Death by the Book Read Online Free PDF Page A

Daddy died, he tried his best to look after me, even if he couldn’t come see me that often.”
    “ We looked after you, your aunt Emily and I, and it was only right that we did.” Aunt Ruth looked away. “I’m sorry that wasn’t good enough.”
    “I never said or thought any such thing. I know you both did everything in the world for me, and I’m more grateful than I can ever say.”
    “All Em and I ever wanted was for you to grow up a fine Christian girl, and this is the thanks we get.”
    Madeline sighed and didn’t reply. Obviously Aunt Ruth had made up her mind and wasn’t to be troubled with such paltry inconveniences as actual truth. Discretion being the better part of valor, Drew also said nothing.
    Finally, Aunt Ruth rapped her cane on the marble floor. “Well, is there or is there not a cottage?”
    Drew gave Aunt Ruth a determined smile. “Why don’t you show your aunt down there, Madeline, and I’ll see where Nick’s got to with your luggage. How would that be?”
    A few minutes later, the two women were standing on the doorstep of Rose Cottage. It was a charming place, picture-postcard perfect, and Madeline smiled as she opened the green-painted door to the quaint little front room.
    Aunt Ruth peered inside. “Not very big.”
    “We won’t need a lot of space.” Madeline led her through to the bright kitchen. “I haven’t done much cooking since they take care of that up at the house, but we can, anytime we want to. Isn’t it sweet?”
    “Humph.” Aunt Ruth stomped back into the front room. “Where’s the bedroom? Or do you not use the one here much, either?”
    Madeline bit her lip, but whether it was to keep herself from crying or laughing, she wasn’t sure. “I’ve been using this one.” She pushed open the door to the room she’d been occupying, a nice airy space with a cozy bed and heaps of fresh down comforters and mullioned windows all along the back wall that flooded the place with light every morning. “But if you’d like, I can move to the other one.”
    The second bedroom was much like the first, clean and bright and cheerful. Evidently even Aunt Ruth could find no fault with it.
    “No need for you to change now,” the older woman grumbled. “I suppose the girl can put all your things back where they were until you come to your senses.”
    Madeline squeezed her aunt’s hand. “You’ll see. It really islovely here.” Then, without warning, she pulled her aunt into a tight hug. “I am glad to see you again. I am really.”
    Aunt Ruth stood stiff in her embrace, studying Madeline’s face, her own expression severe. Then she softened and stroked Madeline’s hair back from her temple.
    “I just hope you don’t end up being sorry you were ever mixed up with this Farthering boy. If you are, I’m certainly not one to say I told you so. Now go find out who’s knocking at the door while I see what’s what in here.”
    Madeline found Drew and Nick peering around the still-open front door. Nick looked especially wary.
    “Is it safe?”
    “Come in, you silly thing. Did you get it all?”
    Nick nodded.
    “All present and correct,” Drew said as he and Nick set down their burdens of bags and boxes. “After much persuasion, Anna is on her way to unpack for you.”
    “Oh, good. Poor girl, Aunt Ruth must have scared her half out of her wits. And she’s taken such good care of me here so far.”
    “I did have to give her a pound note to get her to come back.” Seeing the older woman come into the room, he winked at Madeline and put one finger to his lips and whispered, “Not a word.” He then turned and smiled at Aunt Ruth. “I trust everything is satisfactory, ma’am.”
    She granted him a nod. “It’ll do. For now. I don’t suppose there’s such a thing as a telegraph office nearby.”
    “Of course. You may come up to the house and telephone your message, or if you’d prefer to write it out, I’ll be happy to send someone down to the village with