Mrs. Jeffries & the Yuletide Weddings Read Online Free PDF Page A

woman with brown hair piled high in an elaborate style leapt up from her chair. Her blue eyes narrowed and her mouth turned into a thin, disapproving line. She was dressed in a blue silk tea gown with high- necked lace collar and wide white lace cuffs. “Jeremy, what is the meaning of this? What are these policemen doing here?”
    “You’d best sit down, my dear,” Jeremy Evans replied. “I’m afraid this situation is no longer merely an inconvenience to us.”
    “Oh Mama, it’s horrid, absolutely horrid. Poor Miss Moran has been murdered,” Rosemary blurted. “She was stabbed right in front of our house.”
    Witherspoon knew he needed to gain control of the situation. “I’m Inspector Gerald Witherspoon,” he said politely. “This is Constable Barnes. I’m afraid we’re going to have to ask you some questions.
     
    In the small room on the third floor that had been turned into a cozy sitting room for the staff, Betsy put her hands on her hips and gave Smythe a good glare. “I’m not being silly,” she protested. “I know you’ve said it’s to be a surprise, but I would like to know where we’re going to live and where we’re going to spend our wedding night.”
    He grinned wickedly and started toward her. Betsy took a step backward, holding up her hand to ward him off. “Now you’re not getting round me that way,” she charged. “I’ll not have you being all sweet and charming and then not telling me a blooming thing.”
    He stopped. He could tell by the dangerous look in her eyes that she wasn’t going to be distracted with a bit of teasing or a kiss. But he didn’t want to tell her his plans. Not yet. He wanted it to be a surprise, and truth be told, he was just the tiniest bit nervous that maybe she’d not be so pleased to be moving into their own flat. “You want to know where we’re goin’ to live.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Holland Park,” he replied. It was the truth, barely.
    “So we’re staying here,” she pressed.
    He shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Besides, you promised you’d not nag me about it. You know I’ll take care of you . . .”
    “I’m not nagging,” she cried. Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m upset and nervous and my whole world has changed.” She put her hands over her face, backed up another step, and flopped down on the old settee. “My sister, who I haven’t seen in years, is arriving tomorrow; every time we try to get married something awful happens; and, to top it off, I don’t even know where I’m going to live.”
    He flew across the room and pulled her into his arms. “Oh love, I’m so sorry, I’d ’ave never wanted it kept a secret if I knew it was goin’ to hurt you like this. But once the surprise of Norah and Leo comin’ to the weddin’ was out of the bag, I wanted to do somethin’ to make our marriage special. If knowin’ where we’re goin’ to live will make you feel better, I’ll tell ya. I’ve—”
    She put her hand over his lips before he could finish the sentence. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m carrying on like a silly twit. Don’t tell me—I do trust you and you’ve gone to a lot of effort to do something wonderful for me. I’ll not ruin it because I’m having a fit of nerves.”
    He stared at her intently. “Are you sure, love?”
    “I’m positive.” She smiled brightly. “I’m just being silly. It’s just wedding nerves and the thought of seeing my sister again after all these years.”
    “Don’t you want to see her?”
    “More than anything,” she assured him. She’d not have him think she wasn’t grateful for all he’d done to get her relatives here. “But you know how it is with family, and besides, Norah always was a bit of a bossy boots. I guess part of me is wondering what she’ll be like after all these years. But I expect that she’s changed. After all, most of us do.”
     
    Mrs. Jeffries paused as she closed the drapes of the drawing room window. A police