House of Lies by Terry Lynn Thomas

Author:Terry Lynn Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-02-13T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Alex tucked himself between two overgrown hawthorn bushes and waited in the cover of darkness for Margaret Bettencourt. The night was quiet, save for a pair of owls who hooted at each other every few minutes. Alex longed to extricate himself from Michael Grenville’s clutches. Under normal circumstances, once he had the chalice safely in hand, he’d slip away and never be heard from again. But Margaret Bettencourt had changed that scenario.

Like a fool, Alex had allowed Margaret to manipulate her way into his world, turning his simple existence entirely upside down. Careful to keep her at arm’s length with regard to his business dealings, they had spent an intoxicating weekend together in Edinburgh in an opulent hotel under the name of Mr and Mrs Peter Smith before coming to Rivenby. Alex didn’t like small villages, preferring the anonymity of London or Edinburgh. The last thing he wanted was to be noticed. That wouldn’t do at all.

Replaying the series of events that had enabled Margaret to finagle her way into his work life, Alex recalled the day he got the telephone call with the information about the chalice. She had been in the bathtub, doing all the things with potions and unguents designed to keep her looking young. He didn’t give her a second thought as he wrote down the logistics of the job, the name of the man to whom he would deliver the chalice and the address of Stephen Templeton, the vicar who had the chalice now. He hadn’t realised Margaret was stood behind him, eavesdropping. After Alex hung up the phone and tucked the piece of paper into his jacket pocket. Margaret stepped close to him, a sultry smile on her beautiful face.

‘Who were you talking to?’

‘I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on me. No one important. Work. You smell divine.’ When she didn’t answer him, he met her eyes, surprised by the look of sheer rage he saw there. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘I heard what you said. Who’s Thomas Charles?’ Margaret’s voice became shrill, the portent of yet another emotional storm. Alex – in a metaphorical attempt to batten down the hatches – held up his hands in supplication as he stepped away from Margaret. ‘You need to stop eavesdropping on my conversations, Margaret. That was a work phone call. It doesn’t concern you.’

She nodded at his coat pocket where the piece of paper lay. ‘Thomas Charles? In Rivenby? What is your business with him?’

‘You know this man?’ Alex realised he had made an egregious error and had underestimated Margaret.

‘Let’s just say dear Mr Charles has something that belongs to me. You’re going to steal from him, aren’t you?’ She crossed her arms, allowing her dressing gown to fall open, revealing a bare shoulder and just enough of her breast to titillate. ‘He’s quick, smart and – no offence, darling – much more powerful than you will ever be. Bet your friend on the telephone didn’t tell you that.’

Alex had learned early on it was easier to just let Margaret have her way than try to dissuade her.

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