The Seven Stars by Anthea Fraser Read Free Book Online

rummaged in her handbag for her diary. Then , sitting on the bed, she dialled the number.
    Yes , there were still a few vacancies for the antiques course. No, unfortunately it wasn’t a residential one; normally it would have been, but work was in progress on modernising the bedrooms and they wouldn’t be available till Easter. However, lunch and afternoon tea were provided and there was plenty of excellent bed and breakfast accommodation in the vicinity. If Mrs Campbell would confirm her booking in writing, they would send her a list of possible addresses.
    It wasn ’t until she’d replaced the phone that she thought of the Seven Stars. Why bother trying to find somewhere else when she’d been so comfortable there? And it was only a twenty-minute drive from Melbray.
    Ten minutes later she had spoken to a surprised Stella Cain , who confirmed that of course they’d be delighted to put her up for two weeks from Sunday the twenty-third. Remembering the interesting company, the good food and the pretty, poppy-splashed bedroom, Helen felt a grain of comfort.
    She was tempted to ring her daughter , but decided against it. Since her plans would fuel more antagonism, it was better not to mention them to anyone till nearer the time. In the meantime, to lessen Andrew’s cause for complaint, she would cook and freeze one-portion meals for the two weeks she was away.
    With the decision made , Helen felt immediately better and the day passed pleasantly enough as she planned her cooking and freezing programme. Andrew, too, must have resolved to put the row finally behind him. He returned that evening with a box of chocolates, and though no reference was made to the night before, Helen accepted it as a tacit acknowledgement of his overreaction. For the moment life had teetered back on to a more or less even keel.
    *
    ‘Chris?’
    ‘ Hello, Dave.’
    ‘ I’m just phoning to see how things are going on the hit-and-run.’
    ‘ Slowly. There were flakes of paint on some tree-roots at the scene and broken glass from a headlight, but as yet we haven’t pinned down the car they came from.’
    ‘ Any more on the girl?’
    ‘ Well, as you know, she was local, from Marlton. Ironically enough, she worked at the guesthouse where Skinner went to phone.’
    ‘ She was never walking home from there? It’s a good three miles, and on a night like that —’
    ‘ She usually cycled, according to her parents, but that night she left her bike behind — probably felt it was too foggy to ride.’
    ‘ It would have been better than walking — at least she’d have had a light. But you’d think in that weather her employers would have run her home. What did they have to say about it?’
    ‘ Very shocked, as you’d expect, especially since under normal circumstances it wouldn’t have happened; she usually worked mornings, but that day she’d had a dental appointment so switched to the afternoon. Probably didn’t realise the fog had come down till she was actually leaving.’
    Webb grunted and changed the subject. ‘Did you get to the exhibition?’
    ‘ Not a chance, though Janet went along one afternoon. Said it was very striking.’
    ‘ Well, it might come to Shillingham yet.’
    A smile came into Ledbetter ’s voice. ‘Oh, I doubt if they’ll take it out to the sticks!’
    There was a centuries-old rivalry between the two towns , now principally maintained by their football teams. Originally Steeple Bayliss had been the county capital, till increasing industrialisation made its position in the topmost corner of Broadshire less convenient than central Shillingham.
    ‘ Well, any time you feel like slumming, come over and I’ll buy you a pint.’
    ‘ I’ll hold you to that. See you.’
    ‘ See you,’ Webb replied, replacing the phone.
    ‘ It’s your weekend off, isn’t it, Dave?’ Crombie commented from across the office. ‘Anything lined up?’
    ‘ No; in this weather it’s scarcely worth making an effort.’ He glanced