Read Online Ten Lords A-Leaping by Ruth Dudley Edwards - Free Book Online Page B

upper-crusty. Then he began to produce verse and short stories which, God help us, became popular in women’s magazines and were collected under titles like Our Furry Friends or My Brother the Donkey .’
    ‘It’s anthropomorphism gone mad.’
    ‘Yes, but it’s a powerful strain in the English character at the wimpish end among the sort of people who think their dogs read their minds, their cats think deep thoughts and dolphins are smarter than nuclear physicists. Speaking of cats, how’s Plutarch?’
    Amiss groaned. ‘On my conscience. I haven’t yet retrieved her from the cattery. Haven’t worked up the courage.’
    ‘The trouble with you is…’
    ‘Is that I’m a wimp. I know.’
    ‘I wasn’t going to be so tactless as to say it.’
    ‘Makes a change.’
    ‘First you allow yourself to be blackmailed emotionally into having a cat you don’t want.’
    ‘Which was weak of me.’
    ‘Then you fail to make the best of it by enjoying her.’
    ‘How can I enjoy Plutarch? She’s demanding, bossy and badly behaved.’
    ‘Like me?’
    ‘At least you don’t swing out of people’s curtains and bring me rats in your teeth. No, I have a grudging respect for Plutarch, I wish to see her well looked after and I’ve even had the occasional fleeting twinge of affection, but enjoy her I don’t. If you want her I’ll sign the adoption papers on the spot.’
    ‘I doubt if I can manage more than short-term fosterage. After the unfortunate episode in the kitchen last time I put her up I would probably meet mass revolt if I announced I was keeping her. But if you like I’ll take her until next week. You won’t be able to look after her anyway, since you’ll be away this weekend.’
    ‘I will?’ He looked at her with deep suspicion.
    ‘Didn’t he tell you? You’ve been invited to stay with Reggie Poulteney and go hunting.’
    ‘How can I go hunting? I can’t ride a rocking horse.’
    ‘In a car and on foot. You’ve got to get the smell of the chase in your nostrils.’
    He groaned. ‘Oh, if I must, I must. Why aren’t you coming?’
    ‘I wish I could. I can hear the sound of the horn and the baying of the hounds and the smell of the morning dew She took a meditative sip and looked starrily into the middle distance.
    ‘That was well up to the standard of Brother Francis. Answer my question.’
    ‘I have to be hostess for a St Martha’s Old Girls’ gathering which, inter alia , I hope will raise some more loot.’
    ‘You can’t abandon me alone with that unspeakable old bore.’
    ‘Tommy Beesley will be there.’
    ‘Thanks a lot.’
    ‘Come, come. There’s more to Tommy than there seems. He was a major-general once, you know. And was decorated for conspicuous gallantry in Korea.’
    ‘Good God!’
    ‘I admit I find it baffling too, but we’re obviously judging too much by appearances.’
    Amiss shrugged. ‘Will Sid be there? He’s more my type.’
    ‘Doubt it. He’s in his late seventies now, don’t forget. Tends to avoid the open air unless it’s pretty balmy.’
    ‘I know Bertie doesn’t hunt, but will he come along to plot?’
    ‘Tied up, I gather, at a Leader of the Opposition’s hush-hush “where are we going?” hugger-mugger with his intimates.’
    ‘So it’s just me, Reggie and Tommy. Terrific. I hope you realize this will probably put me off hunting for life. Are you prepared to take that risk.’
    ‘I like risks.’ The baroness finished the last forkful, laid down her cutlery with a clatter, smacked her lips and clicked her fingers. ‘ Garçon ,’ she said in an execrable French accent. The waiter came running. ‘ Une autre bouteille .’ He bowed and scurried off. ‘Come on, Robert. Eat up. You need to build up your strength for the weekend ahead at Shapely Bottom Hall.’
    ‘Is it seriously called that?’
    ‘Very suitable for a country seat, surely.’ She cackled. ‘Come on. You know English rural names are daft. That’s no madder than “Lower Slaughter”