Read Online A Quiet Death by Alanna Knight - Free Book Online Page A

the windows.
    'What on earth is going on?' he demanded. 'Have we been invaded?'
    Had something disastrous overtaken that Auld Alliance between France and Scotland in the short while he had been absent from Edinburgh? And staring over the diners' shoulders, he wondered if war had broken out although there had been no alert at the Central Office from England's network of spies.
    '-four-five-six-seven-'
    He was aware of the diners chanting at each explosion.
    'Eight. Eight!'
    The magic word was greeted by a cheer and a hurrah.
    Seeing his solemn face one of the waiters said: 'Eight of them! Isn't that marvellous?'
    'Eight of what?'
    'Why sir, eight whales of course. That's the Excelsior —one of the whaling fleet just returned. The gunfire is the signal of how many whales they've caught.'
    'Oh, is that all?' said Faro returning to his soup. What an extraordinary place this was.
    'Frightened me out of my wits. Can you imagine anyone in Edinburgh getting excited if a whaling ship came up the Forth?' he said to Vince when they met in readiness for the visit to Deane Hall, by which time the shoreline was already crowded with an enthusiastic group of townsfolk.
    Vince smiled. 'You get used to it. Although I'd better warn you there'll be no sleep for anyone tonight. The inns will be packed, doing a thriving business. All the ladies of the town will be out in full force. I understand they come by boat from all up and down the east coast when the fleet is expected.'
    Vince paused and then added, 'Talking of whalers, I've been thinking about McGonagall's girl. Perhaps she went off with the fleet, they do occasionally take their fancy women aboard. Although it's supposed to be forbidden, the authorities are pleased to turn a blind eye.'
    'Well, we should soon see whether your theory is correct, Vince. If she walks into the house in the next day or two. I shall look to you to keep me informed about the missing Kathleen as well as any other developments in the case.'
    Vince laughed. 'My dear Stepfather, don't look so doleful.'
    'Doleful?'
    'Yes, you really are addicted to crime, aren't you?'
    'Perhaps so, but I shall have to restrain myself this time, since this is out of my territory.'
    'And do I detect that you wish it wasn't?' When Faro shrugged, Vince continued cheerfully: 'Never mind, you will be back in Dundee very soon, remember. And your next visit will be a happy and memorable one. For our wedding. There's a family chapel in the grounds and that's where Rachel wants the ceremony to take place. Since you are not my real father, I would like you to be best man.'
    'I would be delighted, lad. But surely there is some friend of your own age?'
    Vince shook his head firmly. 'No one I would rather have than my very best friend—and stepfather.'
    Touched and flattered, Faro asked: 'Have you fixed a date?'
    'Rachel wants it as soon as she comes of age officially. It's incredibly near now, just a few
    weeks away.'
    'No regrets or second thoughts, eh?'
    'Not a single one, Stepfather. I am the happiest man in the whole world. Every day we are apart I find hard to bear. I want to be with her every moment. After our precious days and nights together, it is agonising that we should have to live apart again.'
    The carriage swung round in the direction of Deane Hall. 'Especially with Rachel living away up here and me down in Paton's Lane,' he added. 'After all, we consider ourselves man and wife for we have exchanged the only vows that really matter.'
    Looking out of the window, smiling shyly, he said softly: 'We are married, Stepfather, in every way but the legal formalities.'
    As the carriage approached the lodge gates with their stone griffons Faro would have given a great deal to share in his stepson's happy confidence in a future that seemed to him fraught with problems.
    The door opened promptly and the butler deigned to bow. 'Dr Laurie, sir. Mr Faro. Please come in. Miss Deane is expecting you.' Across the hall, he led the way to a handsome