Chapter 28

“What’s going on, Elsie?”

“You’re to stay out of everybody’s business, dear. You’re a troublemaker. A bad girl.”

Eliza shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I saw you outside on the verandah today with Mr. Ford.” She shook her head, disappointed. “He’s not your husband.”

“What? You’re aiming a gun at my head because Ford kissed me?”

“Get upstairs,” Elsie said, pointing to the hallway. “Go on, go on, move. Of course, it’s not just because of your inappropriate and loose behavior. I was told to keep you out of the way.”

“Out of the way of what? By who? Please, Elsie, I thought we were friends—”

“What? Oh yes, friends. Friends. Well, we are.” She waved the gun. “If I fire this again, we’ll probably both go deaf.”

“Where’s your husband, Elsie?” Eliza asked as she backed up the stairs, unwilling to turn away from the other woman, even for a second.

“Outside, somewhere. Go on into your room.”