Verity Sparks and the Scarlet Hand Read Online Free Page B

were spread all around. Like Drucilla, he was packing.
    “Where are you going?” I asked quietly.
    SP threw a pair of boots to the floor and slumped on his bed. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know.” His hair was standing on end and he looked as if he hadn’t slept. “I was thinking of Western Australia.”
    “Oh, SP.” Judith put her arms around her brother and gave him a hug.
    “I was very stupid, wasn’t I?”
    We both nodded.
    “Should I write to her, apologising and promising never to bother her again?”
    “No, SP, don’t do that. Not yet, anyway,” said Judith.
    It seemed a good time to tell him about Drucilla’s visit to Castlemaine.
    SP groaned. “See what I’ve done? I’ve forced her out of her position and her home, because she can’t bear to see me. What am I to do, girls? Go west? Return to England? Jump off a cliff?”
    Judith took his hand in hers. “Just hold on, dearest. Don’t do anything silly. She’s embarrassed, that’s all, and feels awkward about seeing you. This visit to Castlemaine is a good thing. It will give her time to settle her thoughts.”
    And realise how much she misses you, I added silently. Judith had high hopes of Drucilla’s visit. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” she’d explained to me. “I’ve no doubt Drucilla will realise that she loves SP once they’re parted.”
    We talked about Drucilla for a while longer – well, SP talked and we listened. He could have gone on all evening, but I knew Mrs Reilly would have something to say if she had to delay dinner again. And Judith had begun to fret about baby Horace.
    So we set off at a brisk walk along the Esplanade back towards Alhambra. We passed a gaggle of nursemaids with small children and an elderly couple with a pug, all enjoying the evening. It was too cool for bathing, but there were a few strollers down on the beach. A shiver ran down my spine as I looked at them. I felt cold. It couldn’t be …
    No. There was no tall figure down on the sands, no grey costume. I’d been mistaken. Or else she’d vanished. I tried to shrug off my uneasiness.
    “Do you mind if we hurry?” said Judith. “I think Horace will be ready for his feed by now.”
    We picked up our pace, and I realised that I’d forgotten to tell SP about the mystery lady.

    The following afternoon we arrived at Spencer Street Station with Drucilla and her trunk. Lucifer wasn’t having a holiday this time. Drucilla had decided that, since her hosts had young children, Lucifer and his bad language should stay put at Alhambra.
    Mr Leviny was waiting with the tickets. There were kisses goodbye, last-minute hugs, and in next to no time the train was steaming down the track. Drucilla leaned out of the window to wave her hand, and then she was gone.
    I have to say that my spirits sank. Dear Drucilla; I was going to miss her. We all were – me, Papa, Connie, Poppy … Where
was
Poppy? The little imp was quite capable of jumping into the guard’s van as it sped past. Ah, now I could see her. She was down at the far end of the platform. Was she climbing up a ladder?
    “I’ll bring her back,” said Connie, and hurried off.
    Papa was strolling towards the exit and as I turned to follow him, I saw her. In the cloud of smoke and steam left by the departing train, she appeared ghostly and indistinct, but as she moved towards us every detail sharpened. The grey dress, the modish hat, the beautiful face with deep brown eyes. My heart began to thump wildly. She
was
following me. It had been her all along, in the train, in Collins Street, in the Book Bazaar, perhaps even on the St Kilda Esplanade. Who was she? Why was she shadowing me? Did I have the courage to confront her?
    But in a flash I realised that I didn’t want to. Papa must not see her. This woman looked so much like Mama. It would only upset him.
    “Look, Papa, over there,” I cried, steering him away from her. “Isn’t that Mr Rowland?”
    “Where? Over there?”
    As we