Mistletoe and Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

carts.” Felicity’s lips quirked at Daisy’s dismay. “Or the pony-trap. It’s not used much in winter because of the state of the roads, but I expect they’d bring the pony in from pasture for a dowager viscountess. That’s what your mother is, isn’t she?”
    Daisy laughed. “Yes, and my sister Violet is Lady John.”
    â€œLet me tell the Pardon,” Felicity begged. “It would be too frightfully amusing to give her an order she couldn’t refuse.”
    â€œOh, right-oh.”
    â€œYou must think we’re all mad. You see, we’re poor relations, like the girl in white, only here on suffrance. Except Gran, that is. The sixth earl’s will gives her the right to live at Brockdene all her life. When she dies, the rest of us get booted out.”
    â€œWhat a beastly position to be in.”
    â€œOh well,” Felicity said with indifference, real or assumed, Daisy wasn’t sure, “I expect I’ll be married by then, and Miles will be qualified. Gran may be tiny but she’s healthy as a horse, good for years yet. My parents take very good care of her, I can tell you, though otherwise they bury their heads in the sand. Miles is really the only sane one among us.”
    â€œMiles?”

    â€œMy brother. He’ll be home to dinner. He’s an articled clerk in my grandfather’s office in Calstock. Grandpapa is a solicitor. I suppose he and Miles will have to support the parents and Jemima sooner or later. He put Miles through school, and we couldn’t get by without the dress allowance he gives Mother. The annuity the sixth earl left Gran doesn’t go far these days. Not much of the so-called ‘dress’ allowance gets spent on clothes, I can tell you.”
    â€œWhat beautiful work your grandmother does, though,” Daisy said diplomatically.
    Felicity looked down at her dress. “Yes, too clever, isn’t it? Her knitting, too. She tried to teach me, but I haven’t the patience for it. Which doesn’t get me out of my share of the mending. Jemima’s not bad at knitting, for a kid. At least, Daddy will wear what she produces.”
    â€œThe green waistcoat,” Daisy guessed.
    â€œMost of its sins are hidden by his jacket,” Felicity said with a grin. “I’m so glad you came to stay, Daisy. Most of the people Westmoor drops into our midst are musty old historians. Sometimes I think I’d do absolutely anything to get away from this place! Just having someone to talk to … I’m actually looking forward to Christmas!”
    â€œSo am I,” said Daisy, with partial truth. Derek and Bel and Derek’s little brother would be fun; her mother and Alec’s would just have to be borne. “But I’ve got to get some work done before the others arrive. Are there spills to light the lantern?”
    Felicity found spills by the fireplace. The lantern improved visibility no end, and Felicity had learnt enough from her father to give Daisy quite as much information as she needed. They went around the Hall examining crossbows and wheel-lock pistols, breastplates and lobster-tail
helmets, Indian sabres and a Zulu shield, a whale’s jawbones and the head of an albatross.
    â€œAnd there’s the squint,” said Felicity, holding the lantern high when they reached the west wall.
    â€œSquint?”
    â€œNever tell me Daddy didn’t show you his pride and joy!” She pointed at a hole in the wall above their heads.
    â€œI did rather rush him around. What is it?”
    â€œA peephole. It’s in a niche behind the arras in the South Room, which used to be part of the solar—the mediaeval family’s living quarters. The lord of the manor could look down on his retainers and make sure they were behaving themselves. There’s another one giving onto the Chapel, so that the lady of the manor could attend services without having to mix with the