The Wammy House Memories

The Secret Is Out

Chapter 10!

A Few Days Later

Elizabeth closed her bedroom door behind her, she needed to be quiet. Her Aunt Thora had returned from the health retreat five days ago, she was much better now. Elizabeth hadn't told anyone about the letter or the photographs just yet, she didn't want anyone to worry about it. Even worse she wasn't allowed to visit A because Rose said it was too dangerous for her to ride her bycle to The Wammy House, life in Winchester was becoming more isolated. 

Elizabeth made her way downstairs, she jumped from the last step of the staircase and walked into the lounge. She took the television remote from the coffee table and switched the television set on. She made herself comfortable on the sofa, her favourite cartoon was playing on the television set.

" You're finally out of your nightwear, I see." Aunt Thora said from the doorway of the lounge. " It's not appropriate for a young lady to be sitting around in her nightwear in the afternoon. People will start thinking that you are indolent."

Elizabeth's full attention was drawn to her Aunt standing in the doorway, she was leaning on her wooden cane with a look of concern on her face. She had never seen her Aunt looking concerned before, something must be wrong. Turnng the television off she got up from the sofa with a slight smile on her face, she had no idea what was worrying her Aunt.

" What does indolent mean?" Elizabeth asked.

" Another meaning for the word indolent is lazy." Thora replied.

" Oh, I'll remember that for future reference then." Elizabeth said.

" Elizabeth, I need to speak with you about those photographs and that letter Rose found underneath your bed not long ago when she was hoovering your bedroom." Thora said. " When did you receive them?"

" I'm not sure what letter you're talking about Aunt Thora. I received the odd letter from my Mother's old friend Bella who lives in Oxford though." Elizabeth replied, she placed the television remote on the coffee table before she approached her. " She did send me some photographs of my Mother and Grandmother's grave about two months ago. She's been taking very good care of them over the years. Is that the letter you're speaking about?"

" Do not take me for a fool!" Thora replied with a hint of annoyance in her voice. " I've seen the photographs that were in the envelope, it's of great urgency that you tell me when you received this letter! Mr Wammy is coming to collect the letter and those photographs this evening, he's very interested in the text of the hand written letter."

" Mr Wammy is interested in the letter's text?" Elizabeth asked while she looked up at her Aunt. " Why? What interest does it have for him? It's just some photographs of the cottage, I know the letter is strange though. Does he have any clues about who took those photographs and sent me that letter?"

" Whom, not who!" Thora sighed. " Really Elizabeth, those elocution lessons I pay for you to have are wasted on you!"

" I'm sorry Aunt Thora, I'll try harder with my elocution lesson." Elizabeth smiled and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. " But does Mr Wammy have any clues is what I'm asking?"

" I cannot say at this very moment, that information has been withheld from me until he's decided what his answer shall be." Thora replied. " Your wellbeing is a very important priority to me. You're my only living relative and that's exceedingly precious to me. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"

" Yes I understand." Elizabeth replied.

Elizabeth watched her Aunt walk passed her, she sat down on her favorite old brown coloured Victorian leather sofa chair by a fancy wooden side table before she rested her cane against the side of the chair. Elizabeth cupped her hands behind her back before she approached her Aunt, she was beginning to wonder if she was going to get a scolding for not telling her the truth about the letter.