High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Kate Kingsbury
handkerchief. "She looked so awful, just lying there. I . . . keep thinking how . . . dreadful it must have been to die all alone wi-without anyone to comfort her."
The last word had ended on a wail, and Felicity clicked her tongue. "Pull yourself together, Essie. You must take charge of your emotions. You know very well we can't let our pupils see you like this."
Meredith was about to speak when a male voice interrupted her. "I have a powder here that will help calm her."
She turned to face the sturdy figure standing a few feet away. "Dr. Mitchell. Thank goodness." She crossed the stage and hurried down the steps to join him. "I'm afraid Essie is terribly upset, as are we all."
"So I imagine." He set his black bag down on the nearest chair and opened it.
The first time Meredith had met Ian Mitchell, he'dseemed far too young to be a licensed physician. She'd been surprised to learn later that he'd arrived in the world five years before her.
With his dark hair curling on his forehead, a trim figure in spite of his hardy build, and brown eyes that twinkled as if sharing a delicious secret, he projected a youthfulness that was both pleasing and somewhat disconcerting to his patients.
Those eyes regarded Meredith now with grave concern. "What happened to Miss Duncan?"
"We don't really know." She took the small white packet he handed her. "I thought she might have tripped and hit her head, but then Reggie saw the branch and it had blood on it, and I'm afraid—" She broke off when she saw the doctor's startled expression. "Let me just give this to Felicity and I'll take you to see Kathleen."
It took her only a moment or two to deliver the packet and extract a promise from Felicity that she would stay with Essie until the distressed teacher felt more composed. Then Meredith rejoined the doctor and led him out of the hall.
Dr. Mitchell waited until they were outside the building before asking, "What's all this about blood on a branch?"
"I'll show you." Lifting her skirts, she headed toward the rockery, with the doctor hot on her heels.
Reggie was pacing back and forth when they reached him. "I have to get back to me burst pipe," he told Meredith as soon as she was within earshot. "If I don't get it fixed, I'll have a bloomin' mess all over the floor."
"I'm going to need someone to help me remove the body." Dr. Mitchell paused by the still figure beneath the blanket. "I'd appreciate it if you could give me a hand."
"All right, but make it quick." Reggie actually shivered."Sitting here with her gave me the willies." He jerked his head at the rockery.
For a fleeting moment Meredith wondered if Reggie had seen what she'd seen—the strange phenomenon of wispy clouds floating around on the ground. In the next instant she chided herself for paying attention to her silly illusions. She needed to heed Felicity's words and collect herself. One distraught teacher was quite enough.
"Thank you, Reggie," she said, trying not to flinch as the doctor strode to the rockery and pulled back the blanket.
He spent some time moving Kathleen's head from side to side, until Meredith could watch no longer. She stared into the trees instead, watching the sunlight dance through the branches and create paint-dappled patterns of light across the path.
Just as she was about to turn away, she saw it again—a puff of cloud close to the ground, weaving in and out of the trees. As she stared, the cloud seemed to take form, evolving into the willowy shape of a woman with long hair floating behind her. One transparent hand lifted and appeared to beckon to her.
Meredith's sharp exclamation turned both men's heads.
Dr. Mitchell was the first to speak. He stood, wiping his hands on the small white towel he'd produced from his bag. "What is it, Mrs. Llewellyn? Is something wrong?"
Reggie just stared into the trees, following Meredith's gaze. "I can't see nothing."
Meredith lifted a shaking hand to point. "There," she whispered. "Right over
The last word had ended on a wail, and Felicity clicked her tongue. "Pull yourself together, Essie. You must take charge of your emotions. You know very well we can't let our pupils see you like this."
Meredith was about to speak when a male voice interrupted her. "I have a powder here that will help calm her."
She turned to face the sturdy figure standing a few feet away. "Dr. Mitchell. Thank goodness." She crossed the stage and hurried down the steps to join him. "I'm afraid Essie is terribly upset, as are we all."
"So I imagine." He set his black bag down on the nearest chair and opened it.
The first time Meredith had met Ian Mitchell, he'dseemed far too young to be a licensed physician. She'd been surprised to learn later that he'd arrived in the world five years before her.
With his dark hair curling on his forehead, a trim figure in spite of his hardy build, and brown eyes that twinkled as if sharing a delicious secret, he projected a youthfulness that was both pleasing and somewhat disconcerting to his patients.
Those eyes regarded Meredith now with grave concern. "What happened to Miss Duncan?"
"We don't really know." She took the small white packet he handed her. "I thought she might have tripped and hit her head, but then Reggie saw the branch and it had blood on it, and I'm afraid—" She broke off when she saw the doctor's startled expression. "Let me just give this to Felicity and I'll take you to see Kathleen."
It took her only a moment or two to deliver the packet and extract a promise from Felicity that she would stay with Essie until the distressed teacher felt more composed. Then Meredith rejoined the doctor and led him out of the hall.
Dr. Mitchell waited until they were outside the building before asking, "What's all this about blood on a branch?"
"I'll show you." Lifting her skirts, she headed toward the rockery, with the doctor hot on her heels.
Reggie was pacing back and forth when they reached him. "I have to get back to me burst pipe," he told Meredith as soon as she was within earshot. "If I don't get it fixed, I'll have a bloomin' mess all over the floor."
"I'm going to need someone to help me remove the body." Dr. Mitchell paused by the still figure beneath the blanket. "I'd appreciate it if you could give me a hand."
"All right, but make it quick." Reggie actually shivered."Sitting here with her gave me the willies." He jerked his head at the rockery.
For a fleeting moment Meredith wondered if Reggie had seen what she'd seen—the strange phenomenon of wispy clouds floating around on the ground. In the next instant she chided herself for paying attention to her silly illusions. She needed to heed Felicity's words and collect herself. One distraught teacher was quite enough.
"Thank you, Reggie," she said, trying not to flinch as the doctor strode to the rockery and pulled back the blanket.
He spent some time moving Kathleen's head from side to side, until Meredith could watch no longer. She stared into the trees instead, watching the sunlight dance through the branches and create paint-dappled patterns of light across the path.
Just as she was about to turn away, she saw it again—a puff of cloud close to the ground, weaving in and out of the trees. As she stared, the cloud seemed to take form, evolving into the willowy shape of a woman with long hair floating behind her. One transparent hand lifted and appeared to beckon to her.
Meredith's sharp exclamation turned both men's heads.
Dr. Mitchell was the first to speak. He stood, wiping his hands on the small white towel he'd produced from his bag. "What is it, Mrs. Llewellyn? Is something wrong?"
Reggie just stared into the trees, following Meredith's gaze. "I can't see nothing."
Meredith lifted a shaking hand to point. "There," she whispered. "Right over
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