Amelia Peabody Omnibus 1-4 Read Free Page A

done.
    She was sitting up in bed, taking soup from the hand of my maid, Travers. Neither of them appeared to be enjoying the process. Travers is a living contradiction to the theories of the physiognomists, for her face and shape do not at all reflect her personality. She is a round, cheery-faced little person with the soul of a dried-up old spinster. She did not approve of my taking in a ‘stray’, as she would have said, and her sour look expressed her feelings. To be fair, that was the only way in which Travers
could
express her feelings. I do not permit verbal complaints.
    ‘That will do,’ I said. ‘Too much food might be ill advised at present. Go away, Travers, and be sure you close the door tightly.’
    When she had obeyed, I studied my patient and was pleased at what I saw. My flannel nightdress was considerably too large for the girl. She would need clothing – dainty, delicate things, to suit her fairness – garments of the sort I had never been able to wear. She would look charming in pale shades, blue and pink and lavender. There was colour in her face now, a delicate rose flush that made her even prettier. How on earth, I wondered, had such a girl come to her present pass?
    My stare must have been more intent than I realized. The girl’s eyes dropped. Then she raised her head and spoke, with a firmness I had not expected. Her voice settled any lingering doubts as to her class; it was that of a well-bred young lady.
    ‘I am more indebted than I can say,’ she began. ‘But be assured, ma’am, I shall not take advantage of your charity. I am quite recovered now; if you will direct your maid to return my clothing, I will rid you of my presence.’
    ‘Your clothing has been thrown away,’ I said absently. ‘It was not worth the trouble of laundering. You must remain in bed for the rest of the day in any case. I will order a seamstress to come tomorrow. There is a boat leaving for Alexandria on Friday next. A week should be sufficient. You will need to do some shopping, of course, but first I had better see what you have with you. If you will tell me where you have been staying, I will send a man round for your boxes.’
    Her face was very expressive. It had registered a variety of emotions as I spoke; the blue eyes had flashed with indignation and then narrowed with suspicion. But the ultimate emotion was openmouthed bewilderment. I waited for her to speak, but she merely opened and closed her mouth, so I said impatiently, ‘I am taking you to Egypt with me, as my companion. Miss Pritchett failed me; she took the typhoid. I had agreed to pay her ten pounds a year. Naturally I will be responsible for equipping you for the journey. You can hardly travel in a flannel nightdress!’
    ‘No,’ the girl agreed, looking dazed. ‘But – but – ’
    ‘My name is Amelia Peabody. You will call me Amelia. I am a spinster of independent means, travelling for pleasure. Is there anything else you wish to know about me?’
    ‘I know all I need to know,’ the girl said quietly. ‘I was not entirely unconscious when you came to my rescue, and I hope I am able to recognize true kindness of heart. But my dear Miss Peabody – very well, Amelia – you know nothing about
me
!’
    ‘Is there something I should know?’,
    ‘I might be a criminal! I might be vicious – unprincipled!’
    ‘No, no,’ I said calmly. ‘I have been accused of being somewhat abrupt in my actions and decisions, but I never act without thought; it is simply that I think more quickly and more intelligently than most people. I am an excellent judge of character. I could not be deceived about yours.’
    A dimple appeared at the corner of the girl’s mouth. It trembled, and was gone. The blue eyes fell.
    ‘You
are
deceived,’ she said, so softly I could hardly hear. ‘I am not what you think. I owe it to you to tell you my story; and when you have heard it, then – then you will be justified in ordering me out of your