Wildthorn by Jane Eagland Read Free Book Online Page B

what's happened to Miss Gorman?"
    She glances towards the door then says in a low voice. "Solitary."
    "Solitary?" I don't understand.
    "Till she calms down."
    "Is she—is she locked in?"
    Eliza nods. "Course."
    I go cold at the thought of it. "Do you know when she might be back?" I feel uncomfortably responsible for what has happened to her.
    Eliza shrugs. "If she comes back."
    Her words send a shiver down my spine. "What do you mean?"
    She looks round before saying in a low voice, "Weeks might not have her back."
    "But where will she go?"
    "To another gallery."
    Be sure to keep your place.
    I've got to get out of here.
    "Eliza, I need to see Mr. Sneed urgently. Is there a way? Weeks won't listen."
    Eliza snorts. "You're wasting your time, talking to her. The best thing to do is to ask Dr. Bull tomorrow."
    "I see. And there's another thing—can you tell me how I can send a letter?"
    "Ask Weeks for paper and an envelope tomorrow. You'll have to pay for it."
    It's all right. The coins are safe in my pocket.
    Eliza leans closer to me and says quietly, "You'd better give me the letter to post."
    We both jump as Weeks's face appears at the door. At the sight of us, she scowls. "Hurry up, Eliza. It's time Miss Childs was in the dormitory."
    ***
    I'm just about to get into bed when Weeks comes with a glass containing a colourless liquid. Before I drink it, I smell it. "Chloral!"
    Weeks's brows lift in surprise, but her black eyes give nothing away.
    It's like recognizing an old friend. Immediately I'm back in Papa's study, hearing his voice:
You need to be careful with this one, Louisa, it's a powerful sedative. Four drachms to half a tumbler of water ...
" My throat constricts...
    But Weeks is growing impatient. "Take it, Miss Childs," she orders.
    Obediently I swallow the draught down, and Weeks moves on.
    Perhaps it's just as well to have a good night's sleep, ready for my meeting with Dr. Bull.
    I was overcome by shock today, but it will be different tomorrow. I will insist that Dr. Bull arranges for me to see Mr. Sneed. And if that doesn't work, there's always the letter. I'm sure Eliza was warning me not to give it to Weeks to post. But if I ask Weeks for paper, she'll expect a letter. I'll have to work this out.
Six Years Earlier
    I was on my way from the kitchen, where I'd been to borrow some more things I needed, when I caught my name. I pressed my ear to the dining room door and I heard Mamma say, "I'm worried about Louisa, Edward."
    I heard a "Hmm?" from Papa and I knew he was reading the newspaper.
    "She's getting out of hand."
    I suppressed an "Oh" of outrage. What had I done? Lately I'd been trying very hard to be good.
    "She's untidy, careless, but the worst of it is that she keeps taking things from the kitchen without asking. Cook has been complaining. And I don't know what she does in her room but the result is shocking disorder for poor Mary to clean up. You shouldn't encourage her to do these experiments."
    I held my breath. Would Papa tell me to stop?
    "Why shouldn't I encourage her? She's so keen to learn. You know how eagerly she asks questions and she understands my explanations so readily. You've got admit she shows far more initiative than Tom did at her age. Her incendiary experiments were most enterprising."
    I breathed again. I knew he would understand. These days he made more time for me and he seemed to enjoy our sessions together as much as I did.
    "How can you take it so lightly, Edward! It's a miracle she didn't burn the house down."
    Mamma always exaggerated so. The match had only made a small hole in the oilcloth.
    I was pressing so hard on the door, my ear was beginning to hurt. Swapping to the other ear I heard Mamma say, with a sigh, "I thought having a girl would be a pleasure. And easier, too ... but Louisa's turning into such a tomboy. If she doesn't grow out of it, I'm afraid she might—" Mamma didn't finish her sentence, and I wondered what it was that "I might." But then she said,