The Book of Bones Read Online Free

locate the ices instead, so we left the ballroom.
    I was a little upset with Waldo, for we were meant to be friends and yet he had deserted me at the first sight of a simpering Emily. But the ices cooled me down. I had three helpings. One a delicious melting pink concoction flavored with rosewater, another vanilla-ish, and a third which was a mystery. Isaac swore it was rum, but I have never drunk the sailor’s tipple and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t either.
    I returned to the ballroom alone, for Isaac could not be torn away from the refreshments. My mood soured when I saw that Waldo was dancing with Emily again, this time a slower waltz. They were quite making exhibitions of themselves, for Emily seemed to be whispering in his ear. Anyway, I leaned against the wall frowning and a moment later Miss Minchin—soon to be Mrs. or even Lady Prinsep—stopped.
    This beaming person was such a different creature to the thin-lipped governess who had come to our house all those years ago.
    â€œDear Kit.” She beamed. “Let life into your heart.”
    â€œPardon?” I asked, taken aback.
    â€œYou’re not a boy,” she said. “I know you want to be one. But, Kit, you’re a girl. Be lovely.”
    â€œBeing lovely is hardly an occupation.”
    â€œOh, it is,” she beamed. “It’s jolly hard work.”
    I backed away, for there was a gooeyness about her that made me uneasy. For one ghastly moment I even thought she was going to embrace me. Luckily her groom-to-be called to her and she was lost in the ball gowns. The next thing I knew, Waldo was standing next to me, frowning.
    â€œSomething is up, Kit,” he said.
    â€œI beg your pardon?” I replied, a little coldly.
    â€œIt’s Emily. She says Mrs. Glee is not what she seems.”
    â€œWhat on earth does she mean?”
    â€œIt’s odd, Kit. I don’t like it.”
    â€œSpit it out.”
    â€œEmily claims that Mrs. Glee is not Mrs. Glee at all. She says she recognized her at once. She’s a Mrs. Dougal and she was their housekeeper till she disappeared last summer. There was some mystery about it, but Emily never found out what really happened.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œThing is, some valuable cufflinks vanished at the same time.”
    I was perturbed, for it was an odd tale. But then I thought of the blinking, simpering Emily and felt doubtful. Who did I trust? Mrs. Glee, who was thoughtful and had our best interests at heart, despite her illness. Or the conniving Emily?
    â€œI’m surprised you believe what Emily tells you,” I shrugged. “She has obviously forgotten her spectacles.”
    â€œEmily doesn’t wear spectacles,” he replied.
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œSheer vanity. Emily is so short-sighted she can’t see beyond the end of her nose. If she had her spectacles on she would know she’d never met Mrs. Glee before. Instead she makes up a story to try to impress—”
    Without waiting for me to finish my sentence Waldo flashed me a disgusted look and walked away.

Chapter Four
    It was a cheerless day to travel, the wind howling off Dartmoor, buffeting the coach that was taking us back to Oxford. A storm was blowing up and soon a few fat droplets began to splatter against the windows. The track leading off the moor past the small country villages was rough, full of potholes that jerked us about till our bones ached. I pitied Hodges, our genial coach driver, sitting on his perch high above the horses. He was exposed to the full fury of the elements. Even more, though, did I pity the four poor beasts. Already their bridles were lathered in froth.
    Mrs. Glee had decided we would travel from Merriford House back to Oxford by coach, even though the train was so much more convenient. I had tried to argue but she had made up her mind. I suspected, frail as she was, she was frightened of train travel. So