Read Finished Off (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 2) for Free Online Page A

institution it had become.
    Bellehaven had earned a reputation among the more affluent members of London's society, and in spite of the unfortunate recent events, she and her fellow teachers would continue to educate and inform young ladies how to take their place among London's elite for many years to come. Smiling, Meredith returned to her reading.
    She was deep in a story about suffragettes who had invaded a golf course and, using a trowel, had dug out the words
Votes for Women
across the middle of the eighteenth green, when Felicity barged through the door.
    "I just cannot believe she would be that stupid," she declared, throwing the words over her shoulder to Essie, directly behind her.
    "I'm so sorry, Felicity. I can imagine how terribly frustrating it can be."
    Essie's soothing tones apparently had no effect on Felicity, who flung herself down on a chair with a low growl. "Drat the woman, that's what I say. Nincompoops like that should be banned from female company."
    Meredith lowered her paper. "What has happened now?" She had not a single doubt as to whom Felicity referred. Her friend had clashed with Sylvia Montrose from the very beginning, and it seemed as though nothing would ever change Felicity's opinion of Stuart Hamilton's protégeé.
    "That Montrose woman, of course." Felicity raised a hand and gestured in midair. "I happened to pass her in the hallway just now. She was talking to a group of our students and telling them . . . " She paused, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe what she was about to say. "She actually told them that if they wanted a place in heaven, they will shun the women's movement and remain beholden to the men who will eventually provide for them. Ugh!"
    Meredith sighed. "I suppose it's too much to hope that you didn't comment."
    Felicity sat up straight. "Comment? Of course I commented! I told her she was completely archaic, both in her thinking and her teaching. I told her that the world is changing, and she had better get on the bandwagon or she'd end up a miserable, downtrodden slave to some arrogant brute who would make her do despicable things to earn her keep. That's if any man would be desperate enough to take on that harridan."
    "Oh, Felicity." Meredith briefly covered her face with her hands.
    "What?" Felicity sounded offended. "I didn't actually say the last part. Besides, I only told her the truth."
    "In front of the students?"
    Meredith's last hope was dashed when Felicity murmured, "They all applauded."
    "You realize, of course, that she will go straight to Stuart Hamilton with this. She'll accuse you of undermining her authority."
    "Poppycock."
    "It's a legitimate charge, Felicity."
    Meredith received the full force of Felicity's baleful glare. "I couldn't care less what Stuart Hamilton thinks. I'm within my right to state my opinion. I shall tell him so."
    Knowing full well that it would be left to her to diffuse what could be a dangerous situation for her friend, Meredith sought to change the subject and pacify Felicity for the present.
    "I read a story in the
Post
about the suffragettes." She handed the paper over to the still simmering teacher. "You'll most likely enjoy it. It's on page two."
    She interpreted Essie's worried look and shook her head. All Felicity needed right now was a well-meaning lecture on tolerance from Essie. "I was also reading about an orphanage nearby," she said as Felicity took the paper from her. "Someone left them a great deal of money. It made me sad to think of those poor children, without a family to love them."
    Felicity sniffed. "They're better off without family if their parents were anything like mine."
    "It had an odd name." For a moment Meredith couldn't remember it, then it came to her. "Oh, yes, that was it. Chest House. Doesn't that sound utterly dismal? You'd think someone could conjure up a more cheerful name, like Rainbow House, or Sunrise Home, Pleasant Vista . . . " She smiled. "I think I'll write to them and suggest