Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online

other girl said. 'I hear your half-brother's been murdered. I don't condole, do I?'
    'No. Is the blushing Violet here?'
    'Yes,' said Leslie Rivers in a very steady voice. 'So I thought I wouldn't stay.'
    'You can't anyway: there isn't enough to eat. Seen Kenneth?'
    'Yes,' said Leslie Rivers again. 'He's with Violet. I suppose it's useless for me to say anything, but if Kenneth isn't careful he'll land himself in jug. I should think the police are bound to think he murdered your half-brother.'
    'No, they won't. They think I did. Kenneth wasn't there.'
    'He hasn't got an alibi,' stated Leslie in her matter-of-fact way. 'He doesn't seem to see how with him inheriting all that money, and being in debt, and loathing Arnold, things are bound to point his way.'
    'I bet he didn't do it, all the same,' replied Antonia.
    'The point is you may find it hard to prove he didn't.'
    'I wonder if he could have?' Antonia said thoughtfully.
    Murgatroyd let the rolling-pin fall with a clatter. 'I never did in all my born days! Whatever will you say next, Miss Tony? Your own brother too, as wouldn't hurt a fly.'
    'If you had a fly-swotting competition, he'd win it,' Antonia replied sensibly. 'I'm not saying he did kill Arnold; I only wondered. I wouldn't put it above him, would you, Leslie?'
    'I don't know. He's a weird creature. Yes, of course I would. What rot you are talking, Tony! I'm going.'
    Five minutes later Antonia wandered into the studio and nodded curtly to the girl in the big arm-chair. 'Hullo! Come to celebrate?'
    Miss Williams raised a pair of velvety brown eyes to Antonia's face, and put up a well-manicured hand to smooth her sleek black hair. 'Tony darling, I don't think you ought to talk like that,' she said. 'Personally, I feel -'
    'Good God, you were right!' exclaimed Kenneth. 'My adored one, where did you pick up that bestial habit? Don't say personally, I implore you!'
    A faint tinge of colour stole into the creamy cheeks. 'Well, really, Kenneth!' said Miss Williams.
    'For God's sake, don't hurt her feelings,' begged Antonia. 'I'm damned if I'll have any nauseating reconciliations over supper. And while we happen to be on this subject, who the devil asked you how you think I should talk, Violet?'
    The brown eyes narrowed a little. 'I suppose I can have my opinions, can't I?' said Miss Williams silkily.
    'You look lovely when you're angry,' said Kenneth suddenly. 'Go on, Tony: say something more.'
    Miss Williams' beautiful lips parted and showed small very white teeth. 'I think you're perfectly horrid, both of you, and I utterly refuse to quarrel with you. Poor little me! What chance have I got with two people at me once? How awful for you to have actually been at Mr Vereker's house when it happened, Tony! It must have been ghastly for you. I simply can't bear to think of it. Let's talk of something else!'
    'Why can't you bear to think of it?' asked Kenneth, not so much captious as interested. 'Do you object to blood?'
    She gave a shudder. 'Don't Kenneth, please! Really, I can't stand it.'
    'Just as you like, my treasure, though why you should turn queasy at the thought of Arnold's being stabbed I can't imagine. You never even knew him.'
    'Oh, no, I shouldn't know him if I saw him,' said Violet. 'It isn't that. I just don't like talking about gruesome things.'
    'She's being womanly,' explained Antonia. Her eye alighted on a couple of gold-necked bottles. 'Where the hell did they spring from?'
    'I boned 'em off Frank Crewe,' replied Kenneth. 'We've got to celebrate this.'
    'Kenneth!'
    'That's all right,' soothed Antonia. 'He meant his accession to wealth.'
    'But you can't drink champagne when Mr Vereker's been murdered! It isn't decent!'
    'I can drink champagne at any time,' replied Antonia.
    'What have you done to your nails?'
    Violet extended her hands. 'Silver lacquer. Do you like it?'
    'No,' said Antonia. 'Kenneth, if you're the heir you'll have to make me an allowance, because I want a new car.'
    'All right, anything you