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Back The Scarlet Dress Save as PDF
Chapters (84)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. Friday
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. Saturday
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. Sunday
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. 64
  70. 65
  71. 66
  72. 67
  73. 68
  74. 69
  75. 70
  76. One Week Later
  77. 71
  78. Afterwards
  79. 72
  80. Acknowledgments
  81. Reading Group Questions
  82. More from Louise Douglas
  83. About the Author
  84. About Boldwood Books

Denise had been dead long before Alice came; and why would she write a letter when she could so easily walk over the road and talk to Camille if she had something to say? Mrs deVillars was confused. Marnie took her quivering hand and cupped it between hers, trying to convey reassurance.

‘It was a long time ago,’ the old woman continued, ‘but these things don’t go away. The truth always finds a way. You must be on your guard. Promise me you’ll be careful?’

Marnie raised Camille’s hand to her lips. The old woman clenched her fingers. She was becoming agitated.

‘You’re not listening, Marnie! You need to listen! I’m not stupid! Everyone treats me like I’m stupid but…’

The nurse came back into the room. ‘Are you ready, Camille? There’s a lovely warm bath waiting for you.’

Mrs deVillars said: ‘No, I haven’t…’ She tailed off. She looked around her as if she didn’t recognise where she was. Then she looked back to Marnie and the confusion deepened. She gazed down at her own lap, took her hand from Marnie’s and first dusted, then picked at some imaginary stain on the fabric of her nightdress, her eyes avoiding Marnie’s.

Whatever it was that had been troubling her had passed.

Marnie took back her hat and coat and Will’s scarf. Then she leaned down and kissed Camille gently on her cold cheek, held a hand up to say goodbye to the nurse and left the room. As she went down the narrow stairs that connected the attic to the first-floor landing, she heard the key turning in the lock of the door behind her.

18

When Marnie came into the living room, Mr deVillars offered her a drink, but she declined. Will drained his glass, they collected the dog and left the same way they’d come in, through the back door. They walked round the house to the drive, gravel crunching beneath their feet. At the gateway, Will looked back. He saw the nurse watching from the top window beneath the gable. Marnie didn’t follow his gaze. She put her hands in her pockets, the dog’s lead looped over her wrist and set off, walking fast; Will had to jog to catch up.

‘Wait, Marnie!’ he called. ‘I’ll walk you back. There are things we need to talk about.’

Marnie strode on.

‘I need to tell you, I saw something in the Big House…’

She turned to face him; one hand held up like a police traffic officer.

He stopped. The little dog growled. Will took a step backwards. Marnie turned and began to walk away faster now, almost running.

‘Marnie!’ Will called. ‘Look, I know why you’re angry, I don’t blame you, but…’