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

away from the bank to higher ground. ‘Stay there,’ she said - and to Nancy she shouted, ‘Don’t go any nearer the water, darling.’ Nancy, seeming to ignore Bess, pointed to the reeds at the water’s edge.

Bess’s stomach knotted as she slid down the short, steep incline the way Frank had done on the day Sutherland’s body was found. Forcing herself to look, she saw the webbed foot of a duckling ensnared in the roots of the reeds. She slithered down further until she was able to reach the flapping creature. With one hand she managed to grab the frightened duckling without it attacking her, and with the other hand she picked the tangled roots from around its leg. She let go of the duckling as far from the reeds as she could safely reach and the little creature fluttered and splashed its way to freedom across the glassy lake.

Digging her heels into the soft earth at the lake’s edge, and pushing down with the palms of her hands, Bess inched her way up the slope. Once she was in no fear of slipping into the lake and taking Nancy with her, she reached out to the child. ‘Take my hand, Nancy.’ The little girl turned her head to look back at Bess and slid nearer to the water.

‘Don’t turn round, darling. Keep looking forward. Just put your arm out to the side.’ Nancy did as she was told and Bess clasped her hand around the child’s wrist. ‘That’s it. I’ve got you. Now I’m going to pull you up the bank to me, but before I do that I want you to press the heels of your shoes into the ground.’ Nancy nodded without turning. ‘Good girl. Here we go, then.’ As soon as Bess saw Nancy was digging her heels into the grassy bank, she pulled her arm. The slightly-built eight-year old weighed so little that it only took a few seconds for Bess to haul her to safety.

Trembling, Nancy flung her arms around Bess’s neck and held onto her tightly. Bess was startled by her strength. ‘There you are,’ Bess said, ‘you’re safe now.’ Bess felt Nancy’s cheek brush her hair as she nodded, but she didn’t lift her head, or take her arms from Bess’s neck. When she did eventually relax her grip, she slowly turned and looked back to where the duckling had been trapped.

Icy fingers gripped Bess’s heart and she gave a convulsive shiver. Nancy was looking directly at the spot where David Sutherland’s body was found six months earlier.

‘You saved the life of that little duck, didn’t you, darling?’ Bess said, trying to attract the child’s attention. Transfixed on the water, Nancy only nodded. It struck Bess that there might be times during the coming week when she wouldn’t be able to watch Nancy every moment of the day, so she must make it clear to her that if she went outside on her own, she must not go down to the lake.

‘Nancy? Look at me, sweetheart.’ The child’s gaze slowly drifted from the reed’s twisted roots, lying just below the water’s surface, to Bess’s face. Bess didn’t want to frighten the child, but if she had fallen into the lake and become caught up in them… Bess’s stomach churned. The consequences didn’t bear thinking about.

‘You must promise me that you will never go near the edge of the lake again,’ Bess said, sternly. Nancy glanced over her shoulder at the water. ‘Nancy!’ The child’s head jerked and she looked back at Bess, her eyes moist from the harsh tone of Bess’s voice. ‘I didn’t mean to shout, but the water is deep and it is dangerous. Do you understand?’ Nancy nodded. ‘Good girl.’ Bess hugged Nancy to her.

Scrambling to their feet, Bess and Nancy joined Aimee. Together the three of them watched the lone duckling, its feathers still ruffled, paddling for all it was worth across the lake to join a family of a dozen or more ducks by a large cluster of bulrushes on the far side.

Nancy looked up at Bess and slipped her hand into Bess’s hand. Bess offered her other hand to Aimee and together they walked alongside the lake, but at a safe distance, up to the peacock lawn. As they neared the drive, Frank’s car came round the corner of the hotel with Maeve in the passenger seat. Frank beeped the horn and Maeve waved out of the window.

Bess and Aimee returned the gesture. Aimee shouted, ‘Bye, bye,’ while Bess called, ‘Safe journey.’ Nancy stood motionless and said nothing. She watched the car until it had disappeared around the bend to Mysterton Lane. Then, gripping Bess’s hand tightly she said, ‘Will Aunt Maeve come back for me?’

Bess knelt down on one knee and looked into the little girl’s troubled face. ‘Of course she’ll come back for you, darling.’ Nancy didn’t look convinced, so Bess said, ‘When we get back to the hotel, we’ll mark the days that she’ll be away on the calendar in my office. Then you can colour them in one day at a time until your aunt is back. All right?’

‘All right,’ Nancy said.

That problem solved, the two friends ran ahead of Bess, waiting for her to catch up with them on top of the hotel’s steps.

‘Any calls?’ Bess asked Jack, as she and the children arrived at reception.

‘One for Mrs Mitchell, from her husband. He said he’ll ring again later.’

‘Thanks Jack, I’ll tell her when she gets back from Coventry.’

Bess suggested to her two small temporary wards that they all go upstairs, change out of their muddy shoes and socks, put on clean ones, and wash their hands and faces because it was almost time for tea. The reply from both girls was can we tick the calendar first? So into the office they traipsed, muddy shoes and all.

They followed Bess across the room