A Christmas Journey Read Online Free PDF

journey, and it will not be a pleasure. Nor will it be particularly expensive. But it will be extremely difficult, particularly so for anyone who bears guilt at all for the death of Gwendolen Kilmuir. And if we profess any claim to justice whatsoever, we will not decide in advance who that is.”
    â€œI agree,” Sir John said immediately.
    â€œSo do I,” Vespasia added. “I agree to both justice and forgiveness.”
    â€œAnd if I don’t?” Lady Warburton asked sharply, looking across at Vespasia, her brow creased with dislike, her mouth pinched.
    Vespasia smiled. “Then one would be compelled to wonder why not,” she replied.
    â€œI agree,” Blanche Twyford said. “Then it need never be spoken of beyond these walls. It will stop gossip among others who were not here, and any slander they may make against any of us, letting their imaginations build all manner of speculation. If we are all bound by what we agree, and the punishment is carried out here, the matter is ours. Surely you agree, don’t you?”
    â€œI suppose, if you put it that way,” Lady Warburton said reluctantly.
    Lord Salchester agreed also.
    Omegus looked at Bertie, the question in his face.
    â€œWho is to be the judge of this?” Bertie asked dubiously. Today his elegance seemed haggard, his exquisite suit and cravat an irrelevance.
    â€œOmegus,” Vespasia said before anyone else could speak. “He is not involved and we may trust him to be fair.”
    â€œMay we?” Bertie said. “Applecross is his house. He is most certainly involved.”
    â€œHe is not involved in Gwendolen’s death.” Vespasia kept her temper with increasing difficulty. “Do you have someone in mind you prefer?”
    â€œI think the whole idea is absurd,” he replied. “And totally impractical.”
    â€œI disagree.” Lord Salchester spoke with sudden decisiveness, his voice sharp. “I think it is an excellent idea. I am quite happy to be bound by it. So is my wife.” He did not consult her. “It will be for the good of all our reputations, and will allow the matter to be dealt with immediately, and justice be served.” He looked a little balefully around the table at the others. “Who is against it? Apart from those either guilty or too shortsighted to see the ultimate good.”
    Omegus smiled bleakly, but he did not point out the loaded nature of the challenge. One by one they all agreed, except Isobel.
    Vespasia looked at her very steadily. “Any alternative would be much worse, I believe,” she said softly. “Do we all give our word, on pain of being ostracized ourselves should we break it, that we will keep silence, absolutely, on the subject after the judgment is given and should the price be paid? Then the offender, if there is one, begins anew from the day of their return, and we forget the offense as if it had not happened?”
    One by one, reluctantly at first, they each gave their pledge.
    â€œThank you,” Omegus said gravely. “Then after luncheon we shall begin.”

    They collected in the withdrawing room, the curtains open on the formal garden sweeping down toward the wind-ruffled water of the lake, and the trees beyond. It was the place where they could all be seated in something close to a circle, and the servants were dismissed until they should be called for. No one was to interrupt.
    Omegus called them to order, then asked each of them in turn to tell what they knew of Gwendolen Kilmuir’s actions, her feelings, and what she may have said to them of her hopes from the time she had arrived three days before.
    They began tentatively, unsure how far to trust, but gradually emotions were stirred by memory.
    â€œShe was full of hope,” Blanche said a little tearfully. “She believed that her time of loss was coming to an end.” She shot a look of intense dislike at Isobel. “Kilmuir’s