Read Online The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy by James Anderson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Anderson
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don't be silly, Jane. I don't mean you've got to vamp him.'
'What else would it amount to?'
'You've just got to make him see you for what you are - a fully mature and very attractive woman.'
'Thanks for the compliment, but nothing doing. He's either interested in me, or he's not. I did hope that after such a long break he might see me in a new light. I've avoided him, you know, for over two years. But when we met yesterday, nothing happened. He was pleased to see me, friendly, interested, helpful. And that was all. So let's just leave it at that, shall we, and talk about something else.'
'No, let's not. I think you'd be crazy to let things stop there. Look, why don't I have a word with him—'
She broke off and winced as Jane grabbed her fiercely by the arm. 'You dare, Gerry! I swear I'll never speak to you again if you so much as hint to him how I feel.'
Gerry tried to unwind Jane's fingers from her arm. 'Jane, let go, you're hurting.'
'Promise me you won't ever mention it.'
'All right - I promise.'
'To Richard - or to anybody else.'
'All right.'
Jane let go, dropped down onto her back again and stared at the sky. Gerry rubbed her arm.
'Your trouble, Jane, is that you're just too proud.'
'Maybe. But I will not make myself cheap - for anything or anybody. Besides,' Jane rolled over onto her stomach and spoke a little less vehemently, 'he's probably got a girl already.'
'I don't think so. Not a regular one, anyway. There are women he takes out, of course, but no special one, I'm sure. I believe there was a girl once he was in love with, but that was a long time ago.'
'Oh? When?'
'During the war, when he was in France. I've got an idea l here was some sort of tragedy about it. I don't know any details. He's never talked about it. But I vaguely remember hearing him telling Daddy some story when I was quite a little girl.'
'I suppose she died, did she?'
'I honestly don't know. Probably. I just remember him and Daddy sounding rather grim, then seeing me and shutting up. I could try to find out.'
'No don't bother. There's no point in dragging up the past.'
Jane got to her feet and brushed down her jodhpurs. 'Come on, let's give these beauties of yours a really good gallop.'
* * *
Richard Saunders was feeling a little worried. The talks were not going quite as he had anticipated. It was not that, so far at least, any real differences had arisen between the sides; but matters were certainly not proceeding as smoothly as they should be.
The trouble, to Richard's mind, lay in the attitude of Adler. He appeared to expect the British to make a number of firm commitments, yet seemed unwilling to reciprocate himself. He repeatedly asked for facts and figures regarding the proposed military aid, but so far had been strangely unwilling even to mention the existence of the land which was to be handed over in return - let alone discuss it in detail. Already Richard had made concessions - had promised the delivery by a certain date of specific equipment. But no corresponding concession had been forthcoming. It was very puzzling. Richard wondered if he had said anything which might have led Adler to distrust him. If so, he would have to find out what it was and put things right as quickly as possible.
Now Adler was giving a long, repetitious and quite unnecessary peroration about the great peril faced by his country. When he eventually stopped, Richard suggested a coffee break. He rang the bell and the coffee arrived a minute or so later. After the footman had left, the two sides drifted to different ends of the room.
Richard cocked an eyebrow at Thornton. 'Well?'
'Odd, Minister. Very, odd.'
'I'm glad you agree. I was beginning to think it was me!'
Thornton shook his head. 'No, it's Adler. He's behaving very strangely. There's something here I don't understand.'
'It's almost as though they're trying to go back on their government's word - trying to avoid ceding any land.'
'I know.'
'Do you think they could have
'What else would it amount to?'
'You've just got to make him see you for what you are - a fully mature and very attractive woman.'
'Thanks for the compliment, but nothing doing. He's either interested in me, or he's not. I did hope that after such a long break he might see me in a new light. I've avoided him, you know, for over two years. But when we met yesterday, nothing happened. He was pleased to see me, friendly, interested, helpful. And that was all. So let's just leave it at that, shall we, and talk about something else.'
'No, let's not. I think you'd be crazy to let things stop there. Look, why don't I have a word with him—'
She broke off and winced as Jane grabbed her fiercely by the arm. 'You dare, Gerry! I swear I'll never speak to you again if you so much as hint to him how I feel.'
Gerry tried to unwind Jane's fingers from her arm. 'Jane, let go, you're hurting.'
'Promise me you won't ever mention it.'
'All right - I promise.'
'To Richard - or to anybody else.'
'All right.'
Jane let go, dropped down onto her back again and stared at the sky. Gerry rubbed her arm.
'Your trouble, Jane, is that you're just too proud.'
'Maybe. But I will not make myself cheap - for anything or anybody. Besides,' Jane rolled over onto her stomach and spoke a little less vehemently, 'he's probably got a girl already.'
'I don't think so. Not a regular one, anyway. There are women he takes out, of course, but no special one, I'm sure. I believe there was a girl once he was in love with, but that was a long time ago.'
'Oh? When?'
'During the war, when he was in France. I've got an idea l here was some sort of tragedy about it. I don't know any details. He's never talked about it. But I vaguely remember hearing him telling Daddy some story when I was quite a little girl.'
'I suppose she died, did she?'
'I honestly don't know. Probably. I just remember him and Daddy sounding rather grim, then seeing me and shutting up. I could try to find out.'
'No don't bother. There's no point in dragging up the past.'
Jane got to her feet and brushed down her jodhpurs. 'Come on, let's give these beauties of yours a really good gallop.'
* * *
Richard Saunders was feeling a little worried. The talks were not going quite as he had anticipated. It was not that, so far at least, any real differences had arisen between the sides; but matters were certainly not proceeding as smoothly as they should be.
The trouble, to Richard's mind, lay in the attitude of Adler. He appeared to expect the British to make a number of firm commitments, yet seemed unwilling to reciprocate himself. He repeatedly asked for facts and figures regarding the proposed military aid, but so far had been strangely unwilling even to mention the existence of the land which was to be handed over in return - let alone discuss it in detail. Already Richard had made concessions - had promised the delivery by a certain date of specific equipment. But no corresponding concession had been forthcoming. It was very puzzling. Richard wondered if he had said anything which might have led Adler to distrust him. If so, he would have to find out what it was and put things right as quickly as possible.
Now Adler was giving a long, repetitious and quite unnecessary peroration about the great peril faced by his country. When he eventually stopped, Richard suggested a coffee break. He rang the bell and the coffee arrived a minute or so later. After the footman had left, the two sides drifted to different ends of the room.
Richard cocked an eyebrow at Thornton. 'Well?'
'Odd, Minister. Very, odd.'
'I'm glad you agree. I was beginning to think it was me!'
Thornton shook his head. 'No, it's Adler. He's behaving very strangely. There's something here I don't understand.'
'It's almost as though they're trying to go back on their government's word - trying to avoid ceding any land.'
'I know.'
'Do you think they could have
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