Murder in Morningside Heights (A Gaslight Mystery) by Victoria Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

instance, Miss Billingsly and I have shared this house for over eighteen years. We had a spare room, so we offered it to Abigail.”
    “And did you enjoy having her here?” Sarah asked.
    “Very much,” Miss Wilson said, and for the first time Sarah felt she was telling the absolute truth. “As I said, she was an exceptional young lady with a genuine thirst for knowledge. We spent many an evening in thoughtful discussion. Having her here was . . . exhilarating.”
    Sarah noted how Miss Wilson’s voice had softened as she recalled Abigail Northrup. She had truly cared for the girl.
    “Did Miss Billingsly like having her here?” Malloy asked, ruining the mood.
    Miss Wilson’s expression hardened again. “Of course she did. We both did.”
    Which meant, of course, that Miss Billingsly hadn’t liked Abigail at all. How very interesting. Was that why she was drunk? “Unfortunately,” Sarah said with a wistful sigh, “we’re here to find out if you know anyone who
didn’t
like Abigail or who might have been angry at her for some reason.”
    “Absolutely not. One or two of her students might have been disappointed in their grades, but students don’t murderteachers over that. If they did, there would be no teachers left alive.”
    “You’re right about that,” Sarah said with a small smile. “What about her classmates, the other women she was in school with before she graduated? Were any of them jealous that she was selected to teach?”
    “Some of them might have been, but once again, one doesn’t kill over something like that.”
    “What about suitors?” Malloy said. “A girl as accomplished as Miss Northrup must’ve had a lot of young men interested in her.”
    Miss Wilson stiffened and sent Malloy a murderous glare. “Miss Northrup was not interested in young men. She was a serious scholar who wanted to make teaching her life’s work.”
    “That doesn’t mean she wouldn’t’ve had suitors,” Malloy argued.
    “It certainly would,” Miss Wilson informed him tartly. “Married women are not permitted to teach at the Normal School or anyplace else. Abigail was far too serious about her career to entertain any thoughts of marriage.”
    But just because Miss Wilson thought so didn’t mean it was true. Sarah knew a handsome young man could change a girl’s mind in a moment, even a girl as
outstanding
as Abigail Northrup. What Sarah couldn’t figure out was why Miss Wilson seemed so insulted at the suggestion Abigail might have had an admirer or two.
    “I wonder if we might take a look at Abigail’s room,” Sarah said.
    “Whatever for?”
    “I don’t know, but we might find something to indicate who might have killed her.”
    “I seriously doubt that.”
    Sarah knew better than to argue. She simply waited for Miss Wilson to figure out that she should have no objection to Sarah looking at Abigail’s room.
    After a few more moments, she said, “Well, I suppose that would be all right. Her parents haven’t instructed us about what to do with her things yet, so nothing has been touched since she . . .” For the first time, Miss Wilson appeared to be fighting tears, but she quickly recovered. “Since she left it.”
    “Thank you. I know this must be very difficult for you, and we appreciate your help.”
    “I’ll take you up.”
    Sarah was glad to see Malloy had sense enough to know he shouldn’t try to accompany them upstairs. She was sure the maiden ladies who lived in this house would be scandalized to have a man go up to their bedrooms.
    She followed Miss Wilson up the stairs. Only three doors opened off the hallway, and two were closed. The third led to a bathroom that was probably a recent addition to the house. Miss Wilson led her to the door at the back of the house and opened it to reveal a pleasant room. Flowered wallpaper covered the walls, and a brightly colored braided rug lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. The double bed was neatly made with a light green satin