Canapes for the Kitties by Babson Marian

Author:Babson, Marian [Babson, Marian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

'No one else seems to have caught it,' Macho said. 'So it was probably an allergy.'

'And Rhylla is really in trouble.' Freddie dismissed Gemma's problem as inconsequential. 'Her son and daughter-in-law telephoned last week to say they were having such a good time without the sprog that they've booked themselves a second-honeymoon skiing holiday in Colorado over New Year. She's stuck with the brat and the rat until well into January - and I don't know which is upsetting her more.'

'Oh, no!' Lorinda was horrified. 'What will that do to her deadline?'

'Nothing good,' Freddie said gloomily.

'Look on the bright side.' Macho cheered up for the first time all afternoon. 'It may upset Rhylla - but it will drive Plantagenet Sutton absolutely crazy.'

'That's right.' Freddie also brightened. 'He hates rats. Funny that, you'd think he'd have some fellow-feeling for them.'

Had-I's ears twitched and she raised her head.

'Go back to sleep,' Lorinda advised. 'Boswell is out of bounds.'

Had-I lowered her head slowly, with the air of a cat who had her own ideas about that.

'I thought I'd drive over to Marketown for some shopping,' Freddie announced. 'Either of you care to come along?'

'Now?' Macho looked askance. He might have a hero who acted on impulse - a door kicked down here, a jaw broken there - but he preferred to plan his own days well in advance.

'Say . . . ten minutes?' Freddie offered.

'Two will do it.' Lorinda was already on her feet. 'Just let me grab my coat and bag and I'll be right with you.'

'Sorry-' she heard Macho say as she left the room. 'But I want to finish a chapter before dinner. Another time . . .'

It was not until Lorinda was safely tucked into the passenger seat beside Freddie that it occurred to her that it might not be wise to leave the house unattended. Dear as the cats were, they were of no use as watchdogs.

But the car was rolling smoothly down the High Street and it was too late to do anything about the situation except worry. She wished she had not thought of it. She turned to make a remark to Freddie and gave a muffled shriek.

Freddie was driving with her eyes closed.

'What is it?' Freddie's eyes flew open, she looked fearfully in the direction of the graveyard they were passing. The car swerved. 'Did you see it?'

'See what?' Lorinda was startled. There was genuine terror in Freddie's eyes as she stared deep into the old graveyard where the mist was thickest. 'Freddie, what's wrong?'

'Nothing, nothing!' There was an echo of Macho's anxious evasion in Freddie's immediate defensive denial. 'Why should anything be wrong?'

'Freddie! Watch the road!' The front tyres scraped against the kerb.

'Sorry.' Freddie braked violently, then they lurched backwards. 'Not paying attention. I'll be all right as soon as we get on the open road.'

'I hope so.' Lorinda bit down on a sharper remark. Freddie was still looking fearfully over her shoulder at the old graveyard. It was clearly not a moment for either levity or reproach.

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