Red Shadow by Patricia Wentworth Read Free Book Online

herself could kill his trust. That was the last and most dreadful pang.
    Basil Stevens patted her shoulder.
    â€œSince it has to be done, it is better to do it quickly.”
    For the first time there was some kindness in his voice. He was, in fact, sorry for her, and very anxious lest she should collapse and be unable to go through with the marriage. He put a pen in her hand.
    â€œYou can make it quite short,” he said.
    Laura stared down at the block before her.
    â€œThere’s nothing to say.”
    â€œI will tell you what to say. Write, ‘I am marrying Basil Stevens to-day at the Chelsea registry office.’ Yes, write the date first. There! You see that is quite easy. And now sign your name.”
    Laura wrote the words: “I am marrying Basil Stevens to-day at the Chelsea registry office.” Then she wrote, “Laura”; and whilst Basil Stevens reached for an envelope, she added three shaky words below the signature and turned the page so that he should not see what she had written.
    When she had addressed the envelope, Basil Stevens said,
    â€œNow you will write to your aunt. You will say the same thing. It is all that is needed—except that you can say, if you like, that you are hoping to see her when she returns.”
    Laura wrote mechanically. When she had finished, Basil Stevens rang the bell.
    â€œWhat have you told your maid?”
    â€œNothing.”
    He turned to meet Amelia with a shrug.
    â€œYour mistress is going away. Pack what she will require for a month.”
    Amelia sniffed.
    â€œMiss Laura!” She sniffed again. “Miss Laura! You’re not a-going away!”
    Laura turned with an effort.
    â€œYes. Will you pack my things.”
    Amelia ran to her.
    â€œ Miss Laura —what’s the matter? What’s he been a-doing or a-saying to make you like this?”
    Laura put her hand to her head.
    â€œI can’t talk about it,” she said. “Will you pack my things, Amelia. And when Mr Mackenzie comes, will you give him this letter.”
    Amelia stared at the letter. The tears began to run down her cheeks.
    â€œOh, Miss Laura!” she said. “What are you a-going to do?”
    â€œI’m going to marry Mr Stevens,” said Laura in a distant gentle voice. “Now will you please go and pack my things for me.”
    Laura Cameron was married to Basil Stevens at a little after noon. He had found it possible to advance the time. When Laura was asked whether she took him for her husband, she remained silent for so long that the registrar repeated the question. He was accustomed to all sorts of brides. Sometimes they blushed, and sometimes they giggled; sometimes they looked happy and sometimes they looked bored; often they appeared to be impenetrably stupid. He was quite accustomed to having to repeat his questions, but as he repeated this one, something stirred in him. Laura was looking past him with a blank lost look which he found disquieting. He coughed, raised his voice, and put his question sharply. This time Laura answered it, her voice quite clear and steady.
    It is the easiest thing in the world to be married in a registry office. It needs so few words, so very few words, to swear a life away.
    Laura received a marriage certificate, which she put into her hand-bag. Then she came out of the room and into the street. There was a car waiting there. She got into the car, and as Basil Stevens followed her and shut the door, she leaned back into the corner with a rushing noise in her ears. It was like the rushing of a tremendous sea. She went down into it and it closed over her.

CHAPTER VII
    Jim Mackenzie arrived in London at about eleven o’clock on Monday morning. It was one of those days that halt between frost and fog. The gloomy yellow sky appeared to touch the housetops. The air was stinging cold.
    Jim rang the bell of the flat, and waited with the most exquisite thrill of anticipation for it to open. To