play along with the way the conversation was running. “Very much so, I imagine.”
Sir Francis turned to look at him, his eyes holding an unreadable glint. “We must talk more on this subject, I believe. Tell me, would you care to dine this afternoon?”
“I couldn’t impose, sir.”
“Nonsense. It would be my pleasure. And afterwards we can chat privately.”
John bowed. “Nothing would give me greater satisfaction.”
“Nothing?” said Sir Francis, and gave John an extremely lewd wink.
John was far away in thought as he walked round to the stables at the end of his tour. He felt sure that he was on the point of discovering exactly what it was that Sir Francis got up to in his spare time, indeed had a feeling that he - John - might soon be invited to attend some sort of orgy. With a consequent spring in his step at having wormed his way in, he made his way towards the loose boxes then paused as he heard the sound of a workman tapping gently within. The noise was coming from one of the larger outbuildings. He took a shrewd guess that it was Dominique repairing one of the Langlois commodes and promptly made his way inside. The Frenchman looked up at the sound of someone approaching and wiped his hands on his apron.
“Ah, bonjour, mon ami. Comment ga va’f “Very well, at least I think so. Dominique, I have been asked back to dine and I have the strongest feeling that my respected host is going to tell me more of this club of his.”
“That is good. But I don’t know if I can lend you the coach. I have decided to work late and get the job done. I don’t know what time I will be back at the George and Dragon.”
“Never mind. I’ll ride up if necessary. But I wanted to ask you one thing before I left.”
“Which is?”
“You promised to tell me about Arundel and his daughter. You said you saw something strange.”
Dominique bent his head to his task. “It was disgusting. A horrible thing to have to see.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, I was in the house and was examining the damage to this piece. I was working silently and I don’t think they realised that I was in the room. Anyway, Arundel came in with his arms wound round the girl - tight they were - and she was weeping. Not boo-hooing but crying without sound, the tears pouring down her face. And as for him, his hands were caressing her - and I mean properly, like a man does a woman. Then I made a noise and he jumped and swore at me and left the room again. It left me with a ghastly impression.”
“You surely don’t think…?”
“Child molestation? I’m not sure. But the sight of it made me feel sick. I have a young daughter and I swear to you that I would never touch her in that way. Never.”
John stood stock still and felt a cold sweat break out on him. He had heard this kind of story many times, knew the depraved and terrible things that people did to the young. But he had never come across a case of it quite so close. Then his mind leapt to Coralie. Surely, before God, she could not know the truth. Then he got a grip on himself. Perhaps Dominique was exaggerating. Perhaps he was mistaken in what he had seen. But whatever the answer John felt sure that there was something odd about Lord Arundel and swore that come what may he would keep a close eye on any future developments.
Chapter Ten
F ortunately, John - loving high fashion as he did - had brought another set of night clothes with him and this time set off for the big house adorned in scarlet and silver, his waistcoat heavily embroidered with little flowers the colour of jet. He rode carefully in order not to spoil or crease anything and dismounted with equal caution. As the groom led his horse away he could hear the sounds of faint tapping coming from the outbuildings and knew that Dominique was still at work, which for some reason John found vaguely reassuring.
He entered the house as usual, this time some twenty . minutes before the hour to dine, and was ushered
Sir Francis turned to look at him, his eyes holding an unreadable glint. “We must talk more on this subject, I believe. Tell me, would you care to dine this afternoon?”
“I couldn’t impose, sir.”
“Nonsense. It would be my pleasure. And afterwards we can chat privately.”
John bowed. “Nothing would give me greater satisfaction.”
“Nothing?” said Sir Francis, and gave John an extremely lewd wink.
John was far away in thought as he walked round to the stables at the end of his tour. He felt sure that he was on the point of discovering exactly what it was that Sir Francis got up to in his spare time, indeed had a feeling that he - John - might soon be invited to attend some sort of orgy. With a consequent spring in his step at having wormed his way in, he made his way towards the loose boxes then paused as he heard the sound of a workman tapping gently within. The noise was coming from one of the larger outbuildings. He took a shrewd guess that it was Dominique repairing one of the Langlois commodes and promptly made his way inside. The Frenchman looked up at the sound of someone approaching and wiped his hands on his apron.
“Ah, bonjour, mon ami. Comment ga va’f “Very well, at least I think so. Dominique, I have been asked back to dine and I have the strongest feeling that my respected host is going to tell me more of this club of his.”
“That is good. But I don’t know if I can lend you the coach. I have decided to work late and get the job done. I don’t know what time I will be back at the George and Dragon.”
“Never mind. I’ll ride up if necessary. But I wanted to ask you one thing before I left.”
“Which is?”
“You promised to tell me about Arundel and his daughter. You said you saw something strange.”
Dominique bent his head to his task. “It was disgusting. A horrible thing to have to see.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, I was in the house and was examining the damage to this piece. I was working silently and I don’t think they realised that I was in the room. Anyway, Arundel came in with his arms wound round the girl - tight they were - and she was weeping. Not boo-hooing but crying without sound, the tears pouring down her face. And as for him, his hands were caressing her - and I mean properly, like a man does a woman. Then I made a noise and he jumped and swore at me and left the room again. It left me with a ghastly impression.”
“You surely don’t think…?”
“Child molestation? I’m not sure. But the sight of it made me feel sick. I have a young daughter and I swear to you that I would never touch her in that way. Never.”
John stood stock still and felt a cold sweat break out on him. He had heard this kind of story many times, knew the depraved and terrible things that people did to the young. But he had never come across a case of it quite so close. Then his mind leapt to Coralie. Surely, before God, she could not know the truth. Then he got a grip on himself. Perhaps Dominique was exaggerating. Perhaps he was mistaken in what he had seen. But whatever the answer John felt sure that there was something odd about Lord Arundel and swore that come what may he would keep a close eye on any future developments.
Chapter Ten
F ortunately, John - loving high fashion as he did - had brought another set of night clothes with him and this time set off for the big house adorned in scarlet and silver, his waistcoat heavily embroidered with little flowers the colour of jet. He rode carefully in order not to spoil or crease anything and dismounted with equal caution. As the groom led his horse away he could hear the sounds of faint tapping coming from the outbuildings and knew that Dominique was still at work, which for some reason John found vaguely reassuring.
He entered the house as usual, this time some twenty . minutes before the hour to dine, and was ushered
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