Sick of Shadows Read Online Free PDF

and Daisy were kept indoors. Rose had books to read to pass the time but Daisy felt she would die of boredom and repeatedly said she could not understand why the ban on going out of doors applied to her as well.
    One bright sunny day after they had been kept in for almost two weeks, even Rose began to feel she could not bear this form of genteel imprisonment any more.
    She stood by the window looking down at the square. “If only we could go outside for a little walk,” she mourned.
    “We could try,” said Daisy eagerly. “Lord and Lady Hadfield have gone down to Stacey Court for the weekend.”
    “They might have told me. Why go into the country?”
    “Some boundary dispute.”
    “I do think my parents are a trifle odd. They might have said something to me at dinner last night.”
    “Maybe they didn’t want to tell you in case you thought it a good opportunity to get out of the house.”
    “Brum will stop us going. And what about Turner?” Turner was Lady Rose’s recently hired lady’s maid.
    “I’ll tell them you have a headache and want to be left alone,” said Daisy eagerly. “Then we can wait until they are taking their luncheon and slip out. With my lord and lady being away, they’ll be careless about guarding us. They’ll be sitting down for luncheon any minute now. You wait here and I’ll tell Turner to join the others for luncheon as she will not be needed for the rest of the day.”
    Rose waited eagerly for Daisy’s return. Daisy was back after only a few minutes. “Let’s wear our plainest clothes,” said Daisy. “We don’t want to attract any attention to ourselves, even though the press have given up watching the house.”
    They changed quickly, Rose into a straight skirt, striped blouse and jacket and sailor hat, and Daisy also into a blouse, skirt and jacket but with one of Rose’s old straw hats embellished with flowers on her head.
    They crept together down the stairs and quietly let themselves out through the front door and then scampered along the square, giggling and hanging on to each other, thrilled with the combination of sunshine and freedom.
    “Where now?” panted Rose.
    “Let’s look at the shops and try on hats,” said Daisy, happy that now she and Rose seemed to be friends again instead of mistress and companion.
    By mid-afternoon, they realized they were hungry and went to the tea-room at Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly.
    William Fortnum, who founded the famous store, was a footman in the royal household of Queen Anne. His job was to replace the candles every night and he made a tidy profit out of selling the old ones. He also had a sideline as a grocer.
    He persuaded his landlord, Hugh Mason, to go into the grocery business with him and Fortnum and Mason was born.
    Daisy and Rose had salmon in aspic embellished with prawns and lobster before they got down to the serious cake-eating business.
    They chatted happily about this and that and then began to discuss the threatening letter. “I am sure it was some crank,” said Rose. “I am in no danger at all. I think we should sneak into the study and phone the captain. He must persuade Pa to let me go out again.” She blushed suddenly, remembering again the feel of his lips against her forehead.
    Rose paid the bill and they walked out into Piccadilly, knowing that they had to return home and beginning to feel depressed.
    “Cheer up,” said Daisy. “I’m sure it won’t be long before we’re out and about.” She stopped in front of a milliner’s. “I say, do look at that hat. They must ha’ slaughtered a whole aviary. It’s got more stuffed birds on it than’s decent.”
    “My lace has come untied,” said Rose, stooping down.
    There was a sharp report. The milliner’s window shattered just as Daisy grabbed hold of Rose and fell back onto the pavement with her. People began screaming. Some man shouted, “He had a gun! He had a gun!”
    Rose and Daisy got unsteadily to their feet. Daisy brushed shards of