An Impossible Confession Read Online Free PDF

a way with words, sir.’
    ‘Oh, I do, believe me. Your health, Mrs Brown.’ He raised his glass.
    ‘And yours, Lord Drummond.’ She raised hers as well.
    The mutton was very succulent indeed, the vegetables cooked to perfection, and the gravy light and tasty; the conversation,however, was soon uncomfortable for her again.
    Lord Drummond smiled at her. ‘Are you en route for town, Mrs Brown?’
    ‘For Ascot.’
    ‘To be in good time for the races?’
    ‘To live there.’
    ‘By coincidence I shall shortly be temporarily residing six miles away at Windsor, I’ve taken 5 King Henry Crescent while my Berkeley Square property has gas lighting installed. Perhaps our paths will cross, for I understand Ascot shops in Windsor.’
    ‘I think it highly unlikely we’ll meet, my lord, for I do not intend to go to Windsor.’ It was the second fib, for she knew that Margaret shopped a great deal in that town, and that therefore she would too.
    His glance moved briefly over her. ‘Where will you be residing in Ascot?’
    This was dreadful. ‘I – I believe it’s somewhere near the racecourse ,’ she replied vaguely.
    ‘Don’t you know?’ he asked in surprise.
    ‘No, as it happens, I don’t. A property has been obtained for me by my solicitor.’ The Cat and Fiddle tarradiddles were coming thick and fast now.
    ‘I see. Well, since you’re going to be close to the racecourse, I can only imagine you have an interest in the turf. Am I right?’
    ‘I don’t know the first thing about horseracing,’ she replied, at last managing to be honest.
    ‘You’ll be the only such soul in Ascot.’
    ‘Are you a racing man, Lord Drummond?’ she asked, her fingers crossed beneath the table that he wasn’t, for if he was, he’d probably know Gregory.
    ‘I used to be,’ he replied shortly.
    This was no mistaking the abrupt edge that had entered his voice. She began to uncross her fingers. ‘You aren’t now?’
    ‘I attend the races, but I no longer own racehorses.’
    ‘May I be so bold as to ask why?’
    ‘My name was involved in an unpleasant cause célèbre last summer, and the experience was enough to persuade me to withdraw . My presence at Royal Ascot this year will undoubtedly raisea great many eyebrows, and if it hadn’t been for my sister, Lady Bowes-Fenton, I’d have stayed away, but she persuaded me that nonattendance would be construed in some quarters as proof of a guilty conscience.’
    She stared. ‘It sounds very serious, Lord Drummond.’
    ‘It’s ancient history to me now, and to those who matter to me. The rest can think what they choose.’
    She wondered what it was all about, but only briefly, for she was too concerned about one discomforting fact; he was going to be attending Royal Ascot. She would be as well, and not only that, she’d be rather conspicuous in the Bourne private box, which was second only to the royal stand itself in importance. Mary’s warnings were suddenly beginning to sound ominously appropriate, and she, Helen, was beginning to wish she hadn’t invented Mrs Brown, but had elected to tell the truth from the outset. She managed a smile, however, in an effort not only to hide her own unease, but to smooth over the awkwardness that had arisen in the conversation. ‘I – I may not know anything about horseracing, Lord Drummond, but since I understand the queen herself likes to place a bet or three, perhaps I will be allowed a similar indulgence. Do you have a tip for me?’
    ‘Do I look like a knowing one, Mrs Brown?’ he asked, smiling a little.
    ‘I really have no idea, sir.’
    ‘Well, it so happens that there is one piece of advice I can give you, and that is to follow horses owned by Colonel Gregory Bourne.’
    Helen couldn’t hide the start this caused her; indeed, she was caught so off guard that she dropped her knife and fork with a clatter.
    He looked at her in concern. ‘Are you all right, Mrs Brown?’
    ‘Er, yes. Quite all right, I – I just thought I