My True Companion by Sally Quilford Read Free Book Online

on the same day. I have known it happen, with a
couple who have been together for a long time, but I gather they’d only been
married a few months.”
    “One does not need to know someone all one’s life to become
utterly devoted to them,” said Haxby. Yet he did not sound as though he
believed that of the Parker-Trents anymore than Millie did.
    “No, certainly,” said the doctor. “It’s all very
unfortunate.”
    Millie glanced up, and realised that Haxby was looking at
her. She wondered if he were thinking what she was thinking. That it might seem
fortunate to someone in the household. If Hortense had shared information with
her husband, it gave her killer a motive to want him out of the way.
    “You are sure it was a heart attack?” asked Millie. Haxby
nodded his approval.
    “I’m sure the doctor knows his job, Millicent,” snapped Mrs Oakengate,
getting up from her chair. “Really, child, you are in a contrary mood today.
Come along to my room, I want to talk to you before we go to bed.”
    “Let it wait until the morning,” said Barbara Conrad,
looking at Millie kindly. “It’s been a long day and we’re all upset.”
    “Thank you, Mrs Conrad,” said Mrs Oakengate. “But this is
between myself and my employee.” Millie knew that was all she was. Staff. She
may have more freedom and status than serving staff, but in the end she was
still a paid worker. Mrs Oakengate left the room, like a ship sailing through
stormy seas.
    “Goodnight, everyone,” said Millie, getting up to follow Mrs
Oakengate.
    “Millie,” said James Haxby.
    “Yes?”
    “I’d like a word in private.”
    “Again,” said Cynthia Fazeby, with a hint of amusement in
her voice. Millie noticed that she exchanged knowing glances with Barbara
Conrad. It seemed that both women were in on a secret about which Millie had no
knowledge.
    Millie had the distinct feeling that talking to him in
private would get her into more trouble with her employer. “I really should go
and see what Mrs Oakengate wants.”
    “It won’t take long.”
    He followed Millie into the hallway, shutting the drawing
room door behind him. “I want you to lock your door tonight. Don’t let anyone
in. Even if you think you can trust them.”
    “Why?”
    “You and I both know that Parker-Trent’s death wasn’t by
natural causes. He’s dead because the person who killed his wife believes she
may have told him what she was going to tell you. They may not know that she
didn’t get a chance to speak to you.”
    “Doesn’t that mean you’re also in danger?” asked Millie.
“You were the last person she spoke to.”
    “I can look after myself. It’s you I’m worried about.” He
said it with such tenderness that Millie once again felt her eyes sting. She
stopped herself, feeling angry that so many times over the past couple of days
she had come close to tears. She was not a weak person, and she despised women
who burst out sobbing the time, yet the small kindnesses that had been shown to
her continually brought her to the brink of crying.
    “I’ve had to look after myself for a while now,” said
Millie. “I’ll be all right.”
    “Yes. I rather believe you will, my grey lady.”
    “Millicent!” Mrs Oakengate’s imperious voice rang out from
the gallery above the hallway. “I said I wanted to speak to you.”
    Millie turned to leave, but James caught her by the arm.
“Whatever she says, you’ve done nothing wrong.”
    “I know. But I am an employee, so I must go.”
    “That won’t always be so, Millie. When all this is over…”
    “Millicent. I will not tell you again!”
    Millie whispered goodnight and left him, wondering what he
was going to say next.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    Half an hour passed before Millie was finally able to seek sanctuary
in her own bedroom. She locked the door, not as a result of Haxby’s warning,
but due to a pressing desire to lock the entire world out. Or Mrs Oakengate at
least.
    She had endured