Read 02 - Murder at Dareswick Hall for Free Online

about to say remained unspoken. For the door of the drawing room had
opened and a vision of loveliness, or at least that’s how Rose thought of her
then, entered the room. Later she realised that Isabella’s gown had had a lot
to do with the illusion of perfection. Although no one could dispute that Isabella
was beautiful with her slender frame, highly chiselled features and pale
porcelain white skin offset by hair so black it was almost ebony in shade. By
contrast her eyes were the brightest blue Rose had ever seen. But it was the
dress she was wearing that made her stand out. It was of a deep crimson velvet,
with a high waist, ruched sleeves and open back and was decorated with a large
flower appliqué of red and purple petals. The overall effect was breath taking,
not least because it contrasted so strikingly with the blackness of the dress
of the others in the room. Immediately Rose felt plain and dowdy, as if she had
somehow melted into the background with Isabella’s entrance.
    Isabella
in turn surveyed them all for a moment before speaking. She smiled, but it
seemed to Rose that the smile was done more to show her amusement at the
reaction her entrance had caused rather than to be a greeting. She glided into
the room, her hand outstretched so that she could clasp Cedric’s arm.
    ‘Cedric,
how wonderful to see you,’ Her voice had a light musical tone to it which,
while pleasing, Rose thought appeared forced and artificial, as if it were
hiding a sea of emotions. ‘It’s been an age since you were last at Dareswick.
Anyone would think that you’ve been avoiding us and that really will never do.
And this must be Rose.’ Isabella arched an artfully painted eyebrow and gave Rose
a look which she thought to be rather mocking. ‘How do you do, my dear? I
understand that you work in a dress shop. You must know all the tricks of the
trade to dressing well. You’ll have to tell me what’s in fashion next season.’
She turned her attention to Josephine. ‘Now don’t scold me big sister, I know
we’re frightfully late. We were held up leaving London, but really it couldn’t
be helped. But we’re here now and have you ever known me change so quickly for
dinner?  Quite a record even if I say so myself. Now, where’s Papa? Isn’t he
down yet? I thought he’d be dying to eat. I have to say that the journey has
made me feel quite ravenous.’
    ‘Your
companion insisted on seeing him straightaway,’ replied her sister, somewhat
coldly.  ‘Really, Issy, couldn’t he have waited until after dinner? What can
have been so very important that it couldn’t have waited until then?’
    Isabella
said nothing, but Rose noticed that a frown creased her lovely forehead for a
moment before she turned her attention to her brother. ‘Are you going to tell
me off too, little brother?’
    ‘No,
but I’m awfully keen to know who you’ve brought down with you,’ replied Hallam,
a mischievous grin appearing on his young face.
    ‘All in
good time,’ said Isabella and it seemed to Rose that she was making an effort
to make light of it, although she was sure she detected a sadness in her eyes.
    ‘Well,
I really don’t know why you have to be so jolly mysterious,’ retorted
Josephine. ‘The very least you could have done was to have told us whether you
were bringing a girlfriend or a young man. I am sure housekeeping arrangements
never occur to you for one moment, but poor Mrs Hodges has been in quite a
quandary trying to decide which room to get ready for your guest.’
    It was
possible that Josephine might have gone on to say more about her sister’s
inconsiderate behaviour, but as it was she did not get the opportunity. For at
that moment the door to the drawing room opened and all eyes were diverted to
study the two gentlemen who entered. The first was a middle-aged, large and heavy
set man with a ruddy complexion and thinning grey hair who appeared to be in highly
jovial spirits. Certainly he was beaming, his smile