No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Hugh, although he was becoming inured to the vagaries of Ermyntrude and her daughter, was not prepared to find them accepting Mary’s theory with enthusiasm. But, within five minutes of her having explained it to them, nothing could have shaken their belief in its truth. Ermyntrude, indeed, seemed to feel that such duplicity on Wally’s part was unpardonable; but Vicky accorded it her frank admiration.

‘It’s rather sad, really, the way one never appreciates a person till he’s dead,’ she said. ‘Oh, I do think it was truly adroit of him, don’t you, Ermyntrude darling? Do you suppose it had anything to do with his being murdered?’

‘Even if it were true, why should it have?’ asked Hugh.

‘Oh, I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we discovered it was all part of some colossal plot, and wholly tortuous and incredible.’

‘Then the sooner you get rid of that idea the better!’

She looked at him through the sweep of her lashes. ‘Fusty!’ she said gently.

Hugh was annoyed. ‘I’m not in the least fusty, but—’

‘And dusty, and rolled up with those disgusting mothballs.’

‘Ducky, don’t be rude!’ said Ermyntrude, quite shocked.

‘Well, he reminds me of greenfly, and blight, and frost in May, and old clothes, and—’

‘Anything else?’ inquired Hugh, with an edge to his voice.

‘Yes, lots of things. Cabbages, and fire-extinguishers, and—’

‘Would you by any chance like to know what you remind me of ?’ said Hugh, descending ignobly to a tu quoque! form of argument.

‘No, thank you,’ said Vicky sweetly.

Hugh could not help grinning at this simple method of spiking his guns, but Ermyntrude, who thought him a very nice young man, was for once almost cross with her daughter, and commanded her to remember her manners. ‘One thing’s certain,’ she said, reverting to the original topic of discussion, ‘I shall ask that Harold White just what he wanted with Wally yesterday!’

‘Yes, but ought I to say anything to the Inspector?’ said Mary.

‘I don’t think I would,’ said Hugh. ‘Unless, of course, you find that your theory is correct. Frankly, I doubt whether he’d believe such a tale.’

‘No, I don’t think he would,’ agreed Vicky. ‘He’s got a petrified kind of mind which reminds me frightfully of someone, only I can’t remember who it is, for the moment.’

‘Me,’ said Hugh cheerfully.

‘Oh, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you’re right!’ said Vicky.

‘I’m ashamed of you, Vicky!’ said Ermyntrude.

Mary echoed this statement a few minutes later, when she accompanied Hugh to his car, but he only laughed and said he rather enjoyed Vicky’s antics.

‘You don’t have to live with her,’ said Mary.

‘No, I admit it’s tough on you. Seriously, Mary, do you believe that your extraordinary cousin really did make up that blackmailing story?’

‘It’s a dreadful thing to say, but I can’t help seeing that it would be just like him,’ replied Mary.

Harold White, to whom Janet faithfully delivered Ermyntrude’s message, walked over to Palings after dinner. The party he disturbed was not an entirely happy one, for the Prince, who did

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