Page 10 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
Madeline tilted her head. “Lisbelle, darling, you mustn’t feel bad. ‘Twas afaux-pasand nothing more.”
“Oh, it was a daft thing to say in Her Ladyship’s presence, is what it was.”
Madeline smiled at her. “Do not fret anymore. I’m getting married today. That should count for something, should it not?”
She winked at the girl, and the girl smiled. “Yes, M’Lady.”
Lady Emily returned. “May I stay? Mama’s cracking the whip again, and I can’t bear to witness the carnage.”
Madeline chuckled. “Please do.”
Emily stared at her sister’s beauty. “Lisbelle? Do you think you could do my hair like that when the time comes?”
“Certainly, M’Lady.”
Madeline began to sing:
“My foes prevail, my friends are fled,
These suppliant hands to Heav’n I spread
Heav’n guard my unprotected head
Amid this sad captivity ...”
“My!” exclaimed Lady Emily. “What a perfectly dreadful song!”
“Does my singing trouble you so?”
“Heavens, no. You’re singing is quite lovely, dear sister. I meant those lyrics!”
Madeline was perplexed. “What about them?”
“You can’t be serious.”
She laughed. “They are terribly sad, aren’t they? The melody is so beautiful; I just never gave it a thought.”
“The melody is beautiful, but ... well, what do you think, Lisbelle?”
“Well, I suppose My Lady could sing about all sorts of horrors and they’d seem like frolics. “’Twould be nice if she were to refrain from that one, though. Just for today.”
“Thank you, Lisbelle,” said Emily. “A true voice of reason.”
Madeline rolled her eyes. “If you insist.”
“Er, um, excuse me,” said a man’s voice.
The girls, startled, threw their glances at the doorway. A large man stood there with a cap in his hands. His face was round and hideously pockmarked within a shadow of stubble. And he had deep-set eyes that were beady and black like currants.
“Dear me,” said Lisbelle. “You can’t come in here like that giving us the fright of our lives. Who are you, anyway?”
“Terribly sorry, M’Lady—er, um, M’Ladies. My name is Garret. Tom Garret if you please. I’m the butcher’s man, down by Roighton way. I was here to make a delivery of beef for the Lady’s wedding day when I stumbled upon a commotion.”
“A commotion?” said Madeline.
“Yes, M’Lady. It seems His Lordship’s gone down.”
Madeline rose from her chair. “What?”
