Sheer Folly Read Free

same public school. His distinctive appearance had led an unkind schoolfellow to nickname him “Rhino.”
    It would have been easier to sympathise had Rhino not been an exceedingly rich earl.
    â€œHello, Lord Rydal,” she called. “Sorry to be in your way. Half a tick and I’ll move it.”
    â€œPlease do so . . . er . . .” His voice had a singularly irritating timbre, rather like a well-bred crow.
    Or like a rhinoceros, perhaps, Daisy thought, suppressing a giggle. But she had no idea what sort of sound a rhino was likely to produce.
    â€œMrs. Fletcher,” she prompted him. “Daisy Fletcher. We met quite a long time ago, I can’t recall where or when.”
    â€œFletcher? I haven’t the slightest recollection—”
    â€œYou were at school with my brother, Gervaise Dalrymple.”
    â€œOh, Dalrymple, yes, how do you do.” He didn’t offer her a cigarette, not that she wanted one. He continued, complaining, “Miss Beaufort seemed to think I was the only person who could be spared to fetch your bags from the station, yours and Lady Gerald’s.”
    Daisy decided not to enquire as to why, with such reluctance, he should have done Julia Beaufort’s bidding. “Did you get them? Splendid. How kind of you. You see, Lucy’s—Lady Gerald’s—car is too small to carry all our luggage.”
    â€œJust large enough to block the drive.”
    â€œI’ll move it!”
    â€œHold on, darling!” Lucy had approached unseen and unheard across the grass, carrying her camera and bag of plates. “Let me get my stuff in first. Hello, Rhino.”
    â€œGood afternoon, Lady Gerald.”
    â€œWhat on earth are you doing here?”
    â€œRunning other people’s errands, it seems. I just picked up your luggage at Ogbourne St. George.”
    â€œHow kind. While you’re at it, I left my tripod back there. Would you mind frightfully . . . ?”
    â€œI suppose not,” he said grumpily, “as I can’t get past till you go on.” He loped off across the grass, the cigarette holder gripped between his teeth.
    â€œThe perfect gentleman,” said Lucy sarcastically.
    â€œI’d forgotten.”
    â€œForgotten what?”
    â€œGervaise said it wasn’t just his looks and money that earned him the nickname. The rhinoceros is also noted for its thick skin.”
    Lucy laughed. “He has that all right. But we ought to make allowances for his being disappointed in love.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œDidn’t you know? He’s crazy for Julia.”
    â€œOh, so that’s why he so demeaned himself as to fetch our bags! She persuaded him to.”
    â€œProbably just trying to get rid of him for a while. Of course Lady Beaufort wants Julia to marry him, but Julia doesn’t want anything to do with him. One can’t really blame her, however rich and noble he may be. I expect he drove them down here—they haven’t a car—and talked the plumber into letting him stay on.”
    â€œI do think you might have warned me, darling. One needs some mental preparation before being plunged into the throes of someone else’s unrequited love affair. And you
must
stop calling Pritchard ‘the plumber.’ You’ll slip up and call him that to his face.”
    â€œNo fear. However ghastly he is, now I’m here I’m not leaving till I’ve got some decent shots of the grotto. I just hope it’s all it’s cracked up to be.”
    â€œYou’re not telling me Lady Beaufort has the slightest interest in the grotto. If she’s so determined to catch a rich earl for Julia, what do you suppose has brought them to Appsworth Hall?”
    â€œThat’s easy: a rich plumber’s rich nephew.”
    â€œThe plot thickens,” Daisy remarked with a sigh. “Intended to make Lord Rydal jealous?”
    â€œUnnecessary. He’s