Apricot Sky by Ruby Ferguson

Author:Ruby Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2021-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Oh, it is Saturday and I must go and have tea with that frightful woman at Ellen Lodge,” said Cleo unthinkingly at breakfast.

A startled hush filled the room and pieces of toast on the way to mouths were poised in mid-air. All eyes were turned on Cleo, who realised that she had caused a sensation.

“What frightful woman?” asked Primrose eagerly.

“Cleo! Really, dear!” said Mrs. MacAlvey.

“You can’t mean Inga Duthie—” began Miss Paige.

“Doesn’t that charming Mrs. Duthie live at Ellen Lodge?” said Mrs. Leigh. “I’m sure somebody told me she did. Or am I wrong? I’m sure you all told me she was a wonderful person. Or am I thinking of somebody else?”

“This is very interesting,” said Raine, planting her elbows on the table and gazing at her sister. “Do you really think she’s frightful, Cleo? And why? Actually I’ve never been able to make my mind up about Inga, and now you go and react like this. Why frightful?”

“Listen,” said Cleo. “This isn’t the Spanish Inquisition, or is it? I don’t know why I said it. It slipped out. Do I have to account for every single adjective I use when I’m not thinking?”

“Keep your hair on,” said Raine, slitting open an envelope from the pile on her plate and creating a diversion with a joyful yell of, “Oh, it’s a wedding present. A cheque from Uncle William.”

“How much for?” asked Primrose artlessly.

“How rude!” said Elinore, and Mrs. MacAlvey put in a hasty, “Get on with your breakfast, children.”

“But the only point of a cheque,” said Archie, “is how much it’s for.”

“If you give her a chance,” said Gavin, “she may tell us how much it’s for.”

“That will do, Gavin,” said his grandfather.

“Actually it’s for fifty pounds,” said Raine, “and I don’t mind who knows. I feel weak with excitement. Now I shall be able to get twenty-five yards of that brocade curtain material at two pounds a yard. I must go and ring Ian at once.”

“What a waste!” said Primrose. “Fancy spending fifty galumptuous pounds on curtain material when you could use old sheets or anything and buy a ciné-camera.”

“You’ll think like Raine when it’s your turn to be married,” said Miss Paige.

“I doubt that,” said Primrose. “I shall put on the bottom of the invitations, please send money if you’re going to send anything. It’s the only way I’ll ever get a ciné-camera.”

“Is anybody using the car this afternoon?” said Cleo desperately.

“What for?” asked her father.

“Alexander, you heard Cleo say she wanted to go to tea at Ellen Lodge,” said Mrs. MacAlvey.

“‘Wanted’ is good,” said Raine.

“Please can I have the car, Daddy?” asked Cleo.

“I can’t say if I’ll be needing it or not. Doctor and I talked of running over to Drimmont this afternoon. We could drop you at Ellen Lodge and pick you up on the way back.”

“Oh, no! You’ll be hours later than you say. It’s so dreary waiting to be picked up on people’s way back when it’s a sticky visit and you have to hang on, trying to think of things to say.

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