High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) Read Free

morning.
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of white among the trees. Nervous that one of the pupils might have wondered close enough to see Kathleen's body lying there, Meredith jumped to her feet.
    The sunlight filtered through the branches and cast shadows between the thick tree trunks. Again she saw something move—a wisp of white that seemed to ploat like a puff of smoke. Then it vanished, leaving her with a cold chill that had nothing to do with the moist air.

Chapter 2
    Shaken, Meredith seated herself again on the rock. The shock of Kathleen's death had caused her mind to play tricks. She needed a good strong cup of tea. That would settle her nerves. Though coming to terms with the tragedy would require more than hot tea.
    Kathleen Duncan had been the first person to welcome Meredith when she'd arrived at Bellehaven. The trauma of losing her husband in the Boer War had caused Meredith to miscarry. Still grieving for both her husband and child, she had sought to alleviate her loneliness by joining the staff of a school.
    Bellehaven had been recommended to her by a friend of her late husband's and Meredith had taken some time to consider the idea. The prospect of teaching young women how to conform to the rigid rules of high society disturbed her. She had long been an advocate of the women's movement, even though her husband's military career had prevented her from taking an active part in it.
    Nevertheless, the opportunity to introduce to these young women the idea that they had a choice in their future appealed to her. Women were generally schooled in the belief that it was their duty to attend to their home and their husband. Meredith held the opinion that the world would be a far better place if women were allowed to have a hand in running it.
    As her colleague, Kathleen had understood the delicate balance it required to obey the dictates of the school board and still maintain her own beliefs.
    Just then a shout from across the lawn shattered her thoughts. Reggie Tupper, Bellehaven's youthful maintenance man, headed toward her carrying a bundle under his arm.
    He stopped short when he caught sight of Kathleen's body. "Strewth!" He edged closer for a better look. "I thought Tom was daffy when he said to bring you a blanket. Is she a goner, then?"
    Meredith flinched. Reggie was not known for his sensitivity. For the most part she could overlook his brashness, but she could not allow him to be disrespectful to her friend in that manner. "I regret to say Miss Duncan has passed on. I would appreciate it if you would cover her with a blanket and please refrain from any more coarse remarks."
    Reggie's gaze shifted away from her. "Sorry, Mrs. Llewellyn. Wasn't thinking, was I."
    "You certainly were not." Meredith stole a last look at her friend. "Miss Duncan will be sorely missed by us all. She was a fine lady and a dedicated teacher."
    "That she was, m'm," Reggie murmured. He shook out the white blanket and covered Kathleen's still body. "That she was, indeed. May she rest in peace."
    The threat of tears caused Meredith to blink, and she shook her head. "Thank you, Reggie."
    "Entirely my pleasure, m'm."
    Rising to her feet, she smoothed the folds of her navy blue skirt. "Dr. Mitchell will be here shortly. I'd appreciate it if you'd stay here until he arrives." She glanced at the mound of blanket. "I really don't want to leave her here alone."
    "I understand, m'm. You can depend on me."
    Past experience had taught Meredith the opposite, but she refrained from saying so. She was about to leave when Reggie added, "So what do you think happened to her then?"
    "Miss Duncan enjoyed walking through the gardens in the late evening. It was her favorite time of the day. She liked to listen to the night chorus of the birds." Meredith let out her breath on a long sigh. "I imagine she tripped over something, and hit her head when she fell."
    Reggie glanced around him. "Could have been this branch." He pointed at the ground.