Eleventh Hour by Elin Gregory

Author:Elin Gregory [Gregory, Elin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: 1908312769
Goodreads: 30820566
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

George was still smiling when he took his leave half an hour later. Briers had been surprised at his own need to defend Miles' professionalism but it seemed to have done the trick. The affection the brothers displayed for each other was obvious, even if George kept frowning at Miles's, or rather Millie's, mannerisms. But George played along and the three of them stood at the kerb, the picture of congenial family life, while Briers and George chatted about the Austin and Miles, from his tense expression, tried not to butt in with his own opinions.

"No, honestly," George said as he wrapped his scarf around his neck, "I can walk to the High Street and there's bound to be a cab."

"Nonsense." Briers grinned at him. "I'll give you a lift. My Austin may not be a sleek warhorse like your Armstrong but she's got her advantages."

"Oh yes, I see that." George gave Miles a sly look. "A proper family car. Thank you."

Briers jingled his keys in triumph and had just turned to unlock the car door when the door of the Crane house opened and Elsie came stumbling down the steps with the baby in her arms. She looked very different from the glossy happy young wife she had been when they had last passed the time of day with her.

"Mr Carstairs, Millie," she gasped. "I'm sorry - but I don't know what to do. Sidney hasn't come home tonight, and he's always home by half past six. Dinner's all spoiled, and I rang his office and - and they told me that I had telephoned this morning to say he was ill and wouldn't be into work today. I didn't, I swear it. I just don't know what's happened."

"Where's your maid - Colette?" Miles demanded. He went to Elsie and put his arm around her. "It's very cold, couldn't she mind the baby while we sort this out?"

"It's Colette's day off." Elsie began to sob. "And she didn't come home to help with Baby's bath. I'm afraid - afraid she and Sidney … "

"Nonsense," Briers said his heart sinking. "Sidney thinks the world of you. He would never stoop so low. George, why don't you come with us too and we can get this sorted out."

They trooped across the road, Miles taking the wailing child from Elsie's arms so she could accept Briers' arm. She hung onto it as though her legs wouldn't support her weight and Briers exchanged worried glances with Miles. This was a development neither could have foreseen but that didn't stop Briers from feeling responsible.

Inside, they set about organising Elsie. "You need tea," Briers informed her, "so take George to the kitchen and he will help you make a cup. Millie will change the infant, because I suspect it needs it, and I'll see if I can find out what's going on. Maybe those fools in Sidney's office got the names muddled."

As soon as Elsie was out of earshot, Miles glared at Briers. "I'll

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.