Read Something Dangerous (Spoils of Time 02) for Free Online Page A

Sebastian Brooke stood smiling into the room. ‘I’m so very sorry. Oliver, how good to see you. Celia, do please forgive me. LM, Gordon, good evening to you, and Lady Beckenham, how nice. What a gathering I’ve been unfortunate enough to miss. Lord Beckenham, what a delight, how are you—’
    He moved round the room, easily, perfectly charming, giving the evening a new edge, fresh life. Old bugger, thought Giles, who was very fond of him, he could charm the birds not just out of the trees but into a cage, a glittering, golden cage where they would stay entranced with no need for anyone even to close the door. Only his mother appeared unimpressed, unpleased; giving a cool nod, a frosty smile, and even those reluctantly.
    ‘Sebastian,’ said Adele, slipping her arm through his, ‘we’re going to the Embassy, do you want to come? Please do, you know how you love dancing and the Prince of Wales might be there, as it’s Thursday and—’
    ‘My darling, how could I leave so lovely a party when I’ve only just arrived? Besides, this claret your father’s just given me is far too good to rush.’
    ‘But the party’s over,’ said Venetia. ‘We’re all going.’
    ‘Not all,’ said Oliver, ‘some of us elderly folk are staying put.’
    ‘Well, I don’t know why. Mummy loves to go out. Jack and Lily, you’ll come, won’t you, and – LM, what about you?’
    ‘We might join you,’ said LM, her long face very serious. ‘Don’t you think, Gordon? It’s a long time since I went out dancing. And I’d certainly like to see the Prince of Wales, if you really think he might be there.’
    ‘Oh, well, of course we don’t actually know,’ said Adele hastily, ‘it’s just that if he does go it’s on a Thursday. And—’
    ‘I really think, my dear, I’d rather not,’ said Gordon Robinson. He sounded alarmed. ‘I have a very busy day tomorrow and—’
    ‘Well, I could go on my own with the young. I daresay one or two of these charming gentlemen would dance with me.’
    There was a polite murmur of assent around the table; LM stood up. ‘Good.’ The twins stared at her, their eyes very wide.
    She smiled, her sudden, brilliant smile. ‘I’m glad chivalry is not quite dead. But it’s all right, I won’t come and spoil your fun. Another night perhaps. And we will leave now, I think. It’s late and I, too, have a very difficult day tomorrow. You go off and enjoy yourselves. Gordon, you can stop looking so frightened. And ask Brunson for my coat, would you?’
    ‘No really, girls, I’ll stay,’ said Sebastian, ‘and here, I almost forgot. Your presents. Now if you don’t like them, Aspreys will change them. I shan’t be a bit hurt. And they come with all my love.’
    The twins unwrapped their parcels, drawing silver cigarette cases out of the Asprey packaging with cries of ‘Oh, how lovely’ and ‘Utter bliss’ and ‘Sebastian, you shouldn’t have’ and ‘As if we’d change these’.
    ‘We’ll take them with us now,’ said Adele, kissing him, ‘and I wish you’d come with them. Won’t you change your mind?’
    ‘Please, please do,’ said Venetia. ‘Move, Adele, I want a chance to kiss him too. Thank you so much, Sebastian. And Mummy, Daddy, thank you for the most wonderful evening. See you later. We’ll be terribly quiet.’
     
    ‘Phew,’ said Venetia, piling into a taxi with Adele and Giles and Boy. ‘That was close. LM, I mean. I really thought she meant it, that she was going to come.’
    ‘I think she’s splendid,’ said Boy. ‘I would have danced with her.’
    ‘Boy! When you’ve got me!’ said Venetia.
    ‘Yes. Even when I’ve got you. I like older ladies. They’re so interesting.’
    ‘There’s nothing very interesting about LM,’ said Adele firmly. ‘All she’s ever done is work at Lyttons. And she’s so – so old-maidish.’
    ‘Absolute nonsense,’ said Boy, ‘she’s a very sensual woman.’
    Adele stared at him. ‘Sensual! LM! But Boy, she’s so