Read Online Mad About the Boy? by Dolores Gordon-Smith - Free Book Online

worry,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Lady Harriet’s totally self-centred. Do you want to stay on here? If not, I’ll take you home in my car and your luggage can be sent on later.’
    The two girls exchanged looks. ‘We’d more or less made up our minds to stay,’ said Squeak eventually. ‘It seems like running out to go now.’
    â€˜And we’d only have to come back for the inquest,’ added Bubble. ‘If only I knew why he did it, Jack. We were having such a good time last night and we’d made plans and . . . and . . .’ She blinked very rapidly. Isabelle exchanged glances with Haldean, before taking her friend’s arm and leading her firmly out of the hall, passing Alfred Charnock as he came in.
    â€˜What’s up with the girl?’ Charnock asked Lady Rivers. ‘The one that’s weeping all over the place, I mean. Didn’t she like the vicar’s sermon or something?’
    Lady Rivers looked at him in exasperation. ‘Don’t be flippant, Alfred. She’s upset about Mr Preston.’
    â€˜Mr Preston?’ repeated Charnock, puzzled. ‘Who’s . . . Oh yes, the one who topped himself, you mean. I hope she’s not going to sob through lunch about it. Speaking of which, when is it? Lunch, I mean?’
    Sir Philip gave him a hostile glare. ‘As always, Alfred, lunch is at one o’clock.’ He was about to say more but stopped as Lawson, the footman, walked into the hall and, approaching Sir Philip, coughed respectfully.
    â€˜May I have a word, sir?’
    â€˜What is it?’
    â€˜There is a disturbance in Lord Lyvenden’s room, sir.’
    â€˜A disturbance?’ repeated Sir Philip, puzzled. ‘What sort of disturbance?’
    â€˜An inharmonious disturbance, sir.’ Lawson coughed again. ‘I fear it may become a violent disturbance before long.’
    Sir Philip’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Who the devil’s Lyvenden got in there?’
    â€˜The person would not give his name, sir. I believe him to be a Russian and it is possible that he did not understand my question. He waited while I ascertained what Lord Lyvenden desired me to do and Lord Lyvenden, after seeing the person, gave orders that he should be admitted. I may say I was surprised, sir, as he struck me as an unlikely caller for Lord Lyvenden to entertain, but his lordship’s instructions were unequivocal, sir.’
    Alfred Charnock grinned. ‘Maybe Bertie the Bolshie’s come to complain that his last bomb didn’t go off.’
    â€˜Be quiet, Alfred,’ Sir Philip said absently. He looked at Lawson in bewilderment, ‘A
Russian
? And they’re having a quarrel, you say?’ Lawson bowed his head in agreement. ‘What the devil’s Lyvenden doing, seeing Russians in my house?’
    â€˜Perhaps it would be as well to go and find out, Philip,’ put in his wife.
    â€˜I shall most certainly do so,’ he said grimly. ‘Damn me, as if there wasn’t enough going on to worry about without Russians disturbing the peace. Well, I’ll soon set the feller to rights.’ He braced himself and shot his cuffs in a determined way.
    â€˜I’ll come with you, Uncle,’ said Haldean. A Russian? That was the second one in the space of two days and he didn’t sound the sort of character whom his uncle should tackle alone. In fact, the more help he had the better. He certainly didn’t want Charnock along, but he inclined his head towards Stanton.
    â€˜I’ll come too, Jack,’ said Stanton, taking the hint, and together they walked off down the corridor, following the fuming Sir Philip.
    They hadn’t gone far before they heard shouting. ‘That’s not Lyvenden,’ said Haldean, listening. ‘It must be the other chap. My word, there he goes again! He’s pretty shirty about something, isn’t he?’
    â€˜I’ll teach him a trick