PH02 - Do Not Disturb by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page B

type of person who kept herself to herself, and her nose out of other people’s business. Perhaps she could trust her to be discreet, Mrs. Chubb thought hopefully. And since it was unlikely that Gertie would ever see the widow again after she left the hotel, the maid’s embarrassment would be short-lived.
    Mrs. Chubb started forward. She had no time to dither, since the widow was already striding across the lobby toward the stairs.
    “Mrs. Parmentier?” Mrs. Chubb called out, grateful that the lobby was empty of guests.

    The widow paused, hesitating for several seconds before turning slowly to face her.
    Mrs. Chubb explained the situation rapidly before she could lose her nerve. She left out the reason for Gertie’s dilemma, hoping that the widow wouldn’t ask questions.
    To her relief, the widow said nothing at all. Her face was hidden by the heavy veil, so Mrs. Chubb could only guess at her expression.
    “We have to hurry, ma’am,” she said urgently. “I left her unconscious in the tub and—”
    Before she could finish the sentence, Mrs. Parmentier gave a sharp nod and swept toward the basement stairs. Sending up a small prayer of thanks, Mrs. Chubb hurried after her.
    Gertie had slipped sideways, Mrs. Chubb noted when she opened the door of the sitting room. One arm hung outside the tub, the fingers lying in a damp patch on the rug. The housemaid’s chin rested on her arm, and her loud snores filled the room.
    Without a word, Mrs. Parmentier picked up the towel from the armchair, hooked it under Gertie’s armpits, and bodily lifted the girl from the tub, wrapping the towel around her at the same time.
    Gertie muttered an explicit oath of protest, then slumped against the widow’s solid body.
    “How did you do that?” Mrs. Chubb gasped, amazed at this display of remarkable strength and dexterity. Gertie was no lightweight, and unconscious she had to weigh a ton.
    “I used to be in the medical profession,” the widow said, her voice husky behind the veil. “Better get some clothes on her.” Gently she lowered her burden into the armchair.
    Gertie’s head lolled to one side, but her eyes remained closed.
    “I will, ma’am, and thank you so much,” Mrs. Chubb said, hurrying to open the door. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, for sure I don’t.”
    “I’m happy I could be of assistance,” Mrs. Parmentiermurmured. “I hope the young lady feels better in the morning.”
    Mrs. Chubb nodded, privately thinking that Gertie was likely to have a massive headache in the morning. “So do I, ma’am. And if I might ask, I know she would be grateful if you didn’t speak of this to anyone. It would be most embarrassing for her.”
    “No one shall hear of it from me,” the widow promised as she stepped into the hallway.
    Mrs. Chubb watched her stalk quickly toward the stairs. Now that she really thought about it, Mrs. Parmentier did have unusually large feet. Rather odd woman, that.
    Shrugging, she closed the door and surveyed the room. She had a huge mess to clean up before she could go to bed. As for Sleeping Beauty, once she got her dressed, Gertie would have to sleep in the chair. The housemaid would probably have a fit in the morning when she found out what had happened. How Mrs. Chubb hated dealing with bad-tempered staff.
    Sighing, she fetched the large bucket and began bailing out the tub.

CHAPTER
5
    When Baxter had still not returned from the George and Dragon by ten o’clock, Cecily decided to go down to the kitchen to make a nice pot of tea. She’d become bored sitting in the quiet living room of her suite, and was much too restless to read.
    She had plenty of sewing to do—she was in the process of making new covers for the cushions on her chaise longue—but even that failed to relax her this evening. Her concern for Madeline had her nerves on edge, and the tea sounded like a good idea.
    Perhaps Baxter would return in time to join her, she thought as she crossed the