A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber

Author:Anna Lee Huber [Huber, Anna Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

We pulled into the long drive leading up to Nettlestone Hall just as the last colors of sunset began to fade from the horizon, leaving a brilliant inky-blue sky. The canopy of beech trees overhead, their brilliant leaves muted to shades of gray, soon gave way to the wide expanse of the heavens, where the brightest stars had begun to wink through the firmament. Bright white fences bordered the lane, pointing like arrows to the sprawling limestone manor at the end.

“Mind the hounds,” I reminded Sidney perhaps unnecessarily, as he’d already begun to apply the brakes to his speeding Pierce-Arrow. Like all good British gentlemen, he possessed a fondness for dogs, and Max’s two caramel-coated bloodhounds had quickly wormed their way into his good graces during our last visit.

True to form, shortly after he brought the motorcar to a stop before the manor’s spectacular arched entryway, the two hounds came bounding through the door to greet us. I was relieved to see Max following close behind them, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers and an amused grin softening his face.

“They’ve been pacing the floor for the last half hour. Must have somehow sensed you were nearby.”

Sidney squatted down to ruffle the ears of one of the dogs while the other circled back to beg for attention from me. “But of course, you did. Clever old chap.”

“We would have been here sooner, but we just missed the earlier ferry,” I told Max, arching up on my toes to buss his cheek in greeting before lavishing my attention on the other hound.

“Well, I’m glad you arrived when you did.” Our host tossed a teasing glare over his shoulder at the man emerging from house. “I thought Xavier was going to take up permanent residence staring out the windows.”

The sight of Alec standing in the shaft of light cast through the open doorway startled me, causing me to momentarily falter in my petting of the smaller hound. I’d not intended for Alec himself to escort Max, or for them to interact. So to find him here, staying in Max’s home and gazing at me in that guarded manner, told me beyond a shadow of a doubt, something significant had gone wrong.

“I wasn’t searching out the window for them,” he replied.

And for the second time that day, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as I turned my head to search the darkness settling around us. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Sidney had risen to his feet to do likewise.

“Then perhaps we should go inside,” he suggested, rounding the motorcar to place a protective hand against the small of my back.

Though disconcerted by Alec’s pronouncement, Max recovered quickly. “Yes, please come in.” He coaxed the dogs to follow and then led us into the house.

As we passed Alec, he shot me a significant look, one that made Sidney stiffen. I knew my husband couldn’t be pleased to be forced into close proximity again with my former colleague.

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