Part 13 (2/2)

*Why, green,' I said astonished. As if anyone could miss his strangely luminous and attractive eyes. *What's mine?'

*Grey,' he said gruffly.

I felt myself blus.h.i.+ng. *I suppose we have been in each other's company much more frequently than either of us has been with Mr Tipton.'

*I suppose so,' said Rory.

*I cannot believe Tipton is a killer. Besides, what reason would he have?'

*Tipton,' said Rory slowly, *is very much Lord Stapleford's p.a.w.n.'

*Richenda.'

*Aye, maybe. She'll be a rich woman soon.'

*Isn't she already?'

Rory pulled a face. *I don't like spreading gossip.'

*What have you heard? It might be important.'

*You know the late Lord Stapleford set up a mighty odd bit in his will?'

I nodded impatiently. *We've been over this.'

*Aye, but that's about the hall and grounds. There's a lot more to the Staplefords than that.'

*Of course,' I said feeling very stupid. *The bank and armaments investments.'

*I don't rightly know what it is, but I do know both brothers received their share on the death of their father.'

A cold chill swept down my back a so that was how Bertram had bought White Orchards! After all his protestations about not using or accepting blood money!

*However,' Rory continued, *Miss Richenda, being a woman, has to wait until she reaches a suitable age. This autumn, it turns out. Until then her money is held in trust by her brother. But if she marries, it will go directly to her husband's control.'

*What!' I gasped astonished.

*It's the normal way of things, Euphemia.'

*But that's terrible! How did you find out?'

*Merry heard her raging about it.'

*And told you?'

*You know Merry and I were getting along. I told you I fancied she wanted a wee bit more. Which is why I was gey glad Merrit appeared on the scene. She's a lovely la.s.s, but not my type at all. Besides, it wouldn't have been professional.'

*Of course not,' I said coldly. *We servants are not allowed lives of our own, let alone relations.h.i.+ps.'

*Would you want one?' asked Rory.

*I hope one day to marry and have my own family,' I said as evenly as I could.

*I'll bear that in mind,' said Rory.

I felt myself blus.h.i.+ng from my head to my toes.

Chapter Nine.

A Stapleford Secret

*I'm sorry, sir,' I said gently. *I don't believe it would be proper.'

*Fine. Suit yourself.' Bertram turned on his heel and walked away quickly without a backward glance.

Rory appeared beside me. *Did I hear the man asking you to be his escort for the funeral?'

I nodded. There was a lump in my throat too large to speak.

*The man's out of his mind! You're a servant not his equal.'

*I don't think he sees it like that.'

*Well, he should,' said Rory angrily.

*I like that about him,' I said equally angrily.

*Good G.o.d, Euphemia! Don't you see? Everyone would think you were his mistress! And besides the sheer bad manners of bringing his mistress to his lover's funeral it would ruin your reputation for life!'

*His mistress?' I gasped.

*I'm the one who used to belong to the communist party and I wouldn't do such a thing in his position. You're constantly courting disaster around that man. He doesn't think.'

I bowed my head. *I believe you were right when you told me not to accept the position at White Orchards.'

*Aye, well,' said Rory in a mollified tone. *Now the n.o.bs are away let's get on with the real business of today.'

Merrit was waiting for us in the automobile. Rory opened the door and handed me in. He tapped on the gla.s.s and Merrit drove off without a word.

*I told him where we're going,' said Rory, *but not why. He won't ask any questions.'

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