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Page 42
it was wrong to encourage Gertrude to gossip, but she was curious and the information, which would certainly go no farther, might be invaluable to her.
"Oh, no!" Gertrude flashed a glance over her shoulder. "Mr. Peter is the kindest person alive." Then she laughed involuntarily. "Although he does make the biggest messes whenever he's around. Seems he can't come in the house but he spills something or breaks something. Fair drives madam wild, he does." The smile faded and the maid's mouth thinned. "It's not him. It's those othersMr. Bates's niece Rose-Anne and that twin brother of hers. Get this, do thatand never a thank-you out of them."
"I've never met them." Linda kept her voice neutral.
"You will," Gertrude said threateningly. "Always sucking around Mrs. Bates, they are." Her eyes were angry. "Couple of vultures. Asking auntie how she feels every few minuteshoping she'll say she's dying, that's what they're hoping."
"My goodness," Linda remarked.
She was not, of course, taking Gertrude's words literally because she knew that longtime servants could become very possessive and jealous. Still, there might be some truth in it. If this Rose-Anne and Donaldit must be the same couple Mrs. Bates had mentionedwere not well off, there might be a touch of expectation in their attentions even if they were truly fond of their aunt.

 
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