The Death of Corinne Read Free Page A

a crisis . . . I don’t think such a thing as “trend-spotting” exists, do you? I am sure he made it up. The way he went on about it last night. Gave me a headache. Too bloody fond of the sound of his own voice.’
    ‘He promised he’d set his net scouts the task of finding out as much as possible about Corinne –’
    ‘Ha – net scouts! All bosh, if you ask me, my dear. I wouldn’t believe a word of what Peverel says. He can’t possibly issue commands to anybody simply by sitting in his room and pressing the buttons of his laptop, or whatever that thing’s called – can he?’
    ‘He probably can, darling,’ Payne said. ‘He can even find you a cheap gardener on the net –’
    ‘But you must try to be nice to him first,’ Antonia added with a smile.
    Lady Grylls suddenly looked fascinated. ‘Goodness – you actually fi nish each other ’ s sentences . That doesn’t happen often, you know, that kind of affinity between husband and wife.’
    ‘How tedious that makes us sound.’
    ‘Not at all, my dear. A good marriage is not to be sneezed at, especially in this day and age. Yours is clearly one of those that’s been made in heaven. Second marriages are more successful than first ones, or so they say.’
    ‘We like it.’ Payne poured himself more tea. ‘Maître Maginot – is that spelled like the line? Who is he anyway?’
    ‘It’s a she. Some terrible dragon of a woman, by the sound of it. A legal adviser-cum-mentor to Corinne. She seems to have taken over after Mr Lark died. I get the impression she hasn’t been with Corinne that long. She was there as Corinne talked to me, breathing down her neck. I could hear her hissing in the background, prompting. Corinne kept referring to her . . . Maître Maginot considered Chalfont Park as a place of refuge une bonne id é . Maître Maginot doubted whether the death threats were really serious, but wanted to avoid any unnecessary risks. Poor Corinne sounded like a schoolgirl – all timid and halting. Well, I suspect Maître Maginot of monumental control-freakery. I’ve got to smoke. Where are my cigarettes?’ Lady Grylls peered round the table. ‘It doesn’t help that I am as blind as a bat.’
    ‘Your hearing should be exceptionally sharp then.’
    ‘It isn’t. That’s a popular myth . . . Thank you,’ she said as her nephew struck a match for her. ‘So glad you are a smoker, Hughie. Makes such a difference. Can’t stand it when Peverel looks down his nose each time I light up. What a self-righteous bore he is. Won’t you join me? Where’s that fragrant pipe of yours?’
    Payne obligingly produced his pipe and started filling it out of his pouch. His aunt nodded in an approving manner. ‘Now the idea of Maître Maginot doesn’t seem so repellent. I can see how people turn to drugs – can you?’ She blew smoke out of her nostrils. ‘Mr Jonson described Maître Maginot as a femme formidable . Don’t you think it tiresome when people pepper their speech with frog?’
    ‘Terribly tiresome,’ Payne agreed. ‘Apart from being de trop . Unless they are French, that is. Then they can’t help it.’
    ‘From the way he pontificated, Jonson put me in mind of some sort of superior public schoolmaster – or a family solicitor. You know the type. Dry as a biscuit – omniscient godlike manner – the most annoying little cough. Absolute utter drears. I hope he won’t overstay his welcome. He said he wanted to look around. Does he imagine he might find Corinne’s madman at Chalfont, skulking behind an arras, clutching a knife? D’you think he suspects me of some sort of collusion?’
    ‘Well, he might have got it into his head the madman is your secret lover,’ Payne said. ‘Gentlewomen of a certain age are notorious for that sort of thing.’
    ‘Are they?’ Antonia frowned. Hugh did talk awful rot sometimes. ‘Do you mean gentlewomen of a certain age keep secret lovers or that they have a predilection for madmen?’ She was amazed