ON DEVIL'S BRAE (A Psychological Suspense Thriller) (Dark Minds Mystery Suspense) by Faith Mortimer Page A

rather excitable, and I have to calm her down. I suppose years ago she would have been called highly strung.”
    “I’m sorry, it must be hard. I don’t know whether I could do it.”
    “It’s not a matter of knowing whether you could. You just do . Lorna is my responsibility, and I’d never leave her to cope on her own. She couldn’t.”
    “Yes, I understand. Where were you before here?”
    “Our family comes from Gloucester. We have a few cousins still living there, but nobody we really know. I was a chemist and Lorna owned a flower shop. We sold the two businesses and moved here. We had to because of Lorna. She couldn’t stand living there anymore. There were too many memories for her. It was the child, you see. It was all very sad, tragic and…and it shattered Lorna’s life. We decided she would feel better if she got away from everyone who knew.”
    Elizabeth sighed and shifted her weight in her chair. “Of course, afterwards I couldn’t leave Lorna by herself each day, so it was just as well we sold up. We saved some money between us and pooled everything and bought this house. Anything left over, I invested. We’re okay, Lorna and I. We understand each other and get along.”
    Cassandra stifled her cries of heart-wrung sympathy; Elizabeth must have heard plenty of those over the years. A dead child. Poor Lorna. And she thought she had worries. “That’s very distressing. I’m sorry,” she said.
    “I assume you’re unmarried?” Elizabeth asked.
    “Yes. I’ve never met the right person, but I live in hope! I’m sure he’s out there somewhere, just waiting for me,” Cassandra laughed.
    Elizabeth smiled. “I’m sure he is. We all need someone to love.”
    “Here we are at last! Tea for three, and I thought as it was so near lunch time, I could tempt you with a sandwich or two,” interrupted Lorna as she bustled into the living room carrying a laden tray. “Elizabeth, dear, if you would be so kind and pull the coffee table out. Yes, that’s lovely. Now I’ll just fetch the rest of the things.”
    Cassandra and Elizabeth looked at each other and smiled. It was barely midday. “I hope you have a healthy appetite because Lorna doesn’t do things by half where the kitchen is concerned.”
    By the time Lorna finished bringing food and china in from the kitchen, there was a small feast laid on the oblong table set before them. Cassandra didn’t know whether she should be dismayed or pleased at the prospect of so much food. As well as the promised sandwiches and cake, Lorna prepared bowls of steaming soup, scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and a small dish of salad.
    “My goodness,” Cassandra murmured. “I didn’t expect this.”
    “Have the soup while it’s nice and hot. It’s a favourite of ours and completely Scottish. It’s called Cullen skink. It’s a thick soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
    Cassandra shot a sympathetic look at Elizabeth, thinking how she had to put up with Lorna’s erratic behaviour every day, but the older woman chose to ignore it. Instead she made room for Lorna on the settee next to her, arranged a cushion to support her back, and insisted she took something to eat herself.
    Cassandra noticed Lorna picked at her food, all the time talking and fidgeting while keeping watch on their guest’s plate. “Have another sandwich. Egg and cress, Elizabeth’s favourite. No? Well I have cream cheese and cucumber if you prefer.”
    Cassandra resisted a strong urge to laugh. “I can’t have any more,” she said. “I’m almost full. You’re a super hostess, Lorna.”
    “There’s cake. I’m sure you still have room for cake. I always think we must have a separate stomach for pudding or cake. Don’t you agree, dear?”
    Cassandra weakened, knowing Lorna wouldn’t keep still or quiet until she placed a piece of Dundee cake on Cassandra’s plate. “Just a tiny slice. No, really, I wouldn’t want to waste