Tomorrow Is Forever Read Online Free Page B

welcome.
    She took a long lazy bath, brushed her hair and got dressed for dinner in a white satin hostess gown Spratt had given her on her birthday, a fragile, impractical garment of the sort one would hardly ever buy for one’s self but which one loved to receive. As she stood before her glass drawing up the zipper, Elizabeth considered her reflection and decided that she looked extremely well. She took care of her skin and hair, for one thing, and what was more important, she had kept her figure under control, so that her waist and hips were as firm as ever. Her husband’s favorite gifts to her were beautiful clothes—a candid tribute, for a picture producer had to know a good deal about women’s apparel and Spratt would not have brought her clinging gowns if he had not been sure she could wear them.
    For a moment she stood turning the radio knob. The radio mourned that there were no flowers in its garden of love, offered her a remedy for acid indigestion and inquired persuasively if she was troubled by nagging pains in the small of her back. With a wrinkling of her nose, Elizabeth switched off the voices and decided to read until it was time to get out the makings of the dinner cocktails. If she started now she could probably finish her novel. Stretching out on the chaise-longue, she took up the book and found the place where she had left off last night. It was not an intellectual treat, but it was interesting—after reading All This and Heaven Too she had learned that the English author who wrote under the pseudonym of Joseph Shearing had published, several years before, another fictionized version of the Praslin murder, and Elizabeth was well enough acquainted with the sinister Shearing heroines to be sure that the governess as portrayed here would not be a fit companion for anybody’s children. She had not been disappointed. Having begun an evil career on page one, the damsel was now behaving most wickedly, demure in her bonnet and shawl while she dreamed up yet more sins. Absorbed in the lady’s beruffled iniquity, she was annoyed when she heard the buzz of her telephone. This phone was not connected with the others in the house and its number was known only to her best friends, so the call could be for nobody but herself. She pulled her attention out of the book, put her cigarette into the ashtray and reached reluctantly for the phone. Spratt’s voice greeted her.
    â€œElizabeth, are we having anybody to dinner tomorrow night?”
    â€œNo, do you want to bring in somebody?”
    â€œKessler. I’ve just been talking to him. He’s got an idea for clearing up this story. So don’t have anybody else around. I want to go into it with him after dinner.”
    â€œAll right, tell him tomorrow at seven-thirty. Has he got Hollywood ulcers, or can he eat anything?”
    â€œHe can eat anything, so far as I know, but remember what I told you—only one hand. Have something that won’t be too awkward.”
    â€œOh yes, I’m glad you reminded me. Soup to start with, and what about chicken patties? Then he won’t have to use a knife and fork at once.”
    â€œSounds fine to me.”
    â€œAnd one thing more—has he got a wife or anything that I should call up and invite with him?”
    â€œNo wife—come to think of it, though, I did hear him mention a daughter, but I don’t know how old she is. I’ll find out if she’s grown and let you know. You’d better tell Dick to stay around and take her out of the way after dinner so Kessler and I can talk.”
    â€œOh dear,” exclaimed Elizabeth, “oh dear. Does the girl speak English?”
    â€œI’ve no idea.” Spratt laughed penitently. “Tell him my heart bleeds for him, but this is the way I make a living for my family and there’s no way out.”
    â€œYou’d better start your heart bleeding for me. I’m the one who’ll have to break