Mermaids Singing by Dilly Court Read Free Book Online Page B

after snip, Kitty’s curls fell to the floor. Olive cut the last lock and gave Kitty a shove that sent her spinning across the flagstones, crashing into a chair. Unable to save herself, Kitty fell to the floor. Doubled up with laughter, they pointed at her, shrieking for her to find a mirror.
    ‘You missed a bit,’ Dora said, making snipping movements with the scissors and lunging at Kitty.
    Scrambling to her feet, Kitty fled from the kitchen, up the stairs, barging through the baize door and racing down the passage that led to the main entrance hall. Too late, she realised that Sir Desmond and Lady Mableton were standing in the middle of the hall talking to Mr Warner. Kitty skidded to a halt, sliding across the polished marble floor and cannoning into Mr Warner’s stomach.

Chapter Three
    Deadly silence. Mr Warner’s fingers dug into Kitty’s shoulders, his eyes narrowed to slits and his lips tightened into a straight line. Sir Desmond made a sound between a choke and a cough. Closing her eyes, Kitty waited for the inevitable blow that must fall and strike her to the ground. She covered her head with her hands and the clumps of stubble, left by Olive’s vicious application of the scissors, felt like coconut matting interspersed with bald patches, sticky with blood, where the blades had nipped her skin.
    ‘How absolutely shocking!’ Lady Mableton’s voice broke the silence. ‘I’m appalled.’
    ‘My lady, I can’t apologise enough,’ said Mr Warner, giving Kitty a good shake.
    ‘Who is this little animal?’ demanded Sir Desmond.
    ‘Desmond, have pity. She’s just a child and she’s hurt.’
    Kitty opened her eyes to stare up at Lady Mableton and saw to her astonishment that, although her lips curved in a tender smile, her cornflower blue eyes were bright with tears. ‘You poor girl, who did this to you?’
    ‘Allow Warner to deal with this, Bella,’ Sir Desmond said, taking his hat, cane and gloves from Bob. ‘We’re going to be late.’
    ‘Then we’ll be late. I want to find out exactly what has been going on below stairs and who has allowed this dreadful thing to happen in our home.’
    Mr Warner cleared his throat. ‘My lady, I’m sorry that this extraordinary event has come to your notice, but it really would be best dealt with by myself and Mrs Brewster.’
    ‘Come along, Bella. Leave it to Warner,’ Sir Desmond said, thrusting his hands into his gloves. ‘This is a ridiculous fuss over something that doesn’t concern us.’
    ‘Desmond, please.’ Lady Mableton’s voice was cream laced with honey. ‘Let me have a moment.’
    Kitty felt the pressure of Mr Warner’s fingers tighten until it seemed as though her bones would snap.
    Sir Desmond’s moustache quivered as he hesitated, frowning. ‘Have it your own way, my dear. I’ll wait for you in the carriage. But don’t be long.’
    All smiles, Lady Mableton kissed his cheek and then spun round to glare at Mr Warner. ‘You may go, Warner. My maid, Lane, will see to the girl.’ She held her hand out to Kitty. ‘Come with me, Kitty.’
    Kitty hesitated, glancing anxiously up at Mr Warner, whose well-schooled features had turned to stone. He released her with a slight inclination of his head and took a step backwards. Kitty could see that he was not best pleased.
    Lady Mableton ascended the staircase, seeming to float rather than to walk, her long skirts trailing behind her, giving the impression that she moved on a cushion of air rather than on human feet. Kitty scuttled past Mr Warner, following her ladyship up the stairs. Her feet sank into the thick pile of the carpet and, as she came to the first landing, her eyes almost popped out of her head. The ornately papered walls were hung with oil paintings in gilded frames. Rosewood side tables were scattered with porcelain bowls exuding the scent of pot pourri, and tall vases filled with exotic flowers; the air was heavy with their mingled fragrance. Entering Lady’s Mableton’s