To Love a Traitor by JL Merrow

Author:JL Merrow [Merrow, JL]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2017-05-05T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 12

As the month progressed, thoughts at number twenty-one Allen Street turned inevitably to Christmas. Picture frames sprouted wreaths of holly, brightly coloured cards bearing seasonal greetings appeared on the mantelpiece, and George walked into the sitting room one evening to find Miss Lewis attaching a sprig of mistletoe to the door frame with a decided air of mischief. Feeling discretion to be the better part of valour, he fled back upstairs and didn’t go down again until Matthew was with him.

“What are your plans for Christmas, George?” Matthew asked as they sat after supper sharing a copy of the Daily Mirror. “I’m off to my parents’ house in Hampshire on Christmas Eve. With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday this year, we’ll have a whole four days off.”

“I expect I’ll stay here.” George’s tone was tinged with bitterness. “I don’t suppose there would be much of a welcome for me back home.”

Matthew’s face grew solemn. “Dreadfully sorry to hear about that, old man. Is there really no chance they’ll come around?”

“Oh, if I were to go there they’d let me in the door all right, but I think we’ll all be happier if I simply stay away.”

“That’s rotten.” Unexpectedly, Matthew brightened. “I say, why don’t you come and stay with my family? I’m sure Mother will be delighted to have you—she always says the more the merrier.”

George froze. “I couldn’t possibly—”

“Nonsense! Look, I’ll wire her and ask—I won’t mention I’ve said anything to you, so she won’t feel under any pressure to say yes. But she will, anyway.”

The subject was dropped for a few days, allowing George leisure to explore what he really felt about the invitation. On the one hand, accepting it would be rather underhanded of him, given that he was still trying to worm out information about Matthew. Not to mention, it was his natural inclination to avoid meeting new people, with their inevitable curiosity about his past. On the other…

On the other hand, there was Matthew. George was desperately aware he felt far more than he ought for the cheerful young man. Spending time at Matthew’s home, with the attendant increase in intimacy between them, might increase the danger of George succumbing to his feelings—but then wouldn’t it also increase the chance of finding out something about Hugh’s death?

George vacillated daily between determination to turn down the invitation flat, and a conviction that accepting it could be the very thing that would enable him to close his investigation. It was maddening, and he more than once found himself losing concentration at work.

“Mr. Cottingham? Ha, he’s away with the Christmas fairies again.”

George looked up hurriedly. “I’m sorry, Mr. Phillips, what did you say?”

“Mr. Mitchell and me, we was wondering if you’d be spending Christmas with the family.”

The inclusion of Mr. Mitchell seemed curious, particularly as he was presently out of the room. “I, ah, no. Will you be having a family get-together?”

Phillips nodded. “Always did when my old mum was alive, God rest her, and no reason to stop now she’s gone to her reward.

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