The Villa of Death: A Mystery Featuring Daphne du Maurier (Daphne du Maurier Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page B

explain.”
    “There’s nothing to explain,” I hissed. “You had better attend to Lady Lara, sir. I am sure she is looking for you.”
    “Daphne, you don’t understand. Yes, she’s my fiancée,” his savage whisper swept past my face. “But only publicly. I had intended to let you know—”
    “That would have been nice.”
    “—but the details are delicate. I didn’t want to speak to you until I was officially at liberty to do so.”
    “Speak what?” I demanded. “We are only friends, Major. Not even; acquaintances. ”
    “We are more than friends.”
    “No, we are not. What you have done is unforgivable.” I put up my hand. “No, don’t speak. Don’t breathe another word.”
    On seeing my father, I rushed to his side. In his concern for me, he did not see the major standing there ashen-faced, but my mother did. She remained silent all the way to our room until I was safely tucked into bed.
    “My poor girl, what a shock for you…”
    She’d known about the major’s letters. She had hoped, like I. She had waited for an announcement or omission of some kind and when no omission arrived, naturally commenced her matchmaking venture.
    “I don’t know what to say.”
    I drew my knees up to my chin. “There’s nothing to say. Yes, he’s engaged and she’s Lady Lara Fane, daughter of the earl of Rutland. She’s beautiful, too; did you see?”
    Sighing, my mother sat on the edge of my bed. Her furrowed brow deepened. “He’s treated you abominably. I will have your father say a word to him.”
    “Oh, no, don’t! Promise me you won’t. That would be too humiliating.”
    “What did he say to you at the door?”
    “I don’t know. I was too angry to listen and I don’t care. The sooner they leave the better. They’re not staying here the night, are they?”
    “I don’t think so. Shall I go and find out?”
    “Yes, do,” I enthused. “I can’t stand it if they are. Ellen would have told me, wouldn’t she?”
    “Brides have a lot on their minds, my dearest.”
    She left me and I went to sit on my parents’ bed. I had planned to lie there and wait for her return but I couldn’t help myself. Turning off the light, I headed out to the balcony. I don’t know why. Did I want to torture myself watching the festivities below? Watching the major waltz with his beautiful fiancée in the warm summer evening? See the newspaper man snap their photograph?
    Drawn to my senses, I turned to go in when I heard a commotion below. People were running around frantically and shouting.
    Jeanne came to tell me the news.
    “Quick, come quick! Something terrible has happened.”
    “W-what?”
    “You better come down. Quickly!”
    I felt suddenly cold and sick. “Something’s happened to Ellen?”
    “No, to Teddy. He’s dead.”

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
    “Dead?”
    Teddy Grimshaw is dead? The infallible businessman on his wedding day? Was it too much for him? Had his heart given way? “Poor Ellen. Where is she?”
    “In the sunroom. They were carrying him there to wait for the doctor.”
    Nodding, I tried to collect my wits. It felt like something out of a nightmare. Teddy Grimshaw, dead? Teddy Grimshaw, Ellen’s husband, dead? Pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, I seized a cardigan and rushed out the door.
    Downstairs, chaos reigned. I spied my father looking grim and pacing the corridor. Several other guests followed his lead. What else did one do?
    “Let’s hope the doctor hastens his heels,” my father said to me, searching the inside of his coat for a cigar. “I brought these along hoping to have one with the fellow. Now he’s dead. It’s devilish unfair.”
    “Are you sure he’s dead?”
    “He had a heart attack right before my eyes.”
    Shaking uncharacteristically, Sir Gerald du Maurier echoed the sentiments of every horrified guest. A man didn’t expire on his wedding day.
    I found Ellen sobbing on her knees beside the couch where Teddy lay. The still, white face arrested