03 - Murder in Mink Read Online Free PDF Page B

in gowns.
That’s why I like to wear trousers, no competition from the step-mum.”
    “Does Susan normally vanish when Gloriana wants to
discuss clothes?” Clara asked.
    “Well, not vanish. Just kick her heels, waste time, you
know. So Glory gets fed up and goes off to do her own ensemble.”
    Clara still felt it was a strange moment to choose to be
defiant; the eve of your brother’s wedding.
    “Does Susan mind being a bridesmaid?”
    “Mind? I should think she is quite used to it, this will
be her third go. You know what they say about the girl who is always the
bridesmaid, never the bride?”
    “That’s the tagline for that tooth powder advert.”
Eustace joined in, “Reminding girls that bad breath keeps the boys at bay. I
have to say I have never met a girl with bad breath.”
    Clara’s sense of unease was rising. She glanced at the
door, wondering what to do.
    “Susan is always the third pin at a party, crying shame
because she is such a spark. I suppose she isn’t so pretty and a little bit
dumpy, but she has a charming singing voice.” Peg reflected.
    “Trouble is there are ten girls for every young lad and
they are getting fussy. In my day we were happy if they were single and knew
their right foot from their left.” Eustace grinned at fond memories, “Of
course, we weren’t half as forward as they are now.”
    Clara suddenly couldn’t bear her own anxiety.
    “I think I’ll go see if they’ve found her.” She stood,
taking the pair by surprise and hurried out.
    Glorianna was in the study with Hogarth, wringing her
hands and talking about search parties. Clara entered without knocking.
    “So you haven’t found her?”
    “Oh Clara, where can she have gone?” Glorianna gave a
little gasp.
    “I’ll round up the servants and send them out looking.
Susan wouldn’t wander off.” Hogarth cast a glance at the clock which was just
coming to quarter to nine, “Perhaps she just went for some air.”
    “It’s dark Hogarth! And I checked the terrace.”
    “I’ll start looking while you organise the others.” Clara
went back into the hall and grabbed her coat, her mind was whirring with
possibilities and none of them were appealing.
    She didn’t head out the front door but instead went
downstairs to the servants’ quarters. As she expected the male servants were
gathered in the kitchen with cups of tea. She spotted the driver who had
brought her to the house, yet again his name escaped her and she opted for her
best guess.
    “Jimmy?”
    “Yes miss.” He responded, looking worried.
    “Susan is missing, you will all be called shortly to help
search, but Jimmy I would like you to come with me.”
    Jimmy hastened from his seat, everyone else was looking confused
and one or two were reaching for coats. In the corridor leading to the back
entrance Clara started asking questions.
    “Are there lakes, ponds or rivers on the estate or
nearby?”
    “A river runs through the far end of the estate. It has a
bridge over it. What are you thinking miss?”
    “Oh, some dreadful things Jimmy, but I sincerely hope I
am wrong.”
    “Very well miss. By the way miss, its Timmy.” The driver
ducked his head sheepishly for correcting her.
    Clara gave him a smile, it was all she could manage at
that moment.
    “All right, Timmy, we have a girl to find.”
    Timmy led the way down the back steps and passed the
garages. He paused briefly to collect two large torches and handed one to
Clara. Then they made their way into the dark reaches of the estate. The night
was cloudy. There was no moonlight to guide them. Timmy seemed fairly assured
of the route to take, while Clara kept her torch low and tried to avoid
tripping over. Her new shoes, bought specifically for the Campbell visit, were
not the best for hiking across damp ground. Her heels kept insisting on sinking
into the soil.
    The estate was rambling and soon Clara was lost. Timmy
guided them, but with more hesitancy now. His torch beam caught on bushes