Hi Fiona, it’s Debs from the Old Chair Pier. Something I wanted to chat about. Let me know next time you’re in Edinburgh and I can meet you for a coffee? Cheers. Debs.

What now?

CHAPTER 21

Chapter 21

Saturday 3 January 1880

Ann Craig slammed the window in the morning room shut. At last that vile smell had gone – she never wanted to be reminded of it again. Her mood was no better; it was already ten o’clock and the governess was not yet here. She would have to arrange activities in the nursery for the children, for she could not impose again on the Donaldsons.

She set them a task of drawing pictures in the nursery. As she left the room she noticed that James was drawing a long bridge with a train on it; she only hoped the governess would return the focus of his attention to other things, he was obsessed with the bridge.

There was a clank as the gate opened. Finally, there she was. Ann watched Miss Graham struggle along the path carrying her heavy bag. Her other hand was on her head, trying to keep her hat on over her frizzy grey hair. The magnolia branches were swaying in the strong breeze.

She waited. It was not up to her to let a servant in, so she took a seat on the chair by the door, ready to listen to Miss Graham’s explanation.

The doorbell rang and Jessie scuttled along the corridor. She heard a thump as a bag was dropped on the floor.

‘Jessie, please let Mrs Craig know I have arrived.’

Ann saw a blur as a figure swept past the door and headed for the stairs. Ann went to the door and called to her.

‘Mrs Craig, I can only apologise for the hour of my arrival. Are the children being attended to?’

‘They are in the nursery awaiting your return. Indeed they have been waiting for nearly two hours.’

The governess sighed and swept off her hat.

‘Mrs Craig, I must offer my sincere condolences. My parents asked me also to convey their deepest sympathy. We heard about Mr Craig, I am so…’

‘There is nothing more to say, Miss Graham. Until we have definite proof, we don’t know if my husband was indeed on that train. I have an appointment this afternoon to meet the Leuchars stationmaster who might have some information for me.’

Ann glanced down at Miss Graham’s crinkly hair and bulbous nose and, as so often happened, felt herself blessed to have not only height but beauty. Ann pulled out a handkerchief and lifted it to her own nose, pert and perfectly turned; celestial, Robert had once called it, a long time ago. ‘Is there a valid reason for such a late arrival?’

‘I am not sure if you have heard that a body of a woman was found on Monday night. She was a servant from Fife, I believe.’