Read Online Dangerous Inheritance by Dennis Wheatley - Free Book Online

subject to which Fleur never tired of listening.
    Unhappily, but doggedly, Truss tagged along with them, inwardly seething with rage when Fleur placidly agreed to sightseeing that she had refused to do with him.
    They spent one morning in the old Palace, where the Archaeological Museum was housed, looking at archaic Greek sculptures that had been dug up in the island, and the famous collection of Sino-Japanese art, upon which Douglas commented with interest and humour. Another morning Fleur, un-protesting, endured the long walk to the south of the town, along the peninsula of Kanoni, to catch a glimpse of Mon Repos, the present residence of the Greek Royal family when in Corfu.
    Impatiently Truss waited till near the end of the week; then, by lying in wait for Fleur, he managed to corner her. With an eager grin he said, ‘How about it, sweetie? Is everything all right with you now?’
    She shrugged, ‘I’m over the curse, if that’s what you mean But I’m not feeling like romps at the moment. We’ll see next week.’
    â€˜Oh, come on, honey,’ he protested. ‘I could soon make you feel——’
    â€˜No!’ She cut him short abruptly. ‘You must learn, Truss, that you’ll get no fun from pressing a girl when she doesn’t feel like it.’
    Sulkily he turned away, mentally cursing Rajapakse; for, although it was inconceivable to him that Fleur might have fallen for a coloured man, it was his arrival and presence to which he attributed the break between himself and her.
    Richard and Marie Lou had also observed with growing concern the new orientation in Fleur’s interest. That same night when in bed they discussed it unhappily.
    â€˜This fellow turning up when he did was the most lousy luck,’ Richard declared. ‘It really looked as if Fleur and Truss were going to make a go of it; now she’s scarcely civil to him.’
    â€˜I know,’ agreed Marie Lou. ‘But it’s quite understandable. Truss is hardly out of the egg, whereas Douglas is so much older and, one must admit, a polished man of the world. One can’t wonder that she is attracted to him.’
    â€˜Attracted! God forbid! Surely you don’t mean …?’
    â€˜Of course not, stupid. Anything physical between them is unthinkable. It wouldn’t even cross Fleur’s mind, and I’m sure he’s much too much of a gentleman to make a pass at her. But they are both interested in things that Truss knows nothing about; so it’s only natural that they should enjoy talking together and tend to freeze him out.’
    â€˜Well, it’s got to be broken up somehow; so that Truss can pick things up from things up from where they started
    â€˜What do you suggest?’
    â€˜I’ve been thinking. Truss is due to do Italy. How about our cutting short our stay here, inviting him to join us, going to Rome, hiring a car and the four of us making a tour of Florence, Siena, Perugia, Urbino and all those other places?’
    â€˜That’s an excellent idea, and I’d love it. But it would be hard on Greyeyes.’
    â€˜I know. But he’s the most understanding person in the world; and we could come back for another stay here with him in the autumn.’
    As a result of this midnight conversation, Richard put the matter to the Duke the following morning. The old man, whose principal amusement these days was watching other people’s reactions to changing situations, was well aware of the rift that Rajapakse had created between Fleur and Truss; so he said:
    â€˜My dear Richard, I sympathise with your hopes and fully appreciate your concern. In the circumstances the arrival here of our charming Sinhalese was most unfortunate. But having invited him to stay as long as he likes I cannot possibly get rid of him for you. Loath as I am to lose you and Marie Lou, your proposal at least offers a possibility of pulling the chestnuts out of the