy brocade caftan. They could hear Mr. Ballard’s quiet yet authoritative voice ordering maids and footmen to clear the area.
    â€œThey’re in the conservatory,” Gran Gwen said. She immediately started down the stairs; Deanna, Laurette, and Elspeth followed quickly behind, Elspeth gripping Deanna’s arm so tightly it was beginning to hurt.
    They passed the parlor and the library. A group of servants were crowded around the conservatory door. Gran Gwen cleared her throat, and they quickly dispersed, leaving the entryway open.
    But when she tried to enter, Carlisle, the Ballard butler, stepped in front of her. “Madame, I don’t think you should come in.”
    â€œThank you, Carlisle,” Gran Gwen said, and walked right past him.
    â€œMrs. Ballard,” Carlisle protested as Laurette followed her mother.
    â€œIt’s all right, Carlisle. Has someone called for a doctor?”
    â€œYes, Madame, and also for the police.”
    â€œAh.” Laurette followed Gran Gwen into the room, and Deanna and Elspeth followed so close on her heels that Carlisle had no choice but to let them pass.
    The conservatory air made Deanna shiver. The morning light was just beginning to seep into the room, and the chill of the marble-and-wood floor bit through the thin soles of Deanna’s slippers.
    Lionel Ballard knelt over a man, who lay on his back on the Turkestan carpet. Behind him, a marble statue of Aphrodite was flanked by two large needle palms.
    The weak rays of the sun cast their fronds into high relief, accentuating their sharp edges.
Like daggers
, Deanna thought.
    Two footmen stood off to the side, their expressions blank, but their eyes fixated on the recumbent man.
    It looked just like an illustration for
Beadle’s