Read Online The Celtic Dagger by Jill Paterson - Free Book Online Page B

face.  Just then, she stumbled.  He put his arm around her.  ‘Are you all right?’
    ‘Yes.’
    When they reached the car, the driver opened the door and James helped Catherine in.  Eve Lawrence climbed in after her.  ‘I’ll see you back at the house.’
    Emily Wearing moved over when James got into the other car.  ‘The poor dear,' his mother said.  'Such a difficult day for her.’
    Rain fell steadily while they drove, each of them silent, lost in their own thoughts.  At the house, a steady stream of people started to arrive.  James took off his coat and turned to Catherine, while Eve Lawrence guided his parents into the living room.  ‘Catherine, you don’t have to stay down here.  Would you rather go upstairs?’
    Catherine took her coat off, her face white.  ‘No.  I’d sooner see to the guests, James.’  She turned without another word and walked in amongst those gathered in the living room.
    ‘James.’  James turned to see Nicholas Ellis, his best friend.  A tall man in his early forties, his short-cropped grey hair framed an angular face.  He moved with an awkward gate and took James’s outstretched hand.  ‘My condolences.’
    ‘Thanks, Nick.  I’m glad you could come.’  James knew Nicholas had had experience with sudden and violent death when he served in Afghanistan.  After losing his leg, and with his military career ended, he had returned to the Blue Mountains and the village of Blackheath, where they both grew up.  Now, he lived a quieter life as the proprietor of a bed-and-breakfast inn.
    ‘How’s Catherine holding up?’  The two men looked through to the living room in Catherine’s direction.’
    ‘She's managing, but only just.’
    ‘And you?’
    James raised his eyebrows.  ‘We’ll talk later.  Are you staying in Sydney for the night?’
    ‘No.  I have to get back.  We have a few guests at the moment.  A bit much for Mrs Thompson to manage on her own.’
    When Nick moved away to mingle with the other guests, James made his way back to the front door, where he found Vera Trenbath.
    ‘A very nice service, James.’
    ‘It was, Vera.’  James took Vera’s coat and placed it over a chair next to the stairs.  ‘Come through.’  James led the way into the living room, where Simon Rhodes stood talking to Tristan Harrow.  As James and Vera approached, Tristan glared at Vera, who changed direction and made her way to the other side of the room.  Tristan excused himself from his conversation and followed Vera.
    ‘My condolences, James,’ Simon said, shaking James's hand.
    ‘Thanks, Simon.  It’s good of you to come.’
    Simon undid the top button of his suit coat and took a drink off the tray offered by one of the caterers.  ‘Your brother was a dear friend.  I’ve been away from Sydney for some years, I know, but we did keep in touch to a certain extent.’  He sipped his drink.
    ‘So what brings you back?’
    ‘Divorce.’
    James frowned.  ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.’
    ‘Yes, it’s a shame.  The business side of things couldn’t have been better.  We had an antique business on Toorak Road in South Yarra.  But as is the case with many couples, I suspect, on the domestic front we couldn’t get on.  In the end, it became intolerable, so we worked out an amicable arrangement and went our separate ways.’  Simon took another sip of his drink.  ‘I must admit, I was a bit lost afterwards.  That’s why I decided to return to Sydney to make a fresh start.’  James nodded.  ‘I’ve opened a financial consultancy business.’
    ‘Tristan did mention that.  How’s it going?’
    ‘Well, it’s small, but I’m sure it’ll grow.  I have a card here somewhere.’  Simon fumbled in his inside coat pocket.  ‘Yes, here’s one.’  He handed the card to James and smiled.  ‘If ever you’re in need of financial advice, let me know.’
    James took the card and seized the opportunity to find out more about Simon and his