Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn Read Free Book Online

us there. Here, we’d be gagging and choking.”
    â€œIt’s a point. You’d better hurry, he should be here any minute. Take the car and go round by Station Road, and with a bit of luck you’ll miss him. He won’t be happy, but I’ll make your excuses.”
    â€œUnless he has the most appalling case of catarrh, he’ll be as happy to get out of here as we will.” She turned away. “Come along, girls, we’re hopping it.”

 
    FIVE
    â€œ Not the bar, this time,” said Willie as Daisy parked the Austin Twelve in the street outside the Saracen’s Head.
    â€œNo,” Daisy agreed. She sniffed. “For one thing, I think we still smell a bit—gamey’s the word. I hope there’s no one in the ladies’ parlour.”
    â€œThey’d soon leave,” Isabel said dryly, getting out of the back.
    â€œI wish we’d had time to wash and change,” Vera moaned.
    â€œI could go up to my room and change, but it doesn’t seem fair as you can’t. You could all wash, though.”
    â€œDo let’s!” Willie chimed in as they entered the lobby. “I’d really like a bath but even just scrubbing my face and hands would help. We’ll have to be quick, though. Alec and the local police may turn up any moment with a million questions.”
    â€œNot Alec.” Daisy led the way upstairs. “If they want him on the case, they have to go through a big palaver with the Yard. And the locals won’t be along for a while, I expect. The sergeant will have to report to his superiors right away. They’ll probably send out an inspector from High Wycombe, or even Aylesbury.” Opening the door of her room and ushering the others in, she added, “Listen, I’ll have to ring for hot water. Don’t for pity’s sake say anything about the body in the maid’s hearing.”
    Sally arrived slightly out of breath, with her cap on crooked and no apron. “I’ve got the afternoon off,” she said, and her nose twitched. “I was just leaving when I saw you’d rung, Mrs. Fletcher, so I came, ’cause her that’s on duty is answering another bell.”
    Daisy smiled at her. “I don’t want to keep you from your time off. Could you have Edward bring up plenty of hot water?”
    â€œRight away, madam.” Peering past Daisy, she added, “Shall I fetch some extra towels and face flannels first?”
    â€œPlease do.”
    â€œThank you, Sally,” called Isabel.
    â€œHello, Miss Sutcliffe. Anything else you need?” Sally was obviously bursting with curiosity. She would hear the story sooner or later, doubtless in more detail than most people because of her aunt charring at Cherry Trees, but she’d have to wait.
    â€œThat’s all just now, thank you.” Daisy closed the door as the maid dashed off. “Phew, I think she smelled a rat!”
    â€œI wish it had been a rat!” Vera exclaimed.
    They all stood for a moment looking at each other with remembered horror.
    Willie asked, “D’you mind if I open the window, Daisy?”
    â€œPlease do. A bit of fresh air might help. Won’t you all sit down? Two chairs and two on the bed.”
    â€œBetter not,” said Isabel. “The smell might transfer from our clothes to the bedspread and upholstery.”
    â€œOh dear, you’re right!”
    â€œThat chair’s caned, though.”
    â€œYou’d better sit there, Daisy.” Willie lowered the window and perched on the windowsill. “Never mind playing hostess, you’re still convalescent. Am I right in thinking they won’t let us go back to the house today? Even if we want to? Which I, for one, don’t!”
    â€œNor do I.” Vera leaned against the bedpost. “I just hope all our clothes aren’t impregnated.”
    â€œAlec said the upstairs doors were closed. I’m afraid the police may