Slaughter in the Cotswolds

Slaughter in the Cotswolds Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Slaughter in the Cotswolds Read Online Free PDF
Author: Rebecca Tope
clothes, and I can only do it at weekends. I should be sitting him down and making a proper list, not falling apart here.’
    ‘You’re not falling apart, don’t be silly,’ Thea argued. ‘It wouldn’t be very realistic to think youcould just pretend nothing had happened. What sort of message would that give the boys? They’ll be missing Dad as well.’
    Waiting for the pheasants to cook, they doggedly forced themselves to stay with the painful subject of bereavement. Emily seemed determined to confront what she saw as an imperfect relationship with her father, dating back to her failure to adopt his values or interests. ‘He always wanted me to make better use of my brain,’ she said. ‘To go into science and do some good in the world.’ She sniffed. ‘And I could never rid myself of the notion that most of the world’s problems are rooted in science. I made him so angry .’
    ‘You didn’t do it on purpose.’
    ‘Maybe not, but he thought I did. And then you married Carl, who was the embodiment of Dad’s ideas. All that ecological stuff – it was wonderful for him. It left me even further out of the magic circle. My husband’s a financial consultant, for heaven’s sake.’
    ‘Dad didn’t mind,’ Thea insisted. ‘You’re projecting too much onto him. He wasn’t at all judgmental. He liked Bruce and he adored your boys.’
    ‘Not as much as he liked Carl and Jessica. Oh, Thea – I feel so bloody guilty. I thought there’d be time to put it all straight and earn hisapproval. And now it’s too late. It feels so awful .’
    It made quite a lot of sense to Thea, as she meditated on the family history as she remembered it. ‘You just have to go with it, I suppose,’ she said vaguely. ‘Wait for it all to settle down again.’
    Emily twirled a strand of hair around a finger, like a fifteen-year-old. Outside, heavy rain had set in, thundering loudly on the tin roof of the barn. A glance at the clock told Thea it was high time she peeled some potatoes.
     
    The meal was a modest success. ‘Could have done with another hour on a slow heat,’ said Emily. ‘I’d have told you if you asked me. I did pheasant a few weeks ago for a dinner party. The flavour needs to come out with long slow cooking.’
    ‘Thanks. I’ll remember that for next time,’ said Thea lightly. ‘At least it’s edible.’
    ‘It’s really quite nice,’ said Emily graciously. ‘Much better than I expected. Though it’s a pity there’s no wine.’ She ate quickly, and in half an hour it was all over, including an apple and coffee.
    ‘I think the Angells are teetotal,’ said Thea. ‘And it didn’t occur to me to bring any booze with me.’
    ‘Just as well, I suppose, since I’ve got to drive.’
    ‘Look at that rain!’ said Thea. ‘You’d muchbetter stay the night, instead of setting off into that. It’s getting quite dark.’
    ‘No, I’m not staying the night,’ said Emily. ‘I can’t face the idea of that bat. I don’t want to put you off, but I don’t like the atmosphere in this house. There’s something dingy about it. Cobwebs and things going rusty and inches of fluff under the beds. It’ll give me asthma if I try to sleep here.’ She put a hand to her bronchial area. ‘I can feel it already.’
    ‘OK,’ said Thea, trying to suppress the disappointment. It didn’t seem very fair of her sister to invade like this and then abruptly leave again, with no thought for the effect she was having. Thea had not wanted family business to intrude on the Lower Slaughter job, especially so soon after getting there. Emily’s feelings towards their father verged on the critical at times, which Thea found surprisingly upsetting. As far as she was concerned, he’d been perfect, and her sister had no right to jeopardise that comforting belief. After all, Emily herself had been a scratchy and even downright arrogant daughter at times. She’d always been a poor listener, disinclined to take the other person’s
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

High Wild Desert

Ralph Cotton

Jacky Daydream

Jacqueline Wilson

The Postman

David Brin

Promise Me Forever

Lorraine Heath

The Brahms Deception

Louise Marley

Follow You Home

Mark Edwards