The Stone House Read Online Free PDF

like hugging him for his good sense.
    The food and the wine worked and she felt relaxed and at ease, noticing Patrick ditch his jacket on the back of his chair as he unwound. Sometimes she forgot how handsome her husband was. Seeing him every day it was easy to take his six-foot-five-inch height and good looks for granted. It was only the reaction of otherwomen to his sheer physical presence that reminded her. Looking around at all the other men, there was no competition. Patrick was just Patrick. He smiled at her and for an instant it was as if they were the only two at the table. He was a master at that – turning on the charm and making whatever female he had his eye on feel special. She had seen him do it so often and was conscious of the effect he had on women of all ages. Just because he was playing the adoring husband, faithful and true, in front of his colleagues, it meant nothing. She ignored him and turned her attention to Hilary who was asking about the children.
    â€˜I heard your eldest has just started in St Andrew’s. How is he liking it?’
    Moya flushed. Gavin going to an expensive private school so far from home was a bone of contention between herself and Patrick. She would have preferred him to be educated at one of the good boys’ schools close by.
    â€˜It’s taking time, Hilary, but he’s settling in,’ interrupted Patrick. ‘He played rugby last term and I think next term it will be cricket.’
    â€˜So he’s sporty!’
    â€˜Look at your boys, how well they turned out,’ he added. ‘Gavin is very privileged to have been accepted by St Andrew’s and, all going well, Danny will follow in his footsteps.’
    Moya said nothing. She was the one who had dealt with Gavin’s pleading to stay with his pals and not to move to a new school where he knew nobody. To her mind there wasn’t the remotest chance of sending Danny, their youngest, there. Patrick had notions aboutwhat was the right and correct thing to do without taking their own family needs into consideration. He worked so hard – long hours in the office, after hours, at weekends, entertaining clients, touting for new business – that it was no wonder he was remote from the family, a distant father who expected to control things.
    She was relieved when the dinner talk turned to the gory details of Eleanor’s new book and the possibility of it being turned into a television series.
    â€˜That would be wonderful,’ gushed Ruth, who was a big fan.
    â€˜You never believe those film and TV types till the deal is done,’ added Dudley.
    â€˜I was thinking I might be like Hitchcock and ask for a walk-on extra role,’ teased Eleanor, deliberately. Poor Dudley cringed at the thought of his wife on TV. The rest of the dinner table was in absolute kinks of laughter.
    â€˜Don’t mind her, Dudley,’ soothed Hilary, knowing full well that her best friend was quite capable of such an eccentric request.
    Moya secretly hoped she would as it would drive the senior partners in the firm crazy.
    The plates were just being cleared when Moya was called to the phone.
    She jumped up immediately and Poppy showed her to the phone in the hall. Out of politeness, all their mobiles had been either switched off or left at home and she prayed there wasn’t some absolute calamity at home.
    â€˜Yes,’ she said as she grabbed at the receiver.
    â€˜Moya, it’s Kate. I’ve some bad news about Mum.’
    She flushed. She hadn’t spoken to her sister for an age and she leaned against the wood panelling as Kate told her about their mother.
    â€˜I’d left a message but you hadn’t replied so Fiona gave me your mobile number and the number of where you are. You are coming?’
    â€˜I’ll get a flight as soon as I can and hire a car. You just stay with her, Kate, and I’ll get there as soon as I can, promise.’
    She closed her eyes,