Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page A

say,' agreed Kenneth.
    'There are sure to be Death Duties,' Violet said practically. 'It's absolutely wicked the amount one has to pay. Still, there's the house as well. That'll be yours, won't it, Kenneth?'
    'Do you mean that barrack in Eaton Place?' demanded Kenneth. 'You don't imagine I'm going to live in a barn like that, do you?'
    'Why ever not?' Violet sat up, staring at him. 'It's an awfully good address.'
    'Who cares about an awfully good address? If you'd ever been inside it you wouldn't expect me to live there. It's got Turkey carpets, and a lot of Empire furniture, and pink silk panels in the drawing-room, and a glass lustre, and marble-topped tables with gilt legs.'
    'We could always get rid of anything we didn't like, but I must say I like nice things, I mean things that are good.'
    'Turkey stair carpeting and gilt mirrors?' said Kenneth incredulously.
    'I don't see why not.'
    'Darling, your taste is quite damnable.'
    'I can't see that there's any need for you to be rude because I like things you don't like. I think Turkey carpets are sort of warm and - and expensive looking.'
    Antonia was measuring out the ingredients for cocktails, but she lowered the bottle of gin she was holding, and directed one of her clear looks at Violet. 'You don't care whether a thing's good to look at or not as long as it reeks of money,' she remarked.
    Violet got up, quickly yet gracefully. 'Well, what if I do like luxury?' she said, her low voice sharpening a little. 'If you'd been born with a taste for nice things, and never had a penny to spend which you hadn't worked and slaved for, you'd feel the same!' One of her long, capable hands disdainfully brushed the skirt of her frock. 'Even my clothes I make myself ! And I want - I want Paris models, and nice furs, and my hair done every week at Eugene's, and - oh, all the nice things that make life worth living!'
    'Well, don't make a song about it,' recommended Antonia, quite unmoved. 'You'll be able to have all that if Kenneth really does inherit.'
    'Of course I inherit,' said Kenneth impatiently. 'Hustle along with the drinks, Tony!'
    Antonia suddenly put down the gin bottle. 'Can't. You do it. I've suddenly remembered I was supposed to meet Rudolph for lunch this morning. I must ring him up.' She took the telephone receiver off the rest, and began to dial. 'Did he ring me up, do you know?'
    'Dunno. Don't think so. How much gin have you put in?'
    'Lashings… Hullo, is that Mr Mesurier's flat? Oh, is it you, Rudolph? I say, I'm frightfully sorry about lunch.
    Did you wait for ages? But it wasn't my fault. It truly wasn't.'
    At the other end of the telephone there was a tiny pause. Then a man's voice, light in texture, rather nasal, rather metallic, in the manner of modern voices, replied hesitatingly: 'Is it you, Tony? I didn't quite catch — the line's not very clear. What did you say?'
    'Lunch!' enunciated Antonia distinctly.
    'Lunch? Oh, my God! I clean forgot! I'm devastatingly sorry! Can't think how I could ..'
    'Weren't you there?' demanded Antonia.
    There was another pause. 'Tony dear, this line's really awful. Can't make out a word you say.'
    'Put a sock in it, Rudolph. Did you forget about lunch?'
    'My dear, will you ever forgive me?' besought the voice.
    'Oh yes,' replied Antonia. 'I forgot too. That's what I rang up about. I was down at Arnold's place at Ashleigh Green and -'
    'Ashleigh Green?'
    'Yes, why the horror?'
    'I'm not horrified, but what on earth made you go down there?'
    'I can't tell you over the telephone. You'd better come round. And bring something to eat; there's practically nothing here.'
    'But, Tony, wait! I can't make out what took you to Ashleigh Green. Has anything happened? I mean -'
    'Yes. Arnold's been killed.'
    Again the pause. 'Killed?' repeated the voice. 'Good God! You don't mean murdered, do you?'
    'Of course I do. Bring some cold meat, or something, and come to supper. There'll be champagne.'
    'Cham - Oh, all right! I mean, thanks very much: