Silent as the Grave by Bill Kitson Read Free Book Online Page B

be just in the right places.’
    She raised her eyebrows at the compliment. ‘I see; the way to Adam Bailey’s heart is through a glass of malt, is it?’
    â€˜No, not really,’ I smiled.
    â€˜What was the Piccadilly Circus remark all about?’
    â€˜Oh just that you’re the third woman to visit me since I came up to go to bed. I’m thinking of selling tickets for tomorrow night.’
    â€˜Who were the others?’ Polly asked, her tone elaborately casual.
    â€˜Charlotte first, then Harriet.’ I saw no reason to lie.
    â€˜Harriet? That was a bit dangerous, wasn’t it?’
    â€˜I’m sure Tony wouldn’t have minded.’
    â€˜That’s not what I meant and you know it,’ Polly retorted.
    â€˜What then?’ I challenged her.
    â€˜I mean it’s dangerous enough you just being at the castle in the first place, let alone entertaining Harriet in your bedroom.’
    â€˜You are going to explain that remark, I trust.’
    Possibly my tone was colder than I intended for Polly reddened slightly with annoyance. ‘OK since you insist on having it spelt out for you. In the first place I don’t know what your feelings are for Harriet after all this time, but I do know she still finds you very attractive.’
    â€˜Has she said anything to you about that?’
    â€˜No she hasn’t, but I could tell by the way she was looking at you in the sitting room. What about you, are you still carrying a torch for her?’
    â€˜No, Polly, I’m not,’ I replied honestly. ‘I know Harriet’s still a very attractive woman but that’s all over with.’
    â€˜Thank goodness for that,’ she said softly.
    I glanced at her and saw again that slightly heightened colour. ‘Leaving that aside,’ she continued, ‘I reckon you were foolish to accept the invitation.’
    â€˜Why do you say that?’
    â€˜I don’t believe in the family curse business as such, but there are other factors at work here. For one thing, Tony’s a wealthy man, extremely wealthy, and that can breed all sorts of emotions in others around him. Jealousy for one. Think of it this way, suppose the so-called curse was to strike again in a similar way as it has twice already. Who do you think would be the likeliest victims? I suggest it would probably be Harriet and her lover, don’t you?’ She held up a hand to still my protest. ‘I know you’re not lovers, but how do you think your presence here would be viewed by the outside world? It’s no secret that you and Harriet once had a passionate affair. Who would believe there was an innocent purpose behind this visit?’
    â€˜But that’s not true and you know it,’ I protested.
    Polly gave me a long pitying look. ‘Do I? Do I really know that? I’m as close to Harriet as anyone apart from Tony but I couldn’t swear hand on heart you aren’t still lovers. The way she speaks about you, the way she looks at you; it could so easily be interpreted that way. Think about it as you would if you were still a reporter. Think about some of the cynics who have to write copy for the gutter press that’s sensational enough to keep their circulation up. What do you think they’d make of this situation? Think about it, then convince me your motives are pure. Didn’t one little corner of your mind think “Well, if I got chance and it was on offer, why not?” Didn’t it?’
    â€˜Polly, you have got an extremely dirty mind,’ I told her. ‘You know those so-called facts are nowhere near the truth.’
    â€˜Yes I do, and yes I have got a dirty mind – but no more than a reporter would have.’
    She poured us both another drink. ‘So what do you intend to do about it?’
    â€˜Do about what?’ I asked her. ‘Your dirty mind?’
    Polly grinned. ‘We’ll come to that later. No, I mean