Tea and Scandal Read Online Free PDF

to see his last resting place — while he was alive, I mean, for of course, I often visit his grave. Well, two or three times. Once, actually, but I took some flowers. ”
    Fenwick saw he had overestimated Swann ’ s potential as a conspirator. “ Actually, Swann was hoping for a keepsake, Lady Pargeter. Nothing valuable like his watch, but some trifle — a favorite book of poetry, perhaps, in which he had jotted down his thoughts. ”
    “Pargeter never read a poem in his life,” Lady Pargeter said comprehensively. “He was reading the Farmer’s Almanac the day before he died. I gave it to the bailiff. There was an article on some new sheep Pargeter meant to discuss with him. If you would like a cravat pin, I would be happy to give you one as a memento. I shall ask Broome to fetch it. ”
    “ Allow me, ” Swann said, with a triumphant smile at Fenwick. “ I know just where he kept them. ”
    Fenwick noticed that Lady Pargeter and Jane exchanged a meaningful look.
    They both realized there was some mischief afoot. Fay knew that Swann hadn ’ t a sentimental bone in his body. He was no blood relation to Pargeter, nor had they been especially close. Swann ’ s mama and Lady Pargeter had been cousins — but he hadn ’ t wanted any keepsake of Lizzie. What he wanted was to get into Pargeter ’ s bedroom and snoop to see what he could find to take back to Lady Sykes and her lawyer. Not that he would find anything.
    “ Miss Lonsdale will go with you, ” Fay said, with a gracious nod of her head.
    “ Very kind of you, ” Swann replied, smiling fondly at Jane. Fate seemed to be throwing the young lady into his path.
    Fenwick rose when Jane stood up. As if on impulse, he said to Lady Pargeter, “May I accompany them above stairs?” When she frowned, he rushed in with an excuse. “I have not been at Wildercliffe for some years. I should like to refresh my memories of it. A fine house, Lady Pargeter, ”
    “ Certainly, Lord Fenwick. We shall all go, ” she said, and accepted his assistance from her seat.
    She noticed the tightening of his jaw, which sat ill with his efforts at a smile. Oh yes, he was up to something, right enough, but he would have to get up early in the morning to outwit her.
    The group, led by Lady Pargeter, proceeded up the grand staircase and along a corridor to the master bedroom. Swann walked with Jane behind Fay. Fenwick brought up the rear. He noticed how small Jane ’ s waist was, and the interesting swaying of her hips. Over her shoulder, he made a few comments on paintings and carving as they went, to lend credence to his request to view the house.
    Lady Pargeter entered the master bedroom first and drew back the heavy curtains. A rich but gloomy chamber came into view.
    “I can see why you wouldn’t want to sleep here after Pargeter died,” Swann said. That struck him as implying the lady had enjoyed sleeping there with Pargeter. He felt he should modify it in some manner and added, “Not to say you enjoyed it before he died.” This was even worse. “Not to say you didn’t enjoy it. Not that it ’ s any of my business one way or t ’ other, ” he finished, blushing.
    “ What beautiful carving! ” Fenwick said, rather hastily, and walked forward to the canopied bed. “ Grinling Gibbons, is it? ” He ran his fingers over an indifferent carving of a vine crawling up the bedpost, to terminate in a griffin.
    “ I ’ ve no idea, ” Lady Pargeter said, rather snappishly, and strode to the dresser. “ Here is Pargeter ’ s trinket box. Help yourself, Mr. Swann. ”
    Fenwick ’ s sharp eyes darted around the room. He saw no evidence of senility. Everything was as it should be. But then, the chamber had obviously been tidied up after Pargeter ’ s death. While Swann made his selection from the jewelry box, Fenwick lifted the skirt of the canopied bed and peered under it, thinking a toy might have escaped detection by the servants, but there was nothing there save the