Manor House 03 - For Whom Death Tolls by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page B

Charlie has a heart of gold, bless him. Comes down every now and again to see me, he does. He's a good boy, is our Charlie."
    Elizabeth smiled and nodded in agreement, then said good-bye to the charming little widow. "I'll be back soon, I promise," she told her, hoping Henrietta could understand. "I'll see if I can get Dr. Sheridan to bring you something for that rheumatism."
    She wasn't sure if the old lady understood or not, but Henrietta nodded her head and thanked her profusely before closing the door.
    Making her way back to her motorcycle, Elizabeth thanked her lucky stars that she was healthy, and prayed that the good Lord would see fit to allow her to stay that way for many years to come. She rode back to the manor at a leisurely pace, wondering how on earth she was going to get past the stony-faced American posted at the door of the bell tower.

CHAPTER
    5
    "Peaches?" Elizabeth exclaimed, when Violet put down the dessert plate in front of her. "Where on earth did you get peaches? I haven't seen a peach since before the rationing began."
    "I don't like them," Martin mumbled, staring at his plate with deep suspicion. "Too much fuzz on the skin. I might as well be eating my dressing gown." He poked at the offending peach with his spoon. "Are you sure these are real? They look like ornaments, such as the wax apples on the sideboard."
    Ignoring him, Violet grabbed a dish towel and began wiping the kitchen counter with it. "I don't remember where I got them. They were sitting in the larder and I thought you'd enjoy them with your lunch. Tell me how you got on with Henrietta Jones this morning. Didn't you have a hard time talking to her? I know I did—"
    "Violet." Elizabeth gave her housekeeper's back ahard stare. "Where did you get the peaches?"
    Violet opened a cupboard door and banged it shut again. "Where does it matter where I got them from? Why can't you just enjoy them instead of worrying about things that don't concern you."
    "This does concern me, Violet. It concerns me very much. Earl gave them to you, didn't he? I've told you again and again I won't have you accepting gifts from the Americans."
    Violet swung around, eyes sparkling with fire. "Major Monroe did not give the peaches to me, Lizzie, so get off your high horse. Even if he did, I don't understand what you're making such a fuss about. If a gentleman is nice enough to give a lady a gift, the very least she can do is accept it with good grace."
    "Speaking of Grace," Martin said, peering over the top of his spectacles, "there are puddles in the drawing room again."
    Violet clicked her tongue. "I told Polly not to let them in there."
    Elizabeth's lips tightened. "You know very well how I feel about accepting gifts from the Americans, Violet. I won't have people saying we're taking advantage of our guests just because they happen to be billeted at the Manor House. There is enough gossip going around as it is. You know how the villagers love to talk. After all, I have to set an example, or everyone would be grabbing everything they could get from the Americans. That's if they don't already."
    "And just how are people going to find out what we do in our own home? Violet poked herself in the chest with her thumb. I'm certainly not going to tell them."
    "I should hope not!" Martin exclaimed. "What will people think if they heard that we have guests who use the drawing room for a bathroom?"
    "You won't have to tell them anything," Elizabeth said dryly. "You can safely leave that to Polly. Whereis she, anyway? I haven't seen her this morning."
    "I sent her to clean the bathrooms. Bloody disgrace they are. She keeps whining that she doesn't have time to do them now that she's working in the office. I told her that the housework is supposed to be her first concern, and that she only helps out in the office if she has time after that."
    "Perhaps that's why Grace doesn't use the bathroom," Martin observed. "It's not clean enough."
    Violet finally lost her patience.