Read Online Aunt Sophie's Diamonds by Joan Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joan Smith
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quite a girl,” was the sardonic reply.
"What do you mean? Of course, she's a girl."
"Oh, she was once, no doubt of that. I didn't take her for a man in disguise."
"Well, do you think she's old?"
"Older than seven,” he answered cryptically.
"She seemed quite young to me, but older than Loo, of course. I meant though, do you think she's trustworthy?"
"She hasn't had any opportunity to inveigle herself into the will. Never met Sophie till two minutes before she cocked up her toes and wasn't aware there were diamonds in the case, or so she told me. I am inclined to believe her."
"I didn't mean that exactly,” but what he did want to say proved difficult to put into words. “Do you think she would do Loo a mischief if she could?"
"I don't see how she could, unless she is attempting to set up a flirtation with yourself and alienate your affections."
"She certainly isn't doing that! I don't think she's much interested in men, do you?"
"No, she'll turn into a fine maiden aunt in another decade. Be just the one to lend a hand with your houseful of brats. You want to be nice to her."
Gabriel smiled at his playful rejoinder and then began yawning, stretching, and exhibiting all the gestures associated with the onset of sleepiness.
"If you're turning in already, I'll go to my study and go over some accounts,” Hil said. This would give Gabriel privacy to sneak out of the house, suitably attired in some old dark clothing, and also be an excellent vantage point from which to watch his ascent to Swallowcourt, as the study windows looked in that direction. Not knowing Loo had found a different escort in Claudia, he assumed Gab would go to get her. He became impatient when half an hour had passed and still no dark figure was seen going up the bill.
Surely he isn't letting her come all alone, he thought to himself, then slipped quietly up to Gab's room to ensure that he was in fact gone. The bed was empty, of course. Now how the hell did he slip past me? Going quickly to his own room, he dressed silently and swiftly in dark clothing. Knowing the night to be chilly, he threw a long black cape over the outfit, grabbed a hat, and went to the stable. He was not in the least surprised to see Gab's mount gone, but wondered whether he ought to go directly to the graveyard, or head up towards Swallow-court. Getting such a late start, be went directly to the graveyard. He tethered Lady, his bay mare, at the gate, and went silently on foot towards the east side, where Sophie had that same morning been interred.
His eyes accustomed now to the gloom, Hillary surveyed the gothic scene before him. The trees, still thinly leaved, formed a black skeleton background at the yard's edge. A wind came howling down from the north, flailing the branches. The stones and marble grave markings erupted from the earth at irregular intervals, like ghosts rising from the dead. Sir Hillary was not a fanciful man, yet the hair lifted on the back of his neck when a fox barked in the distance—three eerie howls.
He had spoken to Fletcher about a guard, but he noticed that the man had not yet assumed his duties; the grave was not guarded. Concealing himself behind the granite slab of some long-gone gentleman by the name of Alexander Coughlin, he peered over toward Sophie's last resting-place.
Then he heard the soft sound of metal being judiciously applied to loose earth. He recognized Gab instantly with the shovel, while Loo stood lookout for other comers. There was no moon, and if she had missed his own careful approach, she might have missed the captain as well. Hillary took it upon himself to help her observation. After looking around, he returned his intent gaze to the scene before him. He now saw that there was a third party present—a tall person in trousers. Surely to God they hadn't invited Jonathon and left himself out! He took an angry pace forward, then stopped as a soft, feminine voice came from the shadow he had thought to be
"What do you mean? Of course, she's a girl."
"Oh, she was once, no doubt of that. I didn't take her for a man in disguise."
"Well, do you think she's old?"
"Older than seven,” he answered cryptically.
"She seemed quite young to me, but older than Loo, of course. I meant though, do you think she's trustworthy?"
"She hasn't had any opportunity to inveigle herself into the will. Never met Sophie till two minutes before she cocked up her toes and wasn't aware there were diamonds in the case, or so she told me. I am inclined to believe her."
"I didn't mean that exactly,” but what he did want to say proved difficult to put into words. “Do you think she would do Loo a mischief if she could?"
"I don't see how she could, unless she is attempting to set up a flirtation with yourself and alienate your affections."
"She certainly isn't doing that! I don't think she's much interested in men, do you?"
"No, she'll turn into a fine maiden aunt in another decade. Be just the one to lend a hand with your houseful of brats. You want to be nice to her."
Gabriel smiled at his playful rejoinder and then began yawning, stretching, and exhibiting all the gestures associated with the onset of sleepiness.
"If you're turning in already, I'll go to my study and go over some accounts,” Hil said. This would give Gabriel privacy to sneak out of the house, suitably attired in some old dark clothing, and also be an excellent vantage point from which to watch his ascent to Swallowcourt, as the study windows looked in that direction. Not knowing Loo had found a different escort in Claudia, he assumed Gab would go to get her. He became impatient when half an hour had passed and still no dark figure was seen going up the bill.
Surely he isn't letting her come all alone, he thought to himself, then slipped quietly up to Gab's room to ensure that he was in fact gone. The bed was empty, of course. Now how the hell did he slip past me? Going quickly to his own room, he dressed silently and swiftly in dark clothing. Knowing the night to be chilly, he threw a long black cape over the outfit, grabbed a hat, and went to the stable. He was not in the least surprised to see Gab's mount gone, but wondered whether he ought to go directly to the graveyard, or head up towards Swallow-court. Getting such a late start, be went directly to the graveyard. He tethered Lady, his bay mare, at the gate, and went silently on foot towards the east side, where Sophie had that same morning been interred.
His eyes accustomed now to the gloom, Hillary surveyed the gothic scene before him. The trees, still thinly leaved, formed a black skeleton background at the yard's edge. A wind came howling down from the north, flailing the branches. The stones and marble grave markings erupted from the earth at irregular intervals, like ghosts rising from the dead. Sir Hillary was not a fanciful man, yet the hair lifted on the back of his neck when a fox barked in the distance—three eerie howls.
He had spoken to Fletcher about a guard, but he noticed that the man had not yet assumed his duties; the grave was not guarded. Concealing himself behind the granite slab of some long-gone gentleman by the name of Alexander Coughlin, he peered over toward Sophie's last resting-place.
Then he heard the soft sound of metal being judiciously applied to loose earth. He recognized Gab instantly with the shovel, while Loo stood lookout for other comers. There was no moon, and if she had missed his own careful approach, she might have missed the captain as well. Hillary took it upon himself to help her observation. After looking around, he returned his intent gaze to the scene before him. He now saw that there was a third party present—a tall person in trousers. Surely to God they hadn't invited Jonathon and left himself out! He took an angry pace forward, then stopped as a soft, feminine voice came from the shadow he had thought to be
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