Read William Monk 05 - The Sins of the Wolf for Free Online

down until he was sitting on the tread, his legs sprawled across the stair, blocking her way. He smiled. “Two million! What does a million tons of rock look like, Miss—Miss—” He looked at her with wide, unfocused eyes.
    “Latterly,” she offered.
    He shook his head. “What do you mean, girl, latterly? A million tons is a million tons! It’s always the same. Latterly—formerly—anytime!” He blinked.
    “My name is Hester Latterly,” she said slowly.
    “How do you do. Hector Farraline.” He made as if to bow, and slid down another step, bumping against her ankles.
    She retreated. “How do you do, Mr. Farraline.”
    “Ever seen the great pyramids of Egypt?” he asked innocently.
    “No. I have never been to Egypt.”
    “Should go. Very interesting.” He nodded several times and she was afraid he was going to slide down ever farther.
    “I will do, if I should ever have the opportunity,” she assured him.
    “Thought Oonagh said you’d been there.” He concentrated fiercely, screwing up his face. “Oonagh’s never wrong, never. Most unnerving woman. Never argue with Oonagh. Read your thoughts as another man might read a book.”
    “I’ve been to the Crimea.” Hester retreated another step. She did not want him to knock her over if he should lose his balance again, which he looked to be in imminent danger of doing.
    “Crimea? Whatever for?”
    “The war.”
    “Oh.”
    “I wonder…” She was about to ask him if she might pass, when she heard the discreet steps of the butler, McTeer, coming up behind her.
    “Why would you go to a war?” Hector refused to let go of the puzzle. “You’re a woman. You can’t fight!” He began to laugh, as if the idea amused him.
    “Now Mr. Farraline, sir,” McTeer said firmly. “You go up to your room and lie down a while. You can’t sit here all afternoon. People need the stairs.”
    Hector shook him off impatiently. “Go away, man. You’ve got a face like a chief mourner at a funeral. You couldn’t look worse if it were your own.”
    “I’m sorry, miss.” McTeer looked apologetically at Hester. “He’s a bit of a nuisance, but he’s no harm. He’ll no bother ye, except for prattlin’ on.” He took hold of Hector under the arms and hauled him to his feet. “Come onnow, ye don’t want Miss Mary to see you behaving like a fool, do ye?”
    The mention of Mary’s name sobered Hector dramatically. He gave one more venomous glance at the portrait across the hall, then allowed McTeer to assist him properly to his feet and together they made their way slowly up the stairs, leaving room for Hester to follow unhindered.
    Hester slept, although she had not intended to, and woke with a start to find that it was time to prepare herself for an early dinner and bring her bag down to the hall, along with her cape, ready for departure to the railway station.
    Dinner was served in the dining room, but this time the table was set for ten, and it was Alastair Farraline who sat at the head. He was an imposing-looking man and Hester knew instantly who he was because the family resemblance was startling. He had the same long face with fair hair, thinning considerably towards the front, a long nose, definitely aquiline, and a broad mouth. The shape of his bones favored Mary rather than the man in the portrait, and when he spoke his voice was deep and rich, quite his most remarkable feature.
    “How do you do, Miss Latterly. Please be seated.” He indicated the last remaining empty chair. “I am delighted you accepted our offer to accompany Mother to London. It will set all our minds at rest concerning her welfare.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Farraline. I shall do my best to see she has an easy journey.” She sat down, smiling at the others around the table. Mary sat at the foot, and to her left a man possibly approaching forty, who looked as utterly different from the Farralines as did Deirdra. His head was deep through from front to back, and his heavy hair, almost