Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

"Number five. Go along the corridor outside your door to the left and it's just around the bend."

Agatha walked along to Daisy's room. It seemed a welter of dresses. "I've been trying everything on," wailed Daisy. "It's turned very cold but I don't want to spoil a dress by wearing a cardigan over it."

"Let's see." Agatha rummaged through the pile of dresses on the bed. "What about this?" She held up a smoky-blue wool dress.

"Oh, do you think so?" Daisy's face fell. She picked up a green sequinned gown. "I thought something more dressy."

"No, it would be too much. You don't want to frighten him off. Besides, all these green sequins will throw a green light up on your face and you don't want that. Put on the blue dress and let me see it. I think I've got the very thing to go with it."

When Agatha returned, Daisy was wearing the blue dress. "There," said Agatha, handing her a deep-blue wraparound cape. "You put it on like so. It's a bit like a poncho. You throw that end around your shoulders. There!"

"I like that," said Daisy. "You are good."

"And you won't need a cardigan. That thing's very warm. Now let's tone down your make-up. Too much mascara. It's sticking your eyelashes together. And what happened to that new soft lipstick you got from Mr. Jerome's wife?"

After dealing with Daisy, Agatha only had time for a hurried bath and change of clothes before going down to the dining-room. Old Harry was teasing the colonel and Daisy about their 'date.' But both Jennifer and Mary looked resentful, almost as if they guessed it was Agatha who had put the idea of Daisy's taking the colonel out into her mind.

Agatha carefully divided the food on her plate into half, a la Muriel Spark. It was delicious roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and little roast potatoes, courgette, carrots, cauliflower and cheese, new potatoes, and peas. She felt again guiltily that half was the equivalent of a full meal anywhere else.

After dinner she felt restless and bored. "Game of Scrabble?" suggested Harry.

"Why not?" said Agatha gloomily.

Mary and Jennifer joined them. No wonder I never guessed what feuds and passions and emotions were lurking under the surface, thought Agatha as Harry shook out the tiles. You would think I'd never had that confrontation with Mary.

She tried to concentrate on the game. A waiter came in and drew the thick curtains, shutting out the view of a small cold moon shining on a large cold sea. Where is Cliff, the husband, now? wondered Agatha. I must ask Jimmy. I wonder if I'll see him before the weekend.

After two games she excused herself and went up to her room to receive a rapturous welcome from Scrabble. "You don't look at all like the fierce animal who attacked me," said Agatha, stroking the cat's soft white fur. "I hope Boswell and Hodge like you because I don't think I could bear to give you away." The phone rang after Agatha was undressed and climbing into bed. It was Daisy. "Could you come along to my room, Agatha?"

Agatha said she would be along in a minute. She put on a dressing-gown and walked along to Daisy's room.

"How did it go?" she asked, sitting on Daisy's bed.

"We had such a nice time," said Daisy, "and he thanked me very much. I did suggest we might go somewhere for a drink afterwards but he said he was tired." Her mouth drooped in disappointment.

"I should think a man like the colonel will feel honour-bound to repay the invitation," said Agatha. "He's been used to you as a friend. It will take time for him to think of you in any other light."

"Oh, you are so right. I ... I leaned against his arm in the theatre and he didn't draw away."

Big fat deal, thought Agatha cynically. He probably didn't even notice. She said good night to Daisy and went back to her room. An idea struck her. She picked up the phone and called reception. "Are they still playing Scrabble?" she asked.

"Yes, they're in the lounge," said the sleepy voice of the night porter;

"Colonel Lyche with them?"

"Yes, the colonel went upstairs and came back down and joined them."

"Thank you." Agatha put the phone down.

Poor Daisy.

SEVEN

THE next few days were quiet for Agatha. With the exception of Daisy, the others seemed to be avoiding her. By Saturday, she found she was eagerly looking forward to Sunday, when she would see Jimmy again. She had phoned Mrs. Bloxby and had asked if James had shown any signs of missing her. Mrs. Bloxby had hesitated. She had heard from an angry James how he had driven to Wyckhadden, only to learn that Agatha had gone out with her inspector. Mrs. Bloxby knew from Agatha's query that somehow the hotel had failed to tell her of James's call. She thought Agatha's inspector sounded nice and she had always thought James Lacey a dead loss, and so she begged the question by saying "Well, you know what James is like," which Agatha had interpreted to mean that James had shown no interest in her at all.