A Stranger's Kiss by Rosemary Smith Page B

when I had last seen her, in fact she wore the same royal blue serge dress she had worn that day we travelled together. I did concede that her hair looked cleaner and tidier, but it was very obviously dyed and was almost yellow in colour. I was sure the immaculate Millie did not entertain her by choice.
    ‘So we meet again, Miss Osborne.’ Tamsin spoke in the same cultured voice which so belied the way she dressed. I really did dislike the woman although in fairness to her I hardly knew her.
    She walked into the room and pulled a chair from under the table to sit upon as she continued. ‘So you didn’t heed my words and stay clear of Ravensmount,’ she said.
    ‘No, indeed not,’ I replied, trying hard to keep the tremor from my voice. ‘In truth I am glad I stayed and I shall not leave until I have found my friend, Amelia. Tell me, what do you know of her?’
    ‘Very little,’ replied Tamsin somewhat cagily.
    ‘I have reason to believe you don’t speak the truth,’ I challenged her, reaching for my black reticule which I had placed on the floor by my chair.
    ‘And what makes you say that?’ Tamsin asked nervously.
    ‘Because of this,’ I replied, taking the music box from my reticule and walking over to place it in front of Tamsin on the table. ‘Is this yours?’
    As I asked the question Tamsin gazed at the exquisite box as if mesmerised by it, then with one hand she touched the bright coloured enamel, tracing a finger over each beautiful colour.
    ‘I had thought I would never see this again,’ she said, taking her eyes at last from the box and looking at me. A pang of sympathy touched my heart for her. ‘Where did you get it?’ she said.
    ‘It was in Amelia’s room at Ravensmount,’ I said quietly, feeling all the while that nothing was real and that I was in a dream.
    ‘So we have the proof,’ said Tamsin quietly looking at Millie Sutton who had been watching the scene with interest.
    ‘Proof of what?’ Michael interposed and in that moment I knew that he had no idea, no more than I what Tamsin was talking about.
    ‘In which case,’ said Millie Sutton standing up and taking control of the situation, ‘we need to speak to the Master of Ravensmount.’
    ‘But why?’ Michael questioned. ‘What has this if anything got to do with my father?’
    ‘You will see, child,’ said his nurse, putting her arm around him and for a second I thought how handsome he looked in his innocence and so vulnerable. ‘I want you to go back to Ravensmount and fetch your father. Far better that he come here I think.’
    ‘No!’ said Michael. ‘I suggest we all go back to my home and sort this out, whatever it may be.’ His voice was authoritative and I so admired him for it.
    ‘If that’s what you wish, Master Michael, I have the governess’s cart which Tamsin and I can travel in. Just let me take the kettle off the range,’ said Millie, seeming unperturbed by this chain of events, but I suspect that underneath she was a cauldron of emotions, knowing that the time was near for all secrets to be revealed.
    We all set off, Tamsin insisting that she carry her music box, reluctantly agreeing I lend her my black reticule to put it in.
    As we made our way back to Ravensmount, I said to Michael, ‘I feel sorry that your father has no warning of our coming.’
    ‘But surely he has nothing to hide,’ was his reply. Unfortunately I knew that there was something Abraham had to hide and I felt that the time of reckoning was nigh, wondering at the same time what Tamsin had to reveal. I had no doubt the music box was hers, so what connection did she have to my friend, Amelia?
    These things were still burning through my mind when Michael pulled the pony up by the steps with a flourish. My darling man was obviously keen to bring whatever it was to a conclusion. As he helped me down to the ground the governess’s cart pulled sharply up behind us.
    The ravens flapped and cursed overhead and as we made our way to the