CHAPTER 16 AN OPEN WINDOW
Unmindful of Penny, Celeste bent lower over her bed-ridden mistress, whispering words into her ear.
“Celeste! What are you saying?” Penny demanded. “Why, you’re putting dangerous ideas into Mrs. Rhett’s mind!”
The servant whirled toward her angrily. “Go away!” she ordered. “My mistress does not want you here!”
“Celeste!” reproved Mrs. Rhett, but in a mild voice.
Penny stood her ground, stubbornly determined that a servant should not order her away. For a moment she and Celeste measured each other with steady gaze. Nothing more was said. Mrs. Rhett sighed, closed her eyes, and seemed to drowse.
Lorinda came bounding up the stairs two at a time. Unaware that anything unpleasant had transpired during her absence, she said with forced cheerfulness:
“Now, Mother, let’s have no more nonsense. You’re to eat your food without fuss. Here, let’s try the custard again.”
Mrs. Rhett pushed away the spoon. “No, Lorinda, it is useless. But there is something you may do for me.”
“Anything you wish, Mother.”
“Bring pen and ink.”
“Are you really strong enough to write a letter?”
“I intend to change my will. Lorinda, we spoke of this the other day. While I still have the strength I must revoke my former will and leave all my property to you.”
“Oh, Mother, don’t talk of such things! Why, the doctor says you’re in perfect physical condition. You’ll be up and around in another day or two. It’s only worry about Father that has put you under the weather.”
“I have made up my mind, Lorinda. The will must be changed—now—tonight, while I have the strength.”
“Very well, if it will make you rest easier,” Lorinda said reluctantly. “Celeste, bring ink, a pen and paper.”
Celeste made no move to obey. “My mistress is not strong enough to write,” she mumbled.
“Mother wishes to change the will. Please bring the materials.”
“To change the will while one lies on a sick bed is to invite great trouble.”
“Celeste! No more of such talk! Do as you are told!”
Penny thought the servant would refuse to obey, but she shuffled off. Many minutes passed before she returned with the requested materials.
Lorinda sat down at the bedside, and wrote at her Mother’s dictation. It was a simple will in which Mrs. Rhett left all of her property to her daughter.
“If I thought my husband ever would return, I would want him to receive all my holdings,” she said. “As it is, I think the money should go to you, Lorinda.”
Penny was tempted to speak of her own belief that Mr. Rhett might be alive and in the city. However, realizing she had not a scrap of proof, she wisely remained silent.
Mrs. Rhett signed the will. Lorinda and Penny then added their names as witnesses to the document.
“Lock the will in the safe,” Mrs. Rhett instructed her daughter. “Do it now, before you forget.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Seemingly relieved that the matter had been accomplished, Mrs. Rhett turned over in bed and tried to sleep. Leaving Celeste to look after her, Penny and Lorinda went downstairs to the study.
“Celeste seemed to be displeased because your mother changed the will,” Penny remarked.
“Yes, Celeste has become a problem. I feel the doctor was right in suggesting a nurse for Mother. Celeste may mean well, but she is a distinct influence for the worse.”
“Then why not get rid of her?”
“How?”
“Tell her to go.”
Lorinda laughed shortly. “You don’t know Celeste if you think she would take such an order from me!”
“Then have your mother dismiss her.”
“I’m not sure she would do it. Furthermore, Celeste might defy her too. She has the idea she’ll take orders only from my stepfather.”
“I believe you’re actually afraid of the woman,” Penny commented.
“In a way I am,” Lorinda admitted. “Mother used to dislike her intensely. Strangely, since she has become ill, she seems to depend more upon Celeste than she does upon me.”
“Did it ever occur to you that Celeste might deliberately be planting ideas in your mother’s mind?”
“Yes, I’ve thought of it. I don’t believe Celeste would be evil enough to do it on purpose, but she is highly superstitious. I wish she were out of the house.”
“You could get rid of her if you really wanted to. Just call in the police, and have them take over.”
“I couldn’t do that. Mother would never forgive me.”
The girls entered the study, and Lorinda switched on a light. After pulling the blinds, she removed the wall picture, and prepared to open the safe.
Before she could spin the dials, footsteps padded on the stairway. Celeste appeared suddenly in the study doorway.
“Come quick!” she pleaded. “Mistress much worse!”
Lorinda dropped the will on the table, and with Penny close at her heels, followed Celeste up the stairway. Expecting the worst, they peered anxiously at Mrs. Rhett. She was tossing restlessly, but otherwise appeared the same as when they had seen her a few minutes ago.
“How do you feel, Mother?” Lorinda asked.
“Just the same,” Mrs. Rhett replied listlessly.
Lorinda gazed questioningly at Celeste.
“Mistress much better now,” the servant said. “She had sinking spell while you were downstairs.”
“I’m afraid you imagined it, Celeste,” Lorinda replied severely. “This really proves that we should have a trained nurse. Otherwise, you’ll frighten us all out of our wits.”
Celeste started to make a retort, but just then Mrs. Rhett spoke: “Lorinda, did you put the will in the safe?” she asked.
“I was doing it when Celeste called. I’ll attend to it right away.”
Lorinda stooped to kiss her mother and offer a glass of water which was declined. She then went downstairs once more with Penny.
“What do you suppose possessed Celeste to frighten me so?” she remarked thoughtfully. “Did Mother seem changed to you?”
“Not a particle.”
Reaching the study, Lorinda went directly to the table where she had left the signed will. The paper was not there.
“Why, Penny, what did I do with it?” she demanded in bewilderment. “I was certain I left it here.”
“I distinctly recall that you did,” Penny replied, her gaze wandering to an open window where a curtain fluttered in the breeze. “Lorinda, I think while we were away, someone came in from outside and took the will!”
