Read High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) for Free Online

enough to hoard acorns and her jagged teeth stuck out over her bottom lip when she smiled. Which, mercifully, wasn't often, thanks to the white lace ruff she always wore with her black dresses, which limited movement of her chin.
    "I'm surprised you have the time to pay me a visit," Monica said, with a meaningful glance at the large clock on thewall. "Aren't you supposed to be in the kitchen attending to the midday meal?"
    Having put off her visit to the housekeeper for as long as possible, Mrs. Wilkins felt affronted by this rebuke. "Dinner has already been served," she said, sharpening her tone just a little. "The maids are washing the dishes in the kitchen, and I have more than enough time to spare before getting the supper ready."
    Monica sighed and laid her pen down on the blotter. "Very well. What is it?"
    For a second or two Mrs. Wilkins wavered. Then she remembered the vague hints she'd heard about the suffragettes and the appalling treatment they received in prison. "It's the maids," she said, speaking quickly before she lost her nerve again. "They're talking about going to Witcheston to join in the protest with the suffragettes tomorrow. I told them it was dangerous but they won't listen to me and—"
    Monica's black eyes gleamed. "Are you telling me they intend to take unscheduled time off?"
    "Yes, Miss Fingle."
    "Together?"
    "I'm afraid so."
    "That is quite unacceptable. The maids each have an afternoon off every week. One on Wednesday and one on Thursday, do they not?"
    "Yes, Miss Fingle." Mrs. Wilkins was beginning to wish she'd kept her mouth shut and let the girls take their chances with the suffragettes.
    "Tomorrow is Monday." Monica waited, as if expecting an answer to the obvious statement.
    The cook reluctantly obliged. "Yes, Miss Fingle."
    "In any case, we cannot have them going off together.Either they take their allotted time off, or they do without. Is that clear?"
    "Yes, Miss Fingle." The cook hesitated, then added cautiously, "Will you be telling them that, then?"
    Monica's thin eyebrows drew together. "Isn't that your responsibility?"
    Mrs. Wilkins started twisting an apron string around her fingers. "Well, yes, it is, but—"
    "Well, then, see to it." Monica picked up her pen as a signal the conversation was at an end.
    Mrs. Wilkins pursed her lips. "Yes, Miss Fingle."
    She was about to turn away when Monica said quietly, "One more thing. It is my duty to inform you that Miss Duncan has met with an unfortunate accident and has passed away."
    Frozen to the spot, Mrs. Wilkins tried to make sense of the preposterous words. "Passed away?"
    "Yes. You may inform the rest of the staff at your discretion."
    "Miss Duncan is
dead
?" Even saying it out loud didn't make it any more believable.
    "I believe that is what is meant by passed away, yes." Without looking up, Monica waved her pen at the door.
    Stiff with shock, Mrs. Wilkins turned back toward the door. Just as she reached it, Monica added, "I shall hold you responsible, Mrs. Wilkins, if those girls should ignore your orders. We can't allow that sort of disobedience in this establishment. It would set a very bad example for our pupils. I expect you to have complete control over your underlings. Don't disappoint me."
    "Yes, Miss Fingle. I mean, no, Miss Fingle. I'll do my best."
    Mrs. Wilkins shut the door with a quiet snap, though shefelt more inclined to slam it. What a cold fish that Monica was to be so concerned about the maids when a good woman like Miss Duncan lay dead.
    Even now she couldn't believe it. Muttering to herself, she hurried back down to the kitchen. She'd have to tell the girls, but she doubted very much that, or anything, would stop them from going to Witcheston, short of imprisoning them somewhere, and that was highly unlikely.
    She'd do her best, as she'd promised, of course, but if Olivia and Grace had made up their minds, there wasn't much she could do about it, except hope with all her might that Monica never found out about it.