Next Door to Murder Read Free

Pops was telling me about Catherine’s little granddaughter.’
    The baby’s birth had disrupted a family lunch at Easter.
    â€˜He’s quite besotted with her,’ Lindsey confirmed.
    They leaned back in their chairs as the quiches and salads were placed in front of them.
    â€˜He suggested we might like to go to Catherine’s one weekend, when Daniel and Jenny are over,’ Rona added.
    â€˜I hope I’m not included in the invitation. Babies do nothing for me.’ Lindsey unfolded her napkin, then looked up as a thought struck her. ‘They won’t be at our lunch, will they?’
    It was the twins’ birthday the following Saturday, and there was to be a celebration meal at the Clarendon Hotel.
    â€˜No, it’s immediate family only,’ Rona said. ‘Catherine’s going over to Cricklehurst – largely out of tact, I suspect, since Mum wouldn’t have come otherwise.’ Although their parents were now on reasonable terms, meetings between Avril and her replacement were strained.
    Lindsey reached for the salad dressing. ‘What are you doing the rest of Saturday?’
    â€˜Max is taking me to the theatre. We’ll have supper after, and spend the night at the Argyll.’
    â€˜Very nice too. What are you seeing?’
    â€˜ The Sound of Music . It’ll be interesting to see the new production, after all the publicity. Remember Mum taking us to the film, when we were little?’ She topped up their glasses. ‘How about you? What have you planned?’
    â€˜Hugh’s taking me out. Dinner somewhere, I think, though I told him I wouldn’t be hungry, after a large lunch.’
    â€˜Very gracious of you.’
    â€˜Well, it’s true.’ She paused. ‘It’ll be like old times, spending my birthday with him.’
    â€˜You realize you’re on dangerous ground?’
    â€˜He knows the position.’
    â€˜Does he know about Dominic?’
    â€˜There’s not much to know,’ Lindsey said bitterly. ‘Anyway, enough of that; tell me about Greece. Where did you stay?’
    Forty minutes later, as they emerged on to Guild Street, Rona said suddenly, ‘Let’s have a look round Willows’.’
    â€˜Thinking of splurging on a three-piece suite?’
    â€˜No chance, and if we were, I doubt we could afford their prices. I just want a look round, to get a feel for the place.’
    â€˜You’re seriously considering them, then?’
    â€˜Linz, this has all come up in the last hour. I’m weighing possibilities, that’s all.’
    â€˜Won’t it look odd if you come across Julian, then meet him again at the Kingstons’?’
    â€˜He won’t be there. None of the family work on the shop floor.’
    â€˜Too grand, I suppose,’ Lindsey said with a sniff.
    â€˜Georgia says there’s a title in their ancestry, which is why they give themselves airs.’
    Lindsey snorted. ‘And further back, a barrow-boy, so the story goes. Bet they don’t dwell on that.’
    â€˜Actually, I think they’re quite proud of it.’
    â€˜Inverse as well as actual snobbery? You’ll be walking on eggshells.’
    â€˜Nonsense, it’ll be fine. I barely know Julian and have never met his wife, but they can’t be that bad if they’re friends of Patrick and Georgia. Let’s suss it out. Gus won’t be welcome, though; we’d better leave him here.’
    She tied his lead to some railings, gave him a pat, and, pushing open the swing door, they went inside, to be immediately engulfed in opulence. A thick carpet covered the floor, low music played in the background, and the coolness of circulating air was balm after the heat outside. On all sides, stretching back into the interior, were room settings of exquisite furniture, gleaming richly in the soft lights. Dining tables in modern or reproduction styles were set with delicate china