Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn Page A

appeared. Barker showed his mettle. Not turning a hair at the sight of four aristocratic ladies in varying states of disarray, he quickly ushered them in. Relieving them of wet shoes, rubber boots, and other impedimenta, he assured them that maids had been alerted, baths were being drawn, and hot drinks prepared. He would take it upon himself to make their excuses to Mrs. Howell and Lady Beaufort.
    A few minutes later, Daisy was wallowing in hot water, murmuring to herself, “A butler is a lovesome thing, God wot,” and beginning to believe she might thaw out someday. Twice she turned on the hot tap with her toes, without any diminution in the blissful warmth.
    â€œA plumber is a lovesome thing, too, God wot,” she told herself as she reluctantly heaved herself out of the water and wrapped herself in a vast towel, warm from the heated towel rail.
    Beside her bed, she found a thermos flask of cocoa and a plate of Marie biscuits. Clearly she was not expected to put in an appearance downstairs if she chose not to. She chose not to, but she did want to talk to Lucy. She reached for the bell to summon a maid, intending to ask whether Lady Gerald was up and about. Just before she rang, she heard a tap on the door.
    â€œCome in?” To her relief, Lucy appeared, elegant as ever in a silk kimono of her favourite peacock blue. “Oh, it’s you, darling. Come in and sit down. I was afraid it might be Mrs. Howell come to fuss.”
    â€œIt might have been, but I persuaded her if you didn’t come down you’d rather be left in peace.”
    â€œThanks!”
    â€œShe sent all sorts of anxious messages, which I can’t remember. Actually, I think she’s too busy fussing over Lady Ottaline to be frightfully concerned about lesser beings.”
    â€œIs Lady Ottaline all right? She bore the brunt of the whole thing.”
    â€œSir Desmond insists she’s healthy as a horse. I doubt she’d be pleased to hear it.”
    â€œShe does rather cultivate the fragile look, though it’s very much the brittle kind of fragility. Lucy, what on earth made you say Rhino was pushed? Did you see someone give him a shove?”
    â€œHeavens no! Nothing Alec would call evidence. It was too dark to see much, anyway, but that’s what made it seem so opportune. You can’t say he was exactly keen to jump in and help the other fellows rescue Lady O.”
    â€œRather the reverse.”
    â€œSo there he stood balking on the edge with someone on each side who had good reason to wish him ill. And in he went.”
    Daisy thought back to the scene. “Julia and Sir Desmond. He’d been pestering Julia to death, but I can’t see her resorting to such drastic means, especially as all she has to do is keep saying no. As for Sir Desmond, his wife was flirting with Rhino—strange tastes some people have!—but if anything, Rhino was trying to deter her. At least that’s what it looked like to me.”
    â€œWhat you don’t know, darling, because you retired from the world, is that they’ve been having a torrid affair for months.”
    â€œAre you serious? There really is no accounting for tastes! But that’s hearsay, of course.”
    â€œIf you mean did I see them come out of a hotel bedroom together at dawn and draw my own conclusions, no, I didn’t. But it’s not gossip I went digging for. I’m not turning into a second Great-Aunt Eva. It’s been common knowledge among people one meets everywhere.”
    â€œDoes Julia know?”
    â€œI think not. As a matter of fact, I’ve been wondering whether I ought to put her in the picture.”
    â€œShe must have seen that there’s something between them. This evening, I mean. I should let sleeping dogs lie, if I were you. It’s not as if she’s fallen madly in love with him and you have to prevent her making a terrible mistake.”
    â€œThat’s a good point. My lips