Read Online Jane Vows Vengeance by Michael Thomas Ford - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Thomas Ford
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into leather boots, a yellow high-collared shirt beneath a red vest, and a herringbone ivy cap.
“Is he carrying a crop?” Jane whispered to Walter.
“And here we go,” Brodie said as Enid and Chumsley advanced on each other. They stopped when they were about a yard apart and as if by some unspoken cue turned so that they were back to back.
“Welcome, friends,” they said in unison. Oddly, it was impossible to tell their voices apart.
“We have a terrific trip planned,” Chumsley continued.
“We’ve each selected our favorite homes to show you,” said Enid.
“Some of which are more exciting than others,” Chumsley added.
“Indeed,” said Enid icily.
“Our tour will begin on Wednesday, when I take you to one of the finest homes in all of England,” Chumsley announced. “It’s one that is seldom visited, as the owner is a reluctant host. But as it happens, he is a good friend of mine and has graciously allowed us a visit. We’ll journey by railway to the village of Cripple Minton in Warwickshire and spend the day touring the house.That evening, following a delightful dinner, we’ll board another train, which will take us through the night to arrive the next morning in Pembroke, Wales, where we’ll catch a ferry to Rosslare, Ireland.”
He said
Ireland
as if he were naming a particularly vile type of pudding, and Jane caught his eyes cutting to a lanky, red-haired man leaning against the wall behind Enid.
That must be Ryan McGuinness
, she thought.
Oh, this will be fun
.
“And
that
is where the tour will truly begin,” Enid said loudly. “But enough of what’s to come. Let us enjoy the rest of the evening together.”
She and Chumsley exchanged curt nods and walked to separate parts of the room. Chumsley, seeing Walter and Brodie, came over to their table.
“Gentlemen,” he said expansively. “So good to see you.”
“And you, Chumsley,” said Walter, shaking the man’s hand.
“Chumsley,” said Brodie, “you appear to have lost your horse.”
Chumsley tapped him on the shoulder with his crop. “Enough out of you, you cheeky bastard,” he said. “You know I wear this only to annoy Enid.” He looked at Walter and Jane. “My ex-wife is deeply afraid of horses,” he explained. “As a child she was nipped quite badly by an Icelandic fjord pony, and ever since has harbored a fear that she might be eaten by one. If you want to give her a good fright, sneak up behind her and give a little whinny. She’ll likely soil her knickers.”
Jane laughed despite herself, earning a smile from Chumsley. “A lady with a wicked sense of humor,” he said. “I like you already.”
“That fine young lady is soon to be Walter’s wife,” Brodie informed him. “Tomorrow, to be exact.”
“A lucky man he is, then,” said Chumsley. “I’ll drink your health as soon as I can find someone to give me a whiskey. Will you all join me?”
Walter glanced at his watch. “I’m afraid we should be getting to bed,” he said. “We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow night, then,” said Chumsley. “Once you’re properly married. We’ll have dinner at the Lord and Lamb.”
“I look forward to it,” said Walter.
“As do I,” Jane said.
“And I,” said Brodie.
Chumsley looked at him. “Who said you were invited?”
“I suppose I could always go with Enid’s group,” said Brodie. “They seem like a jolly bunch.”
“Like hell you will,” said Chumsley. “Now you two lovebirds run along. This degenerate and I have some drinking to do.”
Walter stood, as did Jane, and they exchanged good nights all around. Jane, now even less stable on her feet thanks to the gin and tonics, took Walter’s arm. “Should we say hello to Enid?” she asked, glancing toward the back of the bar.
“Best not to start a civil war on our first night,” said Walter. “There will be plenty of time for that.”
As they waited for the elevator to arrive Jane happened to glance toward the
“Is he carrying a crop?” Jane whispered to Walter.
“And here we go,” Brodie said as Enid and Chumsley advanced on each other. They stopped when they were about a yard apart and as if by some unspoken cue turned so that they were back to back.
“Welcome, friends,” they said in unison. Oddly, it was impossible to tell their voices apart.
“We have a terrific trip planned,” Chumsley continued.
“We’ve each selected our favorite homes to show you,” said Enid.
“Some of which are more exciting than others,” Chumsley added.
“Indeed,” said Enid icily.
“Our tour will begin on Wednesday, when I take you to one of the finest homes in all of England,” Chumsley announced. “It’s one that is seldom visited, as the owner is a reluctant host. But as it happens, he is a good friend of mine and has graciously allowed us a visit. We’ll journey by railway to the village of Cripple Minton in Warwickshire and spend the day touring the house.That evening, following a delightful dinner, we’ll board another train, which will take us through the night to arrive the next morning in Pembroke, Wales, where we’ll catch a ferry to Rosslare, Ireland.”
He said
Ireland
as if he were naming a particularly vile type of pudding, and Jane caught his eyes cutting to a lanky, red-haired man leaning against the wall behind Enid.
That must be Ryan McGuinness
, she thought.
Oh, this will be fun
.
“And
that
is where the tour will truly begin,” Enid said loudly. “But enough of what’s to come. Let us enjoy the rest of the evening together.”
She and Chumsley exchanged curt nods and walked to separate parts of the room. Chumsley, seeing Walter and Brodie, came over to their table.
“Gentlemen,” he said expansively. “So good to see you.”
“And you, Chumsley,” said Walter, shaking the man’s hand.
“Chumsley,” said Brodie, “you appear to have lost your horse.”
Chumsley tapped him on the shoulder with his crop. “Enough out of you, you cheeky bastard,” he said. “You know I wear this only to annoy Enid.” He looked at Walter and Jane. “My ex-wife is deeply afraid of horses,” he explained. “As a child she was nipped quite badly by an Icelandic fjord pony, and ever since has harbored a fear that she might be eaten by one. If you want to give her a good fright, sneak up behind her and give a little whinny. She’ll likely soil her knickers.”
Jane laughed despite herself, earning a smile from Chumsley. “A lady with a wicked sense of humor,” he said. “I like you already.”
“That fine young lady is soon to be Walter’s wife,” Brodie informed him. “Tomorrow, to be exact.”
“A lucky man he is, then,” said Chumsley. “I’ll drink your health as soon as I can find someone to give me a whiskey. Will you all join me?”
Walter glanced at his watch. “I’m afraid we should be getting to bed,” he said. “We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow night, then,” said Chumsley. “Once you’re properly married. We’ll have dinner at the Lord and Lamb.”
“I look forward to it,” said Walter.
“As do I,” Jane said.
“And I,” said Brodie.
Chumsley looked at him. “Who said you were invited?”
“I suppose I could always go with Enid’s group,” said Brodie. “They seem like a jolly bunch.”
“Like hell you will,” said Chumsley. “Now you two lovebirds run along. This degenerate and I have some drinking to do.”
Walter stood, as did Jane, and they exchanged good nights all around. Jane, now even less stable on her feet thanks to the gin and tonics, took Walter’s arm. “Should we say hello to Enid?” she asked, glancing toward the back of the bar.
“Best not to start a civil war on our first night,” said Walter. “There will be plenty of time for that.”
As they waited for the elevator to arrive Jane happened to glance toward the
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