The Hunt (A Case for Frey & McGray) Read Online Free PDF Page A

arrived. I’ve brought you home.’
    Adolphus pretended not to hear. He did not want to wake up to that world. Not yet.
    Dr Clouston sighed. ‘All right, I will help Amy first and then I’ll come back.’
    Adolphus heard him descend. His little sister – nicknamed Pansy, as her wide, dark eyes and thick lashes resembled her mother’s favourite flower – had travelled in a second carriage, knocked out by Clouston’s most potent laudanum, her hands and feet tied up with bandages.
    Just thinking of that made Adolphus weep, and a nasty shudder ran through his body. He instinctively raised his right hand to wipe the tears, but then he saw the bulky bandaging and the blood stains.
    He still had that image imprinted in his memory. Not of his dead parents, or of his sister stabbing his hand, but of that – creature.
    It could not be real. None of it.
    He thought he would wait, just for a moment, to calm down, and as soon as he pulled himself together he would step out and help Clouston carry Pansy into the house. It would take one minute.
    Unfortunately he did not get the chance. He heard a third carriage enter the square of Moray Place, its horses galloping and neighing wildly.
    Adolphus caught a glimpse through his carriage door, and saw that it was a large coach: an elegant landau, lustre black, with its bellows top folded back. It was, despite his misfortunes, a fine summer morning.
    Immediately he heard yelling. George, the old butler, was cursing and even the refined Dr Clouston was shouting furiously.
    ‘
How dare you?
’ Adolphus heard him yell. ‘How dare you come right now?’
    A female voice he knew well retorted, and Adolphus had to shake off his grief.
    As he jumped down Adolphus saw the tall figure of Lady Glass, still dressed in mourning. Her adult son had died some six months ago, and even though she conformed to the colour etiquette, she also sported the widest hat adorned with black plumes and stuffed birds.
    Alistair Ardglass, her very chubby nephew, was helping her down from their carriage. The old lady seemed as anxious about exposing her ankles as she was about damaging the ostrich feathers of her flamboyant fan.
    ‘What d’youse want?’ Adolphus cried, even though he knew. He felt a surge of burning rage ascend from his stomach; they were already coming to scavenge his family estate.
    The old woman’s eyes fixed on Adolphus’s hand. She fanned herself as if trying to cleanse the air before her nose. ‘Young man …’
    ‘Don’t give me that condescending shite. I’m twenty-five years old.’
    Lady Anne smiled sardonically. ‘Very well,
Mr
Adolphus Mc – Oh, silly me! You are now the
only
Mr McGray.’ She basked in those words. ‘I come to regain possession of this residence.’
    ‘
Fuck off!
’
    Lady Anne faltered, as if the words had been a physical blow.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Adolphus said. ‘Have ye been lifting yer flask this early, Lady Glass?’
    ‘This property still belongs to my aunt,’ Alistair intervened, his tone even more arrogant than the old woman’s. ‘Your father paid her less than half, and since he’s passed away we are within our rights to repossess.’
    ‘We can afford to pay it off, ye fat bastard!’
    ‘That is not the point,’ said Lady Anne. ‘I want my property back. I regret ever offering it to the likes of you.’
    ‘And I’m sorry my dad ever made business with such a drunken bitch.’
    Alistair jumped up. ‘Don’t talk to my aunt like that, you filthy shack-dweller.’
    Adolphus thrust a punch right into her nephew’s chubby face. Alistair fell backwards on to Lady Anne’s bosom, and would have received a good beating, but Adolphus had thrown the punch with his injured hand.
    ‘
Damn it!
’ he yelled, feeling the stitches burst. He nearly lost his balance, but Clouston caught him.
    The doctor’s voice was a deep, menacing growl. ‘Lady Anne, you had better leave now, if you know what’s best for you!’
    ‘Doctor, do not force me