Foxden Hotel (The Dudley Sisters Saga Book 5) by Madalyn Morgan (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

across the busy thoroughfare, mounted the pavement and almost hit Bess. The driver of the car made a fist at Katherine, then turned to Bess and mouthed, I’m sorry. When the car drove off, Katherine Hawksley had vanished.

CHAPTER SIX

Bess boarded the bus shaking. She was still wobbly on her legs when she left the bus at Foxden. Walking down the lane a thought stopped her in her tracks. Had Katherine Hawksley run in front of the car on Lowarth High Street on purpose? If she had, was it her intention to kill herself, or was it a cry for help? Bess felt a shudder go through her and forced her legs to jog the rest of the way to the hotel.

In her haste to get home, impatient to tell Frank that she had seen Katherine Hawksley, how ill she looked, and that she had almost got herself killed, Bess had hurried past her mother’s cottage. It wasn’t until she was at the top of the drive that she remembered she’d promised Margot she would call and ask her mother to come up to the hotel for a family lunch on Sunday. ‘Damn,’ she said aloud. ‘I’ll have to go back later.’

Seeing Katherine Hawksley in such a state had taken the joy out of buying the shawl. But Bess was determined not to let it dampen the exciting news that her sister was going to have a baby. ‘Hello Maeve,’ she called, entering the hotel.

The receptionist gave Bess a welcoming smile. ‘Mrs Green’s in your office.’

‘Oh good. Is Frank back?’

‘Yes, he’s feeding the animals. He said he was going to clean out the stable. We have two families booked in for the Easter Holiday and Mr Donnelly said if the weather is good the children will want to ride the pony.’

Bess laughed. ‘He’ll have them out there with the animals whatever the weather. I don’t suppose he’s had anything to eat?’ Maeve shook her head. ‘He forgets to eat himself, but he never forgets to feed the pony.’ Bess got as far as the door to the office and stopped. ‘Oh, I almost forgot. Would you put this box somewhere out of sight?’ She whispered, handing Maeve the parcel containing the shawl. ‘It’s a surprise for Frank, but I don’t want him to see it yet.’ Bess felt an embarrassed flush creep up her neck. She wasn’t a good liar, even when she was telling a white one.

‘I’ll put it in the bottom drawer.’ Maeve opened the deep drawer on the right-hand side of the desk and laid the parcel in it. ‘Jack’s coming in early; just tell him where it is when you want it.’ She looked at her wristwatch. ‘I’ll be leaving shortly, if it’s still all right?’

‘Of course,’ Bess said, looking puzzled. Maeve didn’t usually take time off without giving her plenty of warning.

‘Inspector Masters wants to interview me,’ she said. ‘He wanted to come here, but I thought it would be better for the guests if I went into the police station.’

Bess felt her cheeks colour. Maeve’s interview had gone clean out of her mind. ‘Thanks for reminding me. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on. If Jack hasn’t arrived to take over from you by the time you need to leave, give me a shout and I’ll cover until he gets here. If I don’t see you before you go, good luck.’ Bess opened the door to the office, but before she went in she looked back at Maeve. ‘Thank you for being so considerate.’

‘Who’s considerate?’ Ena asked, jumping up from the seat under the window and throwing her arms around her sister.

‘Maeve,’ Bess said, hugging Ena. ‘She’s…’

‘What? You’re looking all mysterious. What did she do that’s considerate?’

They walked across the room together, Ena sat down in the window seat and Bess walked over to the table where the electric kettle was kept.

‘Well?’ Ena said.

‘It’s nothing really.’ Bess picked up the kettle and gave it a shake. It was full, so she switched it on. ‘It’s just that the inspector from London wanted to interview her here, but Maeve said no because of the guests. That’s what I meant by considerate. It’s uncanny, but she thinks like me. I mean, about things to do with the hotel. She considers the guests in the same way that I do. Guests come first, kind of thing.’ Bess laughed. ‘She could run this place with her eyes closed. I’m not sure I like that,’ she said, putting on a frown and pretending to be worried. ‘Seriously though, she’s very efficient. I don’t know what I’d do without her. If she ever leaves I’ll have a hard job finding a replacement.’

‘I don’t think she will, not in the foreseeable future anyway. She was telling me earlier that she loves her job. She was stationed near Kirby Marlow in the war and became friends with the vicar and his wife at St Peter’s. She said on the occasions she visited them after the war, it was like coming home. She’s staying with them now, but she wants somewhere permanent so she’s looking for a place to rent.’

‘That’s odd.’

‘What is? That she’s looking to rent, or that she wants to live here permanently?’

‘Both. Her job here is permanent. I mean, she can give a week’s notice anytime she likes, but if she loves it, why would she? And if she wanted, she could live in. I gave her the choice when I offered her the post of receptionist. I wonder where she’s from,’ Bess mused. ‘Being stationed somewhere didn’t mean you came from the place. Look at Claire. She was stationed in Lancashire, until she went overseas.’

Bess made the tea and took a cup over to Ena. ‘Are you staying here tonight, or at the Denbigh with Henry?’

‘Here if you’ll have me. Perhaps