Murder on the Lusitania Read Online Free PDF

right course of action. She put him firmly in his place!”
    “Yes, Miss Hubermann. I have a stewardess now. There will be no further problems of that kind.”
    “None of this would have happened if you traveled with your own maid,” argued Abigail, setting her cup and saucer down on the table. “Carlotta and I would never go anywhere without Ruby. She is a positive jewel. I daresay she is turning down the beds in our cabin right now.”
    “I prefer to travel alone, Miss Hubermann,” said Genevieve.
    “Except that you are no longer alone,” added Carlotta a with a grin. “You have acquired two strong bodyguards. And the firstthing you must do is to stop calling us Miss Hubermann all the time or it will get very repetitive. We answer to Abigail and Carlotta.”
    “I will remember that.”
    “Carlotta,” prompted the other.
    Genevieve gave an obedient nod. “Carlotta it is.”
    “Which part of England do you hail from?” wondered Abigail.
    “I was born in Canterbury but my family moved around a great deal. We lived in Italy for a few years.”
    “Which part of Italy?”
    “Florence.”
    “One of our favorite cities!” said Abigail, clapping her hands together. “Wasn’t it, Carlotta? We bought that painting of the Doge in Florence.”
    “I thought that it was in Ravenna,” said her sister.
    “Florence, dear.”
    “I think you will find it was Ravenna.”
    “We bought the painting of the three musicians there.”
    “That was definitely in Venice.”
    “I hate to contradict you, Abigail.”
    “Then don’t. Because you are wrong.”
    “Not this time, dear.”
    “Carlotta!”
    It was not really an argument but it allowed both of them to display their characteristic gestures. Abigail used her hands to reinforce her points but Carlotta relied more on facial expressions, raising her eyebrows, pursing her lips and occasionally wrinkling her nose. Watching the two of them, Genevieve marveled at the way they could dispute a simple point without any rancor. In the end, they agreed to refer the matter to their maid, Ruby, for arbitration but Genevieve was sure that it would be the older of the two sisters who would turn out to be right. There was something quietly decisive about Abigail Hubermann. Slighter in build, she carried much more weight in argument.
    The three women were enjoying each other’s company so muchthat they did not notice they were under observation. Sitting within earshot of them, Henry Barcroft caught snatches of their conversation while trying to hold one himself with a senior member of a Christian Science delegation traveling to America in order to attend a conference where they would meet the founder of the movement. As soon as he caught sight of Genevieve Masefield, the journalist lost all interest in Mary Baker Eddy but he pretended to listen while his companion extolled the virtues of
Science and Health
.
    “A seminal book,” said the man reverentially.
    “So I understand,” murmured Barcroft.
    “Mrs. Eddy writes so cogently. It is inspiring. Would you care to borrow my copy of it?”
    “Not just now, sir.”
    “I could fetch it from my cabin.”
    “Tomorrow, perhaps,” said Barcroft, rising to his feet. “If you will excuse me, I must try to interview some more passengers. Thank you so much for talking to me.”
    Before the Christian Scientist could detain him, the journalist strode across to the trio at the table beside the fireplace. Barcroft put a tentative note into his voice.
    “Forgive this interruption, ladies,” he said with oily politeness. “I don’t mean to intrude but I couldn’t help overhearing those delightful American accents. My name is Henry Barcroft. I’m a journalist and I’ve been commissioned to write an article about this voyage. I wondered if I might trespass on your time to get your impressions of it?”
    “Now?” said Abigail, sizing him up. “It’s very late, young man.”
    “We were just about to retire,” said