Sheer Folly Read Online Free PDF Page A

admonitory gaze, however, when it looked as if Lucy was about to accept a second cocktail. It really was a bit early for drinks.
    â€œHadn’t we better go up to our rooms, Lucy?” Daisy suggested. “You wanted to get your frock ironed before changing for dinner, didn’t you?”
    Mrs. Howell looked horrified. She prised herself from her chair, saying, “Oh dear, Mrs. Fletcher, I’m afraid your room may not be ready. I must go and have a word with the housekeeper.”
    â€œWhy don’t I take you both up to Lucy’s room?” Julia gracefully extracted her arm from Rydal’s grasp. “It’s next to mine. Willett can iron Lucy’s frock for her, can’t she, Mother? They came in Lucy’s sports car and didn’t have room for her maid.”
    â€œOf course,” said Lady Beaufort with a gracious nod.
    Mrs. Howell scuttled out ahead of the three young ladies. She was disappearing into the nether regions as Julia led the others into the hall and up the grand staircase.
    â€œWhat was all that about, Daisy?” Lucy demanded as they ascended. “When that woman said your room wasn’t ready, you looked as if you were about to burst, trying not to laugh. It’s disgraceful. They’ve known we were coming for ages!”
    Daisy let a giggle escape. “It was so funny! Mrs. Howell apparently hadn’t realised my august antecedents, until Lady Beaufort asked after Mother. She’s probably put me up in the garrets with the servants. It suddenly dawned on her, when I said we’d go up, that it wouldn’t do.”
    Julia smiled, but Lucy was inclined to take umbrage on Daisy’s behalf.
    â€œCalm down, darling. The garret room is pure fantasy.” Daisy wished she’d kept it to herself. “Besides, if you want to stay longenough to photograph the grotto, you can’t go accusing Mrs. Howell of insulting me. She can’t help being a snob.”
    â€œShe is one, though,” said Julia, turning left on the landing. “You wouldn’t believe the treatment she puts up with from Rhino, without a murmur. He acts as if she’s the housekeeper she’s so anxious not to be taken for.”
    Daisy slipped her arm through Julia’s. “I hope you’re going to tell us all about Rhino and everything. I’m dying to hear what’s up.”
    â€œNothing’s ‘up,’ ” Julia said grimly, as she opened a door off the passage, “and won’t be if I can help it. Here’s Lucy’s room. I’ll just pop into to mine and ring for Willett. Back in half a tick, then we can catch up on each other’s news.”
    Lucy went ahead into her bedroom. “The Beauforts know you married a policeman,” she said. “
I
didn’t tell them, but Lady Beaufort kept up with the English papers while they were living in France.”
    â€œDarling, half the world knows I married a policeman.”
    â€œWhat they
don’t
know is that you keep getting mixed up in his cases.”
    â€œYou’re the only person who knows about more than one or two of those. Except Scotland Yard, of course, and they do their best to hush it up.”
    â€œThank heaven!”
    â€œDon’t you think it’s really very unfair that I never get any credit for all the help I give them?”
    â€œNo! You’re not going to tell Julia, are you?”
    â€œWhy not? I’m sure she’s not the gossipy kind.”
    â€œDaisy!”
    â€œJust teasing, darling.” With a mournful sigh, Daisy continued, “I’m quite used to hiding my light under a bushel. I don’t suppose anyone at Appsworth Hall will ever have a chance to find out what a brilliant sleuth I am.”

 
FOUR
    Lucy’s bedroom
was a typical Edwardian country-house guest room. Daisy guessed the Pritchards must have taken over the furnishings along with the house from the previous owners. Things had