Cat Among the Pigeons Read Online Free PDF Page B

suppose thou must be the little African brother whom Sister Elizabeth told us about.’ Her two companions followed meekly and sat either side of her.
    â€˜I suppose I am, ma’am,’ said Pedro.
    The lady now turned to inspect me. ‘And, child, who art thou?’
    Her antique manner of speaking marked her out as a Quaker. Mrs Reid had told me about them: they were an odd religious group who worshipped by sitting in silence. (Mrs Reid hadgone on to add that she wished I would convert as I never gave her a moment’s peace.)
    â€˜Catherine Royal, ma’am,’ I said, having regained my composure. ‘From the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.’
    â€˜Ah, the orphan,’ said the lady, turning to her companions with a grave nod of her head. ‘That explains it. Well, Sister Catherine, Brother Pedro, please join us.’ She waved to two footstools near her skirts. ‘I am Miss Miller; this is my sister, Miss Prudence Miller.’ The second lady bobbed her head. ‘And this is my youngest sister, Miss Fortitude Miller.’ The third lady gave us a shy nod. ‘We are here on behalf of the brethren from Clapham. But we are all brothers and sisters before the Lord, are we not?’
    â€˜I . . . er . . . yes, I suppose so,’ I agreed, glancing at Pedro to see what he was making of all this.
    The door now opened again and let in a gaggle of men and women, most of them dressedin similarly sombre colours. Miss Miller began to introduce everyone, but there was so much brother this and sister that – I couldn’t keep up. Lizzie came to our rescue, fluttering into the room in a beautiful blue gown, a tropical bird among the sparrows.
    â€˜So sorry to keep you waiting,’ she said to her expectant guests. Turning to Pedro and me, she added, ‘Sorry, dinner overran as it so often does when Mama’s here. She’ll be here in a minute. Have you met everyone?’
    The visitors seated themselves in a circle, leaving Pedro and me stranded on footstools in the centre. Lizzie took a chair just behind us. Joseph and another footman came in with trays of refreshments. He tipped me a wink as he offered me a cup.
    â€˜Thank you all for coming,’ said Lizzie, rising to her feet. ‘Papa sends his apologies – he has business in the House tonight. He said we should start without him.’
    Miss Miller gave an important little coughand took out a sheaf of paper. ‘It falls to me then to read out the minutes of the last meeting for your approval.’
    She was halfway through a tedious recital of progress on collecting signatures for petitions when the door was flung open and the duchess glided into the room, resplendent in lemon yellow and diamonds.
    â€˜Good evening, everyone,’ she boomed, nodding to acknowledge the men, who had risen on her entrance. ‘Done the dull stuff yet, eh? Can we hear from the boy now?’ She swooped down on me and planted a scented kiss on my cheek. ‘I’m especially pleased to see you again, my dear. Don’t forget to stay behind to keep me abreast of the gossip from Drury Lane!’
    Miss Fortitude Miller gave a little gasp.
    â€˜Your grace, we had not quite finished reading through the minutes,’ said Miss Miller senior primly.
    â€˜Oh, you can cut all that. We all approve them, don’t we?’ Those present meekly mumbledtheir agreement. ‘Splendid. Then let’s hear the boy’s story.’ She took her place in the armchair that had been reserved for her and looked expectantly at Pedro.
    Pedro appealed to Lizzie. ‘Story? I didn’t know I had to speak. I thought these people were going to help me.’
    Lizzie blushed. ‘They are, but they want to hear from you first.’
    Pedro looked across at me a shade desperately. An intensely private person, I knew he hated talking about his past but there didn’t seem anything for it. I gave a tiny shrug. He got up,