Secrets and Lies Read Online Free

horrors – Matron! In an olive-green dress, which was only minutely less severe than her uniform, she was with a tall, thin gentleman who resembled her. Her brother, Esmé imagined. She couldn’t ever remember seeing Matron without her cap starched rigidly into its severe kite-shape. Her hair was a pretty, light shade of brown, and curly, as though it was rebelling against the severity of the rest of her.
    She slid Denton an accusing glance and he grinned and winked at her.
    It would be rude to ignore Matron, even if she’d dared to. She crossed to where they stood and smiled, because she didn’t like feeling at a disadvantage on her home ground. ‘Is there anything I can get for you, Matron?’
    ‘No dear, we’re fine. May I introduce my brother, Percival. He’s a headmaster. Percy, this is one of my girls, Nurse Carr.’
    Percival looked perfect for the role of headmaster in his round wire-framed glasses. He sported a neatly trimmed salt and pepper moustache and smelled of peppermint cordial. She took the hand he offered, thinking he had a nice smile.
    He said, ‘Ah yes . . . one of Hilda’s best, I’m given to understand.’
    Esmé offered Matron a slip of a smile. Compliments were hard to come by from her, so even a second-hand one was worth having.
    Matron’s glance settled on Esmé’s hemline. ‘Hmmm . . .’ was all she said, and although the younger guests mostly wore their skirts knee length, Esmé felt as though she were naked. She gave a nervous giggle.
    ‘A nurse is only as good as her tutor,’ Denton said gallantly, coming from behind to rescue her. She watched Denton wrap the woman around his little finger. ‘I’m pleased you could come, Hilda. How pretty you look. You must save me a dance.’
    Matron simpered. ‘I’m surprised you managed to get away.’
    ‘I couldn’t keep a beautiful young woman waiting for me, so I left the patient open on the operating table, and will stitch him up tomorrow after breakfast.’
    ‘Dr Elliot! You wouldn’t do such a dreadful thing. I believe you’ve met my brother.’
    ‘Hello, Percy. How have you been keeping? Es, my love, there was a problem with the caterers being late, and Livia needs a hand setting up the buffet if you wouldn’t mind.’
    She escaped with relief and headed for the kitchen, where her sister was struggling with plates of this and that. She picked up a soggy water biscuit with a sardine attached and gazed at it. ‘Good grief, this fish looks as though it died six months ago. Do you need a hand, Livia?’
    Livia snorted and giggled at the same time. ‘I’m beginning to think Denton is having a bad influence on you.’
    ‘He’s buttering up the matron at the moment, and she’s falling for it, hook, line and sinker.’
    ‘Perhaps we should swap him for the sardine then. Talking of butter, there doesn’t seem to be enough food to go round. What do you think? I’m sure I ordered more than this, but I can’t find the list.’
    ‘I’ll make an extra platter of sandwiches to be on the safe side, if you like. So much for hiring caterers to save time.’
    ‘There was a dreadful mix-up. First they delivered the food to Nutting Cottage, and that awful old man sent them to Foxglove House. He knows very well the place is boarded up. Eventually they found us, and delivered, but there was nobody to serve it. Now I’ve got to try and make it look pretty. I’m sure I ordered some caviar.’
    ‘There’s a tin in the larder left over from Christmas. I’ll tip it into a glass bowl, and make some toast fingers. Haven’t we got some cake doilies in the drawer? We can fancy things up with those?’
    Relief came into Livia’s eyes. ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
    ‘Because you’ve got yourself in a tizzy.’ Esmé took out a dozen eggs and placed them in a pan of water on the stove to boil.
    ‘I’m sure the major did it on purpose because he wasn’t invited.’
    ‘Stop talking and let’s get on.’ Esmé took out a loaf of