Read Online In the Teeth of Adversity by Marian Babson - Free Book Online

“Excellent. We all have to make sacrifices in times like these, eh?”
    â€œ I ,” Gerry said firmly, surfacing enough to realize a fast shuffle was going on, “take three.” As he leaned forward to take the cup, his ruffled cuff, linked with the gilt filigree and diamanté links some hopeful bird had given him, shot out from his sleeve. It was too late to signal to him. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and waited for the explosion. It came almost immediately.
    â€œYoung man,” Sir Malcolm thundered, “are those ruffles? And is that” – he leaned forward for a closer, incredulous look – “a flowered shirt?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, yes,” Gerry said brightly. “Yes, to both questions. Seersucker printed with sprigs of forget-me-nots on pale lemon. They had primrose on lilac, but I thought this was subtler.” He was beaming happily, ready to swap sartorial chatter, feeling that he had got onto the old boy’s wavelength at last.
    â€œDisgraceful!” Sir Malcolm snarled. “A young man like you – why aren’t you in uniform?”
    â€œI thought I was,” Gerry said. “We can’t all be in the pinstripe-and-bowler brigade, you know.”
    â€œWhat brigade?” General Sir Malcolm snapped to attention, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “I don’t know them. Are they part of the regular army?”
    â€œNo, just regular civilians,” Gerry said. He looked from me to Penny and back again. “What is this, anyway?”
    â€œAh, tea!” Endicott Zayle entered, rubbing his hands together in unconscious imitation of his father. “Just what I need right now. Very strong, no sugar, please.”
    â€œWhat about your patients?” I asked.
    â€œOh, they won’t want any,” he chuckled. “Neither of them could close their lips over the rim of a cup at this moment – Oh, oh, I see what you mean. No, they’re all right. Just relaxing while the procaine takes effect. They’ll never miss me for a few minutes. Each one will think I’m with the other.” He gnawed into a chicken sandwich with zest, accepting the cup of tea Penny had poured for him.
    â€œBy the way,” he said to her. “You might take a tray along to my wife, if you would. Just leave it outside her door, knock, and go away.” It sounded as though it were a regular routine. “She’ll take it in when she’s ready.”
    â€œLocked her in her room again, have you?” Sir Malcolm stopped brooding over Gerry, transferring his attention to his son. “Best place for her. Stop her from running after that other fella. And in your own house, too. I always said your Cynthia needed a strong hand – stronger than you have.”
    â€œFather,” Endicott Zayle said, in some anguish, “Cynthia was my mother.”
    â€œNo need to talk like that, m’boy.” Sir Malcolm stiffened in offence. “She is your wife, you know. I thought she was a bit long in the tooth when you married her, but you made her Mrs. Zayle. Bite the bullet, m’boy, and live with it, but we won’t have that sort of remark around here. Gentlemen don’t speak about ladies in that manner, especially their wives.”
    â€œ Adele is my wife,” Zayle said feebly, as though conscious he was fighting the rearguard action to a losing battle.
    â€œFlighty little piece.” Sir Malcolm slipped smoothly from one reputation to another. “Always running after that fella. Mistake to have him in the house – I always said so.”
    Wisely, Penny disappeared with a tray. It would be nice if I could do the same, but duty forbade. “Have the police come back yet?” I asked.
    â€œPolice?” Sir Malcolm whirled to face me. “What police?”
    â€œYou remember, Father,” Endicott said wearily. “They were here yesterday.”
    â€œAbout that blackout curtain