Mad About the Boy? Read Online Free PDF

I’m sorry. It’s just . . . Oh hell, can’t you guess?’
    â€˜Isabelle?’
    Stanton nodded and drew deeply on his cigarette. ‘It’s all over. Skittled out.’ He raised his glass. ‘Here’s to Smith-Fennimore. Looks, talent, charm and now the best damn girl in the world. What the hell. I knew I didn’t stand a chance.’ He straightened his shoulders and gave a wobbly smile. ‘Women, Jack, are the devil. God, listen to me. Trite and clichéd by turns. Irresistible.’
    â€˜Arthur, don’t,’ begged Haldean. ‘Go easy on yourself.’
    Stanton shrugged. ‘I’ll get over it.’ He took another sip of water. ‘It’s the only thing I can do.’
    They smoked in silence, listening to the popping of fireworks in the distance. As they faded, Haldean crushed out his second cigarette. ‘I suppose I’d better be getting back,’ he said apologetically. ‘If you want to slope off, I’m sure it’ll be all right.’
    â€˜Slope off?’ Stanton shook his head. ‘I can’t do that.’ The fireworks exploded in a tremendous final crash. There was a long pause, then the music started again. ‘Let’s go. I’ll have to face her again sometime.’
    By an unlucky chance the first couple they saw on the dance floor were Isabelle and Smith-Fennimore. Looking at the physical grace with which they moved, Haldean couldn’t help thinking they made a genuinely striking pair. Stanton heaved a deep sigh and was about to walk away when the music stopped and the dancers applauded.
    Sir Philip, who had been giving a very creditable account of himself on the dance floor, saw Haldean and walked over to him. ‘Ah, Jack, m’boy. I’ve been looking for you, and you, Captain Stanton. You play golf, don’t you. Captain? Good. There’s a new links a couple of miles down the coast and Alice and I thought we could get up a party for everyone who was staying for a few days.’
    Isabelle and Smith-Fennimore joined them. ‘Are you talking about golf, Dad?’ She gave Stanton a determinedly level look. ‘I didn’t get a chance to mention it to you, Arthur, but I think it’s a lovely idea.’
    â€˜Yes, I . . .’ began Sir Philip, then stopped in surprise.
    The butler, Egerton, had come quickly into the room. He looked red and flustered and, when he saw Sir Philip, visibly relieved. ‘Sir Philip! Sir Philip! Thank goodness I’ve found you, sir!’
    Sir Philip looked at him. ‘Well, here I am, man. What’s the matter? Spit it out.’
    Egerton actually clutched at Sir Philip’s arm. ‘It’s Adamson, sir, Lord Lyvenden’s man. He’s just been to his master’s room to prepare it for the night and he found Mr Preston.’
    â€˜Well, why shouldn’t he find Mr Preston? He’s all right, isn’t he?’
    â€˜No, sir.’ Egerton could hardly get the words out. ‘Oh sir . . . He’s shot himself!’

Chapter Two
    Haldean followed his uncle and Stanton into Lord Lyvenden’s room. No one spoke. It was as if they were afraid of disturbing the man at the desk. He realized he’d hoped that Egerton had made a mistake or that Tim had been playing some sort of silly joke. That would be just like Tim, but the stillness of the body shocked him. Haldean looked at the body sprawled in the absurd angles of death, forcing himself to take in the details.
    Preston was slumped in a chair pulled up to the desk. Lord Lyvenden had used his bedroom as his office and Preston lay half on the desk, his right leg stuck out awkwardly by the chair and his arms flung wide. A note, the suicide note, lay by Preston’s sprawled left arm. Haldean picked up the note, read it quickly and sighed. So money was behind it all. Poor devil. He knew he was looking at the note so he didn’t have to look at Tim. Because Tim wasn’t