The Ellsworth Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 5) by Diana Xarissa Page B

about our guests, but I didn’t like that
woman when I first met her and I really don’t like her after today.   I don’t think she’s good for William.”
    Janet laughed.   “Remember how much we disliked William
when we met him?” she asked.   “I
can’t believe we’re so worried about his happiness now.   A few months ago I would have said that
he and Karen deserve one another.”
    “But William has really been trying to be
nicer, and his art work is really lovely.   It bothers me that she’s getting in the way of his working on his art.”
    “I know,” Janet said.   “He’s much nicer than he first
appeared.   Maybe Karen is as well.”
    “Or maybe she’s just horrible,” Joan said.
    “Maybe,” Janet said.
    Joan parked in their small car park and the
pair made their way into the house.   They were halfway up the steps to the front door when Janet heard a car
turning down the street.   She
stopped and watched as a newer sedan car stopped and then signaled and pulled
into Doveby House’s car park.   Joan had opened the door to the house
and now both sisters watched as the car door swung open.

 
    Chapter Nine
    The woman who climbed out of the car looked
like every other woman in her sixties in Britain.   Her clothes weren’t new, but they were
clean and neatly pressed.   Her shoes
were sensible and her grey hair was cut in an efficient bob.   She might have been carrying a few more
pounds than she had in her youth, but it suited her.   Janet was immediately reminded of her
mother, who had been dead for many years.   This woman looked like someone’s mother.
    “Good afternoon,” Janet greeted the woman as
she made her way from the car towards the house.   “Can we help you?”
    The woman looked at her and then sighed
deeply.   “I suppose I must go on,
mustn’t I?   I wasn’t sure I was even
going to stop, but then there you were and I didn’t feel as if I could just
drive away.”
    “Would you like to come in?” Joan asked from
the doorway.   “I could make some
tea.”
    “I think I could use some,” the woman replied.
    Joan led the others into the kitchen.   While Janet put the kettle on, Joan
fixed a plate of sandwiches.
    “It’s just about time for some lunch,” she
said brightly.   “We can have
sandwiches and then biscuits.   I’ve
even got some Victoria sponge left from yesterday, if you prefer.”
    The woman sitting at the kitchen table shook
her head.   “Oh, but I didn’t, that
is, I wasn’t expecting, oh... ”   She stopped speaking and burst
into tears.
    Janet exchanged glances with her sister and
then moved over to the woman.   She
handed her a tissue and then began to pat her back.   “There now, it isn’t that bad, is it?”
she muttered.   “Whatever is wrong,
we can help, or at least we can try to help.”
    The woman sobbed even more.   The kettle boiled and Joan fixed the
tea.   “Here now, tea,” Joan said
loudly.
    The woman drew a deep breath and then
swallowed hard.   After a moment, she
raised her head and reached for her teacup.   After a couple of sips, she blew out a
sigh.   “I am sorry,” she said.   “I’m not usually, that is, I never cry.”
    “Sometimes you need a good cry,” Janet
said.   “It clears your head, or so
I’m told.”
    The woman nodded.   “I suppose it did, rather.   I simply wasn’t expecting you to be so
nice, you see.   It’s all been so
difficult.”
    “Perhaps you should start from the
beginning,” Joan suggested.
    “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she
replied.   “I ought to introduce
myself, I guess.   I’m Harriet
Walters.”
    Janet looked sharply at Joan, but Joan kept
her eyes on their guest.   “It’s very
nice to meet you,” she said.   “I’m
Joan Markham and this is my sister, Janet.”
    “I always wanted a sister,” Harriet said distractedly.   “I only had a brother and he was ten
years older than me.   It wasn’t,
that is, we were never