Gunpowder Plot Read Online Free PDF Page B

Detective Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard, it came as quite a relief. Besides, she’d actually given up on me long before, when I chose to work for a living instead of joining her at the Dower House. Gosh, when I think what life would have been like if I’d given in! Either we’d have squabbled constantly or I’d have become a doormat.”
    “I can’t imagine that.”
    “No, more likely I’d have turned into a sour old cat. Just think, I’d never have met Alec. Lucy and I survived on eggs, sardines, and cheese for a couple of years, but we had a lot of fun.”
    “Have you seen much of Lucy since she married Lord Gerald?”
    “We’ve dined with them a couple of times, and we’ve been to the theatre. It’s difficult to arrange evening engagements— Alec works such unpredictable hours. I lunch with Lucy in town now and then. She’s still photographing away, but now that she doesn’t have to worry about making a living, she can choose her subjects. I think she’s very happy. It’s not always easy to tell with Lucy.”
    “I must admit, she used to rather terrify me at school, the way she mocked everything.”
    “Including herself. That’s Lucy.”
    They went on to talk about other school friends until it was time to dress for dinner.
    When Daisy went down to the drawing room, only Jack and Miller were there, standing beside a tray of drinks. She heard Miller say, “To tell the truth, I’d rather have a beer, but I hope I know better by now than to ask for one.”
    “Not at all, my dear chap. I’ll ring for Jennings. . . .”
    “Good Lord, no! I’d hate to be responsible for the old fellow taking a step more than he need.”
    In time, one might cease to notice the intrusive g, Daisy supposed.
    Jack laughed. “Right-oh, have a gin and It.”
    “No, thanks. Give me a sherry, a very small one.”
    “Here, but you needn’t drink it. We’ll stroll down to the Three Ravens after dinner for a pint or two.”
    “As a matter of fact, I was thinking of hopping it after dinner. I’m only making things worse, for both you and Miss Gwen.”
    “Miller, you can’t leave now!” Swinging round to confront his friend, Jack caught sight of Daisy, who had hesitated on the threshold. “Hullo, Mrs. Fletcher, what can I offer you? A cocktail? Don’t tell me you despise them, like my father and this old fuddy-duddy here.”
    “As a matter of fact, it’s sherry I dislike.”
    “So do I. What’s it to be?” He turned back to eye the drinks tray with dissatisfaction. “Not that there’s a great deal of choice. Gin and It?”
    “Could you manage just a drop of It, with soda? Oh, you have Dubonnet. That would be nice, a small one.”
    “Coming up, one Dubonnet. By the way, I expect you heard us planning an excursion to the local pub after dinner. Would you care to pop down with us? It’s quite a nice inn actually, though most frightfully rural and full of yokels. But Babs is going down to meet a couple of our tenant farmers, and if you come, I’m sure Gwen will, too.”
    “I’d like to.” Daisy remembered the hill. “There’s a footpath to the village, isn’t there? We wouldn’t have to walk right round by the road. I’m sure I could make it down, but oh dear, I’m not sure about walking back up all those steps.”
    Jack blushed, his glance flashing involuntarily to her middle. “Oh, of course, sorry! But that’s all right; I’ll run you down and back in the old bus.” He looked at Miller, who gave a resigned shrug. “Good, we’ll all go down, then. Oh Lord, here’s Addie. I hope she doesn’t decide to come with us.”
    Adelaide, like her sisters, took after their mother, but she was plump— a condition with which Daisy entirely sympathized— and her mouth was set in a permanent pout of discontent. Her income might not run to a public school for her sons, but it apparently covered the latest in London fashion, if not Paris. Her pale green silk crepe frock was embroidered with gold and crystal